Jordan Morris' Late Equalizer Saves USA Draw vs. El Salvador in 2022 Nations League
Jun 15, 2022
AUSTIN, TX - JUNE 10: Jordan Morris #13 of United States stands for their national anthem before to the CONCACAF Nations League match between Grenada and United States at Q2 Stadium on June 10, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Not much went well for the United States men's national team at the CONCACAF Nations League on Tuesday night through the first 90 minutes.
But Jordan Morris saved the day in stoppage time.
On a rainy night and a mud-splotched pitch, the USMNT drew 1-1 with El Salvador, thanks to Morris' late-match heroics.
Jordan Morris scores the equalizer in the 91st minute 💥
That's why you play this game like a World Cup game. Let this team figure things out.. They did.. #USMNT
— Maximiliano Bretos (@MaxBretosSports) June 15, 2022
It appeared the game's key moment was going to be Ethan Horvath's 35th-minute gaffe, when was frozen by an Alexander Larin shot and let in the game's first goal.
100% a shot from Larín… a beautiful strike too. Horvath got caught at his near post- not a great sequence for him or Cannon. #USMNT had some good moments but need to find some quality on this surface somehow….
This is an absolute slop-fest on a nightmare pitch, so very little can be taken seriously. But Horvath's positioning is unaffected by the conditions...that was really, really, really bad. My kingdom for a #USMNT GK who is starting every week.
RED CARD! Paul Arriola is sent off, leaving the #USMNT with 10 men. Looked to be a yellow, but ref says otherwise and now the Americans are down a goal and down a man.
Nine minutes later, El Salvador's Ronald Gomez was shown red himself for denying Yunus Musah a clear goalscoring opportunity, evening the sides once again.
And despite some time-wasting tactics from the El Salvadorians and a missed call on a handball in El Salvador's box, the USMNT still managed to find an equalizer.
This game had scraps. The pitch was a mess. The officiating was spotty. It truly was the full CONCACAF experience. If you were given just one word to describe the action, you couldn't be blamed for settling on "drunk."
Clear handball in the penalty area by El Salvador is missed by the referee. (Still 1-0 El Salvador, 90th minute.) pic.twitter.com/MlKWe4BVh9
All in all, the USMNT will take the result. It was a gutty draw to find in the end after it appeared the game had slipped out of their grasp.
In terms of what Craig Berhalter might have learned about his team, however, a pair of players at positions in question—Horvath at goalkeeper and Haji Wright at striker—didn't put their best foot forward.
In Wright's defense, a messy field and a chippy contest probably didn't give him a fair chance to make an impression. That context should matter. Horvath, however, was the difference between a USMNT win and a draw on a shot he should have saved.
As Berhalter continues to decide on his first-choice goalkeeper, that gaffe will likely remain in his mind.
USMNT vs. El Salvador: 2022 Nations League Storylines, Odds, Predictions
Jun 14, 2022
CINCINNATI, OH - JUNE 01: Haji Wright of USA / United States of America celebrates after scoring his first ever goal to make it 1-0 during an international friendly between United States of America / USA and Morocco at TQL Stadium on June 1, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
The fourth and final United States men's national team game in June is the lone one of the bunch that takes place on the road.
Gregg Berhalter's team heads to El Salvador for its second Concacaf Nations League match of the international window. The first two games were friendlies with Morocco and Uruguay, earning a 3-0 win and 0-0 draw, respectively.
A victory is expected in San Salvador to remain on top of Group D in Nations League A.
Berhalter can learn a bit more about his reserve and fringe players for the FIFA World Cup roster in El Salvador compared to the 5-0 win over Grenada.
Goalkeeper Ethan Horvath and striker Haji Wright fit into that category, and it is confirmed that both players will start.
Horvath, who was recently promoted to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest, is third on the goalkeeper depth chart behind Matt Turner and Zack Steffen.
Wright scored a career season-high in goals in Turkey with Antalyaspor to play his way into the USMNT forward picture.
Jesus Ferreira scored four goals against Grenada, and now Wright will have his chance to impress up top against a better opponent.
Horvath is third on the goalkeeper depth chart behind Steffen and Turner, but he could play his way into minutes in Qatar.
Steffen and Turner will likely require loans away from Manchester City and Arsenal to earn consistent playing time with eyes on November.
Finding the right fit could be hard for the Premier League clubs and the players. There could be a desire for either team to keep Steffen or Turner as backups, and that could significantly hurt their form ahead of the World Cup.
Horvath is not guaranteed of first-team minutes with newly-promoted Nottingham Forest in England's top flight. However, first-choice keeper Brice Samba is not signing a new contract and could be moved in the summer.
Horvath needs to leave a good impression with Berhalter during the chances that get sent in his direction. The El Salvador match is a better opportunity to evaluate that than the one-sided affair versus Grenada in which Turner barely touched the ball.
Berhalter confirmed a few days ago that Wright would get the start up top inside the Estadio Cuscatlan in San Salvador.
Wright could receive a better evaluation leading the line on the road compared to what a start against Grenada would have provided.
Ferreira is a known commodity within the USMNT program, and his four goals on Friday night provided a small boost to his stock up top.
Wright could increase the competition with a standout performance on the road. He scored a penalty in the first game of the window against Morocco.
The 24-year-old can use Tuesday's game as a chance to move closer to securing a trip to Qatar.
Ferreira appears to be the favorite in the No. 9 role as of right now, but that may be by default since there is no clear-cut favorite at the position.
Horvath and Wright will have the most eyes on them on Tuesday because of their positional situations, but they will not be the only ones under focus.
How Will Berhalter Manage Rest Of Roster?
Berhalter needs to strike a fine balance between playing his most competitive roster on the road in Concacaf action and evaluating some of his reserves with Qatar rapidly approaching.
The ideal scenario would have the starters play 55-60 minutes and break open a multi-goal lead that makes Berhalter feel comfortable bringing in more reserves.
The USMNT had some trouble putting away Grenada in the first half on Friday night. Ferreira's first goal did not come until the 43rd minute in what felt like a lackadaisical opening stanza.
The Americans need to start better in order to take control of the contest and not let the home side gain belief.
El Salvador is on top of Nations League Group D after a home win and an away draw against Grenada.
Berhalter could choose to play a few of his depth players from the start. Cristian Roldan, Jordan Morris and Cameron Carter-Vickers are among those players looking to feel safer about their spots on the World Cup roster.
Carter-Vickers could be given another opportunity to shine next to either Aaron Long or Walker Zimmerman at center-back, while Roldan may get minutes in a crowded midfield.
Morris might place his name in the No. 9 discussion, but he could also be used on the flank in the USMNT system.
The reserve and fringe players will not book spots on the plane to Qatar in the minutes they receive in El Salvador, but they could move up or down the pecking order depending on their performance.
How many of the starters and reserves we see off the bat is up for Berhalter to manage. He has to weigh getting three points on the road with the tired legs most of the European-based players have from long club seasons and who he wants to see on the field in certain spots before the international window comes to an end.
Prediction: USMNT 2, El Salvador 0
The USMNT will have a harder time with El Salvador than with Grenada, but that is not saying much.
The road test will be nice for the USMNT to deal with after a long two weeks. Wright will get on the scoresheet and make the No. 9 discussion a bit more interesting as the summer goes on.
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Jesus Ferreira's 4 Goals Lead USMNT Past Grenada in Concacaf Nations League Opener
Jun 11, 2022
AUSTIN, TX - JUNE 10: Jesus Ferreira #9 of United States celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during CONCACAF Nations League match between Grenada and United States at Q2 Stadium on June 10, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
One of the prevailing questions surrounding the United States men's national team heading into this year's World Cup is who, if anybody, will seize the No. 9 role.
On Friday night, Jesus Ferreira gave four reasons why he might be that guy.
The FC Dallas striker scored four goals for the USMNT, highlighting a 5-0 victory over Grenada in the CONCACAF Nations League.
The USMNT finally get the opening goal against Grenada through Jesus Ferreira! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vRGzKFZQJ5
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 11, 2022
It was a huge showing for Ferreira, who came into the game with three international goals for the United States, more than doubling his total. And he became just the fourth player to score four goals in a game for the USMNT.
Paul Arriola also scored for the United States.
Yes, it came against Grenada, a country the United States should be handling with ease. And yes, given the chances his teammates created for him, Ferreira should have found the back of the net multiple times. He probably could have doubled his tally.
For the #USMNT, Not much to take away from that game with a 5-0 win vs a minnow. A little sloppy here and there, but overall it was fine. Good for Jesus Ferreira, obvious MOTM. Thought LDLT and Arriola played with intensity, which Berhalter said he was looking for in this one
But that hasn't always been the case for the FC Dallas forward on the international stage, and if Friday's performance is the confidence-booster he needed, the USMNT could be one step closer to answering the biggest question on its roster.
And Ferreira had a few beauties in the bunch, another good sign.
Players like Ricardo Pepi, Jordan Pefok, Gyasi Zardes, Haji Wright and Josh Sargent may still have their say in the race to lead the line come the World Cup. But Ferreira, finally, had his signature performance for the United States.
He may have punched his ticket to Qatar in the process.
USMNT vs. Grenada: 2022 Nations League Storylines, Odds, Predictions
Jun 10, 2022
KANSAS CITY, KS - JUNE 05: United States forward Jesus Ferreira (9) chases down Uruguay defender Diego Godin (3) during the match between the USMNT and Uruguay on Sunday June 5th, 2022 at Childrens Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS. (Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The United States men's national team returns to regional action on Friday night to kick off the group stage of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Friday's clash with Grenada at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas is the USMNT's first match against a North American opponent since qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in March.
Gregg Berhalter's side is playing its third game in the June international window, after beating Morocco by three goals and playing to a scoreless draw with Uruguay.
The USMNT and Grenada play each other twice in the next 12 months. The return fixture is scheduled for the March 2023 international window.
Grenada and El Salvador were drawn with the USMNT into Group D of Nations League A in CONCACAF. The four group winners in Nations League A will advance to the final round, which is scheduled to take place next June.
The USMNT's focus over the next two games will be to find answers at goalkeeper, center back and forward. Those are the three biggest questions when it comes to the World Cup roster.
Berhalter is running out of games to see players in person. Friday's clash with Grenada and Tuesday's match in El Salvador will be vital for the World Cup stock of some players.
Which Players Start In Positions Up For Grabs on World Cup Roster?
The USMNT has three clear areas that need to be addressed before the World Cup in November.
The goalkeeping battle will likely come down to the final few weeks ahead of the tournament in Qatar depending on where Zack Steffen, Matt Turner and Ethan Horvath are playing at the start of the European season.
Turner is the top goalkeeper in the current camp, and Horvath is the No. 2 on the June roster. Neither player is expected to do much against a heavy underdog in Grenada to sway Berhalter's mind on Friday night.
However, the center backs and forwards on the roster could get an advantage. A clean sheet and multiple goals in the first half are expected out of Friday's clash because of the superior talent on the American roster compared to Grenada.
Aaron Long appears to have the inside track to start next to Walker Zimmerman at center back. John Brooks is not currently in the national-team picture and the other defenders on the current roster have not had enough time in Berhalter's system.
Friday could be the perfect time for the U.S. coach to roll out Erik Palmer-Brown or Cameron Carter-Vickers to give them some minutes in what is expected to be a low-stress game for the defense.
With that being said, Berhalter may not learn enough about his reserve center backs in a blowout victory. Rotation could be key with a road game in El Salvador coming up and two tough matches already on the center backs' legs in the June international window.
There is far less clarity at forward, where any player in camp could take hold of the starting job and run with it.
Haji Wright was called in for the June matches after a terrific season in Turkey with Antalyaspor. He scored a penalty in the win over Morocco.
Jesus Ferreira has been one of the best goalscorers in Major League Soccer this season with FC Dallas, but that has not translated to the international stage.
Jordan Morris might get a run against Grenada because of the potential blowout, but the most intriguing possibility is lining up Tim Weah at the No. 9.
The 22-year-old has been used on the flanks of the forward line, but his finishing skills may be what the USMNT needs up top with no one currently in the lead at the position.
Depth Players Expected To Get Time To Impress
The USMNT should be up by multiple goals at halftime.
Grenada is a much easier opponent to face than Morocco and Uruguay, and it is a CONCACAF nation that the Americans should beat fairly easily.
If that is the case, the USMNT staff could use the second half as a chance to give depth players more minutes than the first two games.
Cristian Roldan, Kellyn Acosta, Jordan Morris and the two reserve center backs are among the candidates to get some significant second-half playing time if they do not start.
Berhalter has to decide whether he wants to use Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and other first-team players for more than 45 or 60 minutes in the third game of a four-game window if the match is wrapped up by halftime.
The USMNT boss could rest some of his starters ahead of the trip to El Salvador to save their legs and give an opportunity to others who have waited patiently over the last two games.
Berhalter will not be able to judge the reserves based on the opponent since Grenada is far from a World Cup team, but he can evaluate how the players operate in his system as the fight for the final few roster spots in Qatar heats up.
Prediction
United States 6, Grenada 0
The USMNT will have the game wrapped up by halftime.
The Americans might be in a name-your-score situation if they treat the match properly and enforce their will on the Grenada defense from the first minute.
Friday night would be a perfect time for someone like Ferreira, Wright or Malik Tillman to get on the scoresheet and create a bit of separation on the forward depth chart.
Goals by Pulisic and McKennie may be the expected result, but they might not help the USMNT in its long-term search for answers at forward as the World Cup gets closer by the day.
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Christian Pulisic Not 'Super Happy' with Fans' Level of Support for USMNT vs. Morocco
Jun 2, 2022
CINCINNATI, OH - JUNE 01: Christian Pulisic of USA / United States of America during an international friendly between United States of America / USA and Morocco at TQL Stadium on June 1, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
Christian Pulisic expressed frustration
with the amount of fan support for Wednesday's friendly between the
United States men's national team and Morocco.
"For whatever reason, I'm not
super happy with the amount of Americans here, however that works
out, if I'm being completely honest," Pulisic said after the
USMNT's 3-0 win. "But thanks to the ones who did come, and the
support is always great from them."
MLS' official website noted the
announced attendance at Cincinnati's TQL Stadium was 19,512 for the 26,000-seat venue.
Yahoo Sports' Henry Bushnell argued
U.S. Soccer deserves at least part of the blame for the lack of a sellout, as
a majority of tickets were priced between $60 and $160 for the midweek
match against their north African opponents.
USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter
pointed out the World Cup buzz also hasn't started to pick up because
the international tournament won't start until late November rather than its
typical summer time slot.
"I don't think we're there yet in
terms of the buildup," Berhalter said. "I think that this
is an important training camp for us as a group, but I don't think
the world is saying, 'The World Cup's right around the corner.'"
Brenden Aaronson, Timothy Weah and Haji
Wright scored goals for the U.S. in an encouraging start to the
window. Matt Turner made eight saves to keep a clean
sheet for the Americans.
The USMNT has three matches left this
month—another friendly followed by two CONCACAF Nations League group-stage
fixtures:
June 5 vs. Uruguay at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City
June 10 vs. Grenada at Q2 Stadium in Austin
June 14 at El Salvador (road match)
Crowd support should continue to build
as the World Cup moves closer, especially if the U.S. hosts a few
warm-up matches before heading to Qatar. No games beyond June have
been announced.
It's also important to remember Pulisic
and Co.'s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup was a setback in
terms of the growth of support for the USMNT and, while earning a
spot in this year's event was a major boost, there's still more work to do.
U.S. Soccer Agrees to New CBA with Top Men's, Women's Players Guaranteeing Equal Pay
May 18, 2022
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - JULY 30: Rose Lavelle #16, Alex Morgan #13, Christen Press #11 and Megan Rapinoe #15 of Team United States celebrate following their team's victory in the penalty shoot out after the Women's Quarter Final match between Netherlands and United States on day seven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at International Stadium Yokohama on July 30, 2021 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
U.S. Soccer will provide equal pay to
members of its men's and women's national teams after an agreement on
new collective bargaining agreements was reached Wednesday.
Andrew Das of the New York Times
reported the USMNT and USWNT agreed to place all of their earnings
into a single pool, including a "notable concession" from the
men's side to include the money from the lucrative men's FIFA World
Cup, that will then be divided equally among all players who take part in international matches.
"No other country has ever done
this," U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone said. "I think
everyone should be really proud of what we've accomplished here. It
really, truly is historic."
The new CBA contracts run through 2028, and initial projections suggest full-time national team players can
expect annual payments from U.S. Soccer around $450,000, a figure
that could more than double in years where one of the teams makes a "successful" World Cup run, per Das.
At least some financial windfall is
guaranteed for the next two men's World Cups. The USMNT qualified for
the 2022 event in Qatar and will automatically be included in the
2026 field as a co-host alongside North American neighbors Canada and
Mexico.
The USWNT is also a virtual lock to
make the 2023 and 2027 women's World Cups as the top-ranked team in
the FIFA rankings.
Meanwhile, it's estimated 90 percent of
the money U.S. Soccer receives from FIFA for World Cup participation will go toward the new
contracts, and the governing body also agreed to split commercial
revenue with the players.
Cone said questions about whether U.S.
Soccer can continue to handle its core purpose of growing the sport
nationwide are fair in wake of the agreements, per Das.
"There's no denying that money that
we have to pay our national teams is money that's not reinvested in
the game," she said. "And people can take that perspective. But
the way I look at it is that our job is to try to figure out how all
three groups can work together to grow the pie so that everyone is
benefiting."
The contracts to guarantee equal pay
come after U.S. Soccer and prominent members of the USWNT settled a
class action equal-pay lawsuit in February that included a $24 million payment to the
players.
Megan Rapinoe, one of the driving
forces in the equal-pay push by the women's team, said on ABC's Good Morning America at the time that the settlement was a major turning point for their efforts.
"This is a huge win for all
women," Rapinoe said. "I think we're going to
see that in the coming days and hopefully this will be a day we look
back on in a number of years when we're a little bit older and say
that's the moment that everything changed."
The USMNT's union backed the
women's effort to secure equal pay during the lawsuit.
USMNT defender Walker Zimmerman said Wednesday that internal negotiations among men's players "wasn't
always the smoothest" process, but they ultimately came to the
realization there was "no other way to get this done" other than
splitting the World Cup revenue, per Das.
"Trying to voice what you believe
should happen, what is possible, what is right—those conversations
are difficult," Zimmerman said. "But at the end you have a group
of players both on the men's and women's side who came together and
got it done."
The men's team's preparations for the 2022 World Cup will continue in June with a total of four matches—two friendlies against Morocco and Uruguay and two CONCACAF Nations League matches against Grenada and El Salvador.
The women's next matches are also in June, when they play Colombia in two friendlies prior to the finals of the CONCACAF Women's Championship in July.
Gio Reyna out for Dortmund's Season with Injury Ahead of USMNT's Pursuit of World Cup
Apr 10, 2022
STUTTGART, GERMANY - APRIL 08: Giovanni Reyna of Borussia Dortmund leaves the patch after getting injured during the Bundesliga match between VfB Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on April 08, 2022 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund via Getty Images)
Borussia Dortmund announced Gio Reyna will miss the rest of the 2021-22 season due to muscle and tendon injury, via ESPN.
The forward was emotional after being subbed off just two minutes into Friday's match against Stuttgart.
Gio Reyna was heartbroken after having to leave Dortmund’s game after two minutes with a hamstring injury 💔 pic.twitter.com/6qCf6CMk9i
The 19-year-old appeared in just 13 matches for his club across all competitions during an injury-filled season, including six starts in the Bundesliga. He had two goals in league play, both coming in August.
Reyna initially suffered a hamstring injury representing the United States during the first World Cup qualifying match against El Salvador on September 2. He didn't feature in another match for club or country until Feb. 6.
The continued setbacks especially hurt the United States men's national team, losing a key attacking player for much of the qualifying cycle. He didn't appear again for the squad until his three substitute appearances during the final window in March.
Another injury creates significant question marks about his role with the team heading into the World Cup in November. Even with plenty of time for a recovery, it will be difficult to trust a player who has topped 45 minutes in a match just once since September.
The Americans will be in a group with England, Iran and one of Ukraine, Scotland or Wales.
Reyna will also be left with question marks at the club level after effectively a lost season at Borussia Dortmund. The club currently sits second in the Bundesliga with 60 points in 29 matches, although there could be significant changes in the next transfer window with Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham among those likely to draw interest from top clubs.
There is still a bright future for Reyna, who was listed by ESPN as one of the top young players in the world coming into the year, but he must find a way to stay healthy.
U.S. Soccer Says It Won't Play Russia in Any Format After Invasion of Ukraine
Feb 28, 2022
The U.S. team hoists the SheBelieves Cup trophy after a 5-0 win over Iceland in a soccer match Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
The United States Soccer Federation announced on Monday that it would not play Russia "no matter the level of competition or circumstance" until the ongoing military invasion of Ukraine is ceased.
On Monday, FIFA announced that Russia would be banned from all international competitions and that Russian clubs would be banned from UEFA competitions.
"Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine," the organizing bodies said in a joint statement. "Both presidents hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly so that football can again be a vector for unity and peace amongst people."
The football associations from Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic had all said publicly they would not play Russia in scheduled men's World Cup qualifying playoff matches in March.
"The illegal and deeply unjust invasion of Ukraine currently makes all football exchanges with Russia impossible," Karl-Erik Nilsson, the chairman of the Swedish FA, said. "We therefore urge FIFA to decide that the playoff matches in March in which Russia participates will be canceled. But regardless of what FIFA chooses to do, we will not play against Russia in March."
"In light of the escalation of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine, the Polish national team is not going to play a match against Russian Republic," Poland's FA chief Cezary Kulesza added. "This is the only right decision."
FIFA initially chose against banning Russia outright, instead saying the country had to play under the name the Football Union of Russia and couldn't host international games nor have its flag or anthem be a part of them.
That was met with backlash, however. The football associations from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales also stated they would not play Russia in international football.
On Friday, the 2022 UEFA Champions League final, originally scheduled to be held in Russia's St. Petersburg, was moved to France.
Christian Pulisic Scores as USMNT Defeats Honduras in 2022 World Cup Qualifying
Feb 3, 2022
ST PAUL, MN - FEBRUARY 02: Walker Zimmerman #3 of United States reacts after his teammate Weston McKennie #8 scored the first goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying match between the United States and Honduras at Allianz Field on February 2, 2022 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
The weather outside was frightful. But for the USMNT, getting all three points against Honduras in World Cup qualifying was more than a little delightful.
On an absolutely frigid Allianz Field pitch in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on Wednesday night, the Americans beat Honduras, 3-0 behind goals from Weston McKennie, Walker Zimmerman and Christian Pulisic.
That weather was one of the major storylines coming into the game. Another was that, on a night when the United States desperately needed three points after a disappointing 2-0 loss against Canada, the team sat players like Pulisic, Sergino Dest and Yunus Musah, among others.
Pulisic did come on to replace Jordan Morris in the 64th minute, however, and three minutes later scored the game's third goal. That might be just what he needed to end a protracted slump at both the club and country levels.
I didn't think we needed to bring Pulisic on (because why risk him getting hurt?) but clearly GGG's brain is much bigger than mine because he knew he would score so we could build up his confidence again.
Gregg Berhalter's roster decisions worked, as the United States completely dominated the run of play and kept Honduras buried on their own side of the pitch. Timothy Weah was once again excellent down the wing, while McKennie bossed the game in midfield without his usual partners, Musah and the injured Tyler Adams.
And Kellyn Acosta—who was the set-piece taker on all three goals—had a strong showing. The United States getting any joy off set pieces, let alone three times in one game, was a welcome change.
After only scoring 1 goal from a set piece in their previous 14 competitive fixtures, the USMNT has 2 such goals in the first half of play tonight.
Kellyn Acosta took both of the set pieces and goals were scored by: - Weston McKennie: 8' - Walker Zimmerman: 37' pic.twitter.com/ZHUQQm6pwB
The win moved them up to 21 points after 11 games and, barring a goal-scoring barrage from Mexico when they face Panama later on Wednesday, ensured that the United States would remain in second place on the CONCACAF table. The United States is currently three points and four goals ahead of El Tri on goal differential.
The United States now has three games left in qualifying, hoping to reach the World Cup four years after a bitterly disappointing failure to do so. In the short term, however, a triumphant USMNT will be looking for someplace to get warm.
USMNT vs. Honduras: Odds, Time, Live Stream, TV Schedule for World Cup Qualifier
Feb 2, 2022
HAMILTON, ON - JANUARY 30: Weston McKennie #8 of the United States and Jonathan David #20 of Canada battle for the ball during a 2022 World Cup Qualifying match at Tim Hortons Field on January 30, 2022 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
The United States men's national team needs to beat Honduras at home on Wednesday to remain on track to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The USMNT comes into the 11th of 14 matchdays in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying level on 18 points with Mexico but with a marginally better goal difference.
Gregg Berhalter's side sits four points back of Canada after it lost 2-0 to the table-toppers on Sunday.
The Americans will not have an easy night at Allianz Field in Minnesota. The conditions are expected to be some of the worst faced by any team across the globe in the qualification tournament.
According to AccuWeather, the temperature at kickoff is expected to be three degrees.
USMNT vs. Honduras Info
Date: Wednesday, February 2
Start Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: FS1
Live Stream: FoxSports.com and Fox Sports app
Odds (via DraftKings Sportsbook): United States (-575; bet $575 to win $100); Honduras (+1200; bet $100 to win $1,200); Draw (+600)
Preview
The USMNT is still in good shape to qualify for the World Cup. but it is under pressure to pick up a result in Minnesota.
The Americans did not play well in their road defeat to Canada, and their attack has been underwhelming in the first two games of this international window. Berhalter's side produced a single goal in Thursday's win over El Salvador and did not score north of the border.
The USMNT has scored 13 goals in 10 qualifying matches and found the back of the net on multiple occasions four times in the qualifying cycle.
The first of those four instances came on the road against Honduras, when the Americans pounded four goals past the Central American defense.
Honduras carries the worst defense in qualifying into Allianz Field. It has conceded on 19 occasions, which is a major reason why the team has been eliminated from qualifying for the finals. Ricardo Pepi, Gyasi Zardes or Jesus Ferreira must take advantage of a poor defense to calm concerns about the U.S. attack.
It will not be easy for the American attackers, or any players for that matter, to get going early because of the freezing conditions.
U.S. Soccer opted for Allianz Field to take away any advantage Honduras would have in a warmer climate, but that does not mean much now that Los Catrachos can't qualify for Qatar.
Between Christian Pulisic, Timothy Weah and Weston McKennie, the USMNT should have enough attacking depth to score at least one goal to finish off Honduras.
Ideally, the team would take out all of its attacking frustration on Honduras to reach the 21-point mark ahead of the final three games in the qualifying cycle. The Americans visit Mexico and Costa Rica and play host to Panama in March.
The USMNT could use some help from Mexico to create separation in the standings going into March. El Tri hosts Panama at Estadio Azteca on Wednesday. Mexico has 18 points in third place and Panama holds fourth with 17 points.
Canada needs a win over El Salvador combined with an American loss, Costa Rica loss and Panama draw or loss to qualify for the World Cup on Wednesday, per Kristian Jack of OneSoccer. Jamaica hosts Costa Rica in the other CONCACAF match.
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