The United States men’s national team put themselves in pole position in Group D a spot in the semifinals of the Concacaf Nations League as they came away with a dominant win over Grenada at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium in St. George on Friday night.
Interim head coach Anthony Hudson elected to go with a 4-2-3-1 formation, handing Auston Trusty his first cap for the team as he started alongside Mark McKenzie in the center-back spots. Bryan Reynolds and Joe Scally played on the wings, while Weston McKennie and Luca de la Torre teamed up in the midfield. Ricardo Pepi made his return to the lineup at center-forward with Brenden Aaronson, Christian Pulisic, and Gio Reyna providing support.
The game proved to be nothing more than a training game as the Americans were relentless against the Spice Boys.
Pepi was on target first after just four minutes when he headed the ball in from close range following a cross by Pulisic from the left side. Aaronson doubled their lead in the 20th minute after some good build-up play saw the Leeds United attacker take his chance when he entered the 12-yard box and fired past Grenada goalkeeper Jason Belfon.
McKennie added a third for the visitors just after the half-hour mark when Pulisic’s free-kick from the left was initially headed by a Grenadian player, but the ball came down towards the No. 8 and he smashed his volley home.
A comfortable was soon cut down to a two-goal lead when the hosts responded with a goal a minute later. Myles Hippolyte finished off a brilliant play as he put his shot past Matt Turner. However, McKennie would restore the U.S. lead in the 34th minute when Pulisic’s free-kick found Trusty at the far side of the box and the defender headed the ball back towards his teammate who got his foot on it to poke it home.
The U.S. continued its relentlessness in the second half the captain, Pulisic, netted a goal in the 51st minute. Reynolds cut in from the right side with the ball and played to de la Torre. The midfielder then feed it to the Chelsea man whose shot squirmed past Belfon and trickled across the goal line.
Pepi scored his second of the night in the 53rd minute when de la Torre released with a through-ball and the Groningen frontman cruled it around Belfon.
Alejandro Zendejas, who made his first official appearance for the U.S. since announcing his commitment to playing for the country, wrapped up the rout as he scored his first international goal with a bouncing curler into the back of the net.
A very convincing win and one that should give them plenty of confidence when they take on El Salvador on Monday in Orlando, Florida.
Notes
Johnny Cardoso, along with Zendejas, became officially cap-tied to the United States when he entered the game in the 75th minute.
Taylor Booth, who plays for FC Utrecht in the Dutch Eredivisie, earned his first senior cap for the team along with Trusty.
