Tag: Grenada

USMNT player ratings: Pulisic dominates in Grenada rout

The USMNT’s big names sure played like it Friday night

The U.S. men’s national team was supposed to handle Grenada with ease, and it turns out that’s exactly what they did.

Returning to CONCACAF Nations League play for the first time since June 2022, the USMNT steamrolled the Spice Boys, scoring early and often in a 7-1 victory.

Just knowing the scoreline, even a person that didn’t see the game could probably divine some of the ratings here. Christian Pulisic was dominant from kickoff, Weston McKennie conjured up two goals, and Alex Zendejas marked his becoming cap-tied to the team with a goal. If you’re a USMNT fan, it was a fun Friday night.

With that in mind, our ratings for a game that was never particularly close:

Welcome back everyone: Full-strength USMNT returns to hammer Grenada

The USMNT was in full flow as it put seven past an overmatched Grenada side

The U.S. men’s national team looks happy to be back.

A full-strength USMNT was reunited for the first time since the World Cup on Friday, and steamrolled an overmatched Grenada side 7-1 in St. George’s.

With the win, the U.S. ensured it only needs a draw against El Salvador in Orlando on Monday to reach the final four of the CONCACAF Nations league.

The catalyst behind everything on the night was Christian Pulisic, who played a role in each of the team’s four first-half goals — though he scored zero of them.

It was a vintage display from Pulisic, who was dangerous every time he had the ball, beating players off the dribble, winning fouls, delivering pinpoint set pieces and eventually finding his goal early in the second half.

Prior to the game, Ricardo Pepi told Univision he felt the USMNT has more freedom in the attacking third under interim boss Anthony Hudson than under Gregg Berhalter.

It may have been a weak opponent, but the U.S. was indeed free-flowing on Friday. Pepi played a notable role himself, beginning the scoring on the night off an assist from Pulisic and ending as one of two USMNT players with a brace, along with Weston McKennie.

The USMNT’s second goal was also worth noting, as Brenden Aaronson — off another Pulisic assist — scored his first goal since netting for Leeds against Pulisic’s Chelsea back in August.

From there, McKennie grabbed his brace over a three-minute span, with a Grenada goal sandwiched in between. McKennie’s first goal was the pick of the two, coming off an acrobatic volley.

After Pulisic made it five, Pepi scored his second of the night before substitute Alex Zendejas celebrated his recent commitment to the USMNT with a superb left-footed curler to make it seven.

[lawrence-related id=16124,16054,15988]

USMNT roster: Reyna and Zendejas in, Adams injured for Nations League games

The USMNT will face Grenada on March 24 and El Salvador on March 27

Gio Reyna and the recently committed Alex Zendejas were named to the U.S. men’s national team roster for its upcoming CONCACAF Nations League matches against Grenada and El Salvador.

Interim coach Anthony Hudson named a 24-player squad for the games later this month, which take place in the first FIFA window since the 2022 World Cup.

As such, Hudson was able to name a mostly full-strength squad, which will be missing captain Tyler Adams due to a hamstring injury.

There was a return for Reyna, who, along with his parents, has been embroiled in scandal since the World Cup. Zendejas, who made his USMNT debut in January, also made the cut after he committed to the U.S. over Mexico this week.

There were also returns for a few players who narrowly missed the World Cup roster, most notably Zack Steffen, who was surprisingly cut after appearing to be in the mix to start in goal. Late cuts Mark McKenzie, Johnny Cardoso and Ricardo Pepi are also included.

Another notable name on the roster is Miles Robinson, the lone MLS representative. The Atlanta United center back returns for the first time since his World Cup dream was cruelly ended by a torn Achilles tendon suffered in May 2022.

The USMNT will travel to face Grenada on March 24 (8:00 p.m. ET on TNT, Universo and Peacock), which will be followed by a game against El Salvador on March 27 at Exploria Stadium in Orlando (7:30 p.m. ET on TNT, Universo and Peacock).

The USMNT is aiming to reach June’s Nations League finals and defend its title. Defeat to El Salvador would eliminate the U.S., while a loss at Grenada would also position El Salvador to win Group D with a draw in Florida, as the three-team round robin format leaves little margin for error.

USMNT roster (club; caps/goals)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Luton Town; 8/0), Zack Steffen (Middlesbrough; 29/0), Matt Turner (Arsenal; 24/0)

DEFENDERS (8): Sergiño Dest (AC Milan; 23/2), Mark McKenzie (Genk; 10/0), Tim Ream (Fulham; 50/1), Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo; 2/0), Antonee Robinson (Fulham; 33/2), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 20/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; 3/0), Auston Trusty (Birmingham City; 0/0)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United; 28/6), Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; 4/0), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo; 12/0), Weston McKennie (Leeds United; 41/9), Yunus Musah (Valencia; 23/0), Alan Soñora (Juárez; 2/0)

FORWARDS (7): Taylor Booth (Utrecht; 0/0), Daryl Dike (West Bromwich Albion; 8/3), Ricardo Pepi (Groningen; 12/3), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea; 56/22), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; 16/4), Tim Weah (Lille; 29/4), Alex Zendejas (Club América; 1/0)

[lawrence-related id=15643,14700,15498]

Jesús Ferreira busts his USMNT slump with four goals vs. poor Grenada

The striker needed a confidence boost in front of goal. Enter Grenada

Jesús Ferreira needed to bust out of his slump and in Grenada, U.S. head coach Gregg Berhalter saw the perfect opponent for a slump-buster.

Yes, it was Grenada. Yes, Ferreira missed a couple more presentable chances. But, well, he scored four goals. That will paper over a lot of cracks.

Regardless of opponent or context, it was a massive confidence boost for a young striker who himself admitted prior to the game that he was struggling.

And it was vindication for Berhalter, who kept Ferreira in his lineup while rotating many other members of his squad for Friday’s CONCACAF Nations League match at Q2 Stadium in Austin.

There was an expectation that Berhalter would give Haji Wright a start at striker against the minnows, but the U.S. boss clearly believed that getting Ferreira an inevitable multitude of looks at goal would be worth it.

Were the World Cup to start tomorrow Ferreira would be in pole position to start at striker, so it’s not hard to see why Berhalter prioritized the fragile confidence of the FC Dallas star over the chance to get a longer look at Wright.

That lack of confidence was on display for much of the first half, as Ferreira again flattered to deceive when given presentable chances in the box. But a 43rd-minute opener eased the nerves and set the stage for a grandstand second half.

It must be said that Ferreira first missed a sitter of a header before his second-half hat trick, but his second and third goals on the night appeared to come from a confident striker in top form. And to be fair, Ferreira is a confident striker in top form with FC Dallas, where he’s tied for the MLS lead with nine goals.

Even though he lit up the scoreboard in Friday’s 5-0 win, there will be more important tests for Ferreira to pass if he wants to be the guy in Qatar.

At least for one night though, he can say with a reasonable degree of certainty that his national team scoring slump is in the past.

Watch Ferreira’s four goals

[lawrence-related id=3083,3075,3046]