Ricardo Pepi and Christian Pulisic both scored in second-half stoppage time to secure a commanding 3-0 victory for the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) in a friendly match against Uzbekistan in St. Louis on Saturday. This win marked the return of Gregg Berhalter as coach of the USMNT.
The American team got off to a strong start when Timothy Weah scored in the fourth minute of the game. After receiving a well-executed cross from Weston McKennie, Weah fired a right-footed shot past Uzbekistan goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov to give the USMNT an early lead.
The United States had several opportunities to extend their lead throughout the first half. However, Uzbekistan’s goalkeeper Yusupov managed to deny them, making several crucial saves, including a superb stop on Luca de la Torre’s left-footed shot.
As the first half came to a close, Uzbekistan had a couple of chances to equalize. Eldor Shomurodov took a shot on target in the 42nd minute, followed by another attempt in the first minute of the stoppage time. But USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner was up to the task, stopping both efforts and ensuring his team’s advantage going into halftime.
The second half saw a dominant performance from the USMNT as they continued to press for goals. In the first minute of second-half stoppage time, Ricardo Pepi effectively sealed the victory with a powerful right-footed strike. Just three minutes later, Malik Tillman drew a foul in the penalty area, leading to Christian Pulisic stepping up and confidently converting the penalty kick, further widening the American lead.
Yusupov, Uzbekistan’s goalkeeper, made a total of three saves, while the USMNT had six shots on target compared to Uzbekistan’s three. Although Uzbekistan held a slight advantage in total shots, with 15 attempts compared to the USMNT’s 13, it was the Americans who dominated possession, maintaining control of the ball for 64.6% of the match.
The victory against Uzbekistan serves as excellent preparation for the USMNT’s upcoming CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal match in Austin, Texas, on November 16. The Americans are eager to secure their spot in the 2024 Copa America, with the winner of the quarterfinal match qualifying for the prestigious tournament.
Overall, the USMNT showcased their strength and determination under Coach Berhalter’s leadership, executing a convincing 3-0 win against Uzbekistan. With talented players like Ricardo Pepi, Christian Pulisic, and Timothy Weah delivering impressive performances, the USMNT is on a positive trajectory as they progress further in international football.
