A pair of MLS standouts suited up for their countries on Saturday, one in an international friendly and the other in Nations League play. Here's how the league's representatives fared, as both their countries wound up posting one-goal victories.
Sweden 2, Croatia 1
Nations League, Group 3
Coming off his first match ever sporting the captain's armband in Sweden's friendly against Denmark earlier this week, Seattle Sounders midfielder Gustav Svensson was back in the matchday squad for his country as they returned to Nations League play with this Group 3 clash with Croatia.
The 33-year-old didn't wind up featuring in the matchup, but Sweden got off the mark with their first victory in a tough Nations League group that includes Croatia, France and Portugal, taking a 2-1 victory on the strength of goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Marcus Danielson.
Mexico 3, South Korea 2
International Friendly
Inter Miami CF's Rodolfo Pizarro also came off the bench as El Tri took on South Korea in this friendly at Stadion Wiener Neustadt in Austria.
It was the first international match for South Korea since December 2019, while Mexico picked up another victory after their three matches at the end of September and in October, when they went 2W-0L-1D in matches with Guatemala, the Netherlands and Algeria.
Pizarro drew starts in the Netherlands and Algeria matches, but came off the bench for this one, as Mexico manager and former Atlanta United boss Tata Martino call upon him in the 83rd minute to finish out the contest.
It was a nervy start for Mexico, as they fell behind 1-0 on a 20th minute goal from South Korea's Hwang Ui-jo, a lead that would stand all the way until the 67th minute. That's when star El Tri forward Raul Jimenez kicked off a wild, three-goal in three-minute barrage with the equalizer, before teammate Uriel Atuna scored the go-ahead goal just two minutes later. Carlos Salcedo added the third in the 70th to give Mexico a 3-1 lead.
South Korea made it interesting late with an 87th-minute tally from Kwon Kyung-won, but Mexico managed to see out the 3-2 final. Pizarro and Mexico will be back in action with another friendly against Japan on Tuesday.
