Tag: Oman

USMNT gets dominant display it wanted in Oman rout

Gregg Berhalter got the performance he wanted after a subpar display against Uzbekistan

The U.S. men’s national team may have beaten Uzbekistan 3-0 on Saturday, but the game was far tighter than that scoreline would suggest.

Head coach Gregg Berhalter said he wanted an improved display against Oman and on Tuesday at Allianz Field in St. Paul, he got what he was hoping for.

The USMNT was dominant in its first-ever meeting with Oman, riding a first-half goal from Folarin Balogun and second-half goals from Brenden Aaronson, Ricardo Pepi and an Oman own goal to a 4-0 win.

Just like against Uzbekistan, the USMNT opened the scoring on a well-worked goal that originated with a cross from the left. Tim Weah’s layoff was drilled by Sergiño Dest, forcing goalkeeper Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini to parry right into the path of Balogun, who was left with an simple tap-in.

The U.S. effectively put the match away at the hour mark. Having drawn a foul at the top of the box, Aaronson stepped up to take the free kick himself. The Union Berlin man’s shot snuck through the wall and seemed to fool Al-Mukhaini, who slipped and saw the ball go straight through him.

There was time for a much-anticipated debut for Benjamin Cremaschi, as the 18-year-old Inter Miami star came on in the 71st minute for his first USMNT cap.

Minutes later, Pepi gave the USMNT a three-goal advantage with a smart turn and finish from just inside the box. It continued a red-hot 2023 for the PSV striker, who now has six goals in six U.S. appearances this year.

Another highly touted prospect, Wolfsburg’s Kevin Paredes, also got his first cap when he entered the match in the 80th minute and immediately forced an own goal from Khalid Al-Braiki with an excellent low cross from the right flank.

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Jones replaces Scally on USMNT roster for Oman friendly

The New England Revolution left back has six career caps

New England Revolution left back DeJuan Jones has been added to the U.S. men’s national team roster for Tuesday’s friendly against Oman, U.S. Soccer has announced.

Jones replaces Joe Scally, who has left the team due to family reasons.

Scally was an unused sub on Saturday as the USMNT beat Uzbekistan 3-0 in the first of two September friendlies.

The USMNT will now face Oman at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minn. at 8:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday (TNT, Universo and Peacock).

Jones has earned all six of his USMNT caps this year, with the 26-year-old making his debut in a January friendly against Serbia.

The Revolution defender turned in a strong Gold Cup, starting four of the USMNT’s five matches in a tournament that ended with a shootout defeat to Panama in the semifinal.

Jones has started 18 MLS matches for New England this season, scoring one goal and adding four assists.

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Cremaschi headlines USMNT roster for September friendlies

The Inter Miami teenager is a dual-national who is also still eligible to represent Argentina

Inter Miami midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi was named to Gregg Berhalter’s 24-man U.S. men’s national team roster for September friendlies against Uzbekistan and Oman.

Cremaschi, 18, has spent time with the youth national teams of the U.S. and Argentina, and remains eligible for both. The midfielder has impressed with Miami in his first season of senior-team action, and said recently that he’d been speaking with Inter Miami’s Argentine superstar Lionel Messi about his international future.

Along with Cremaschi, Kristoffer Lund is the other newcomer to the USMNT roster. The 21-year-old Palermo left back represented Denmark throughout his youth career, but has filed a one-time change of association to switch to the USMNT.

The USMNT will host Uzbekistan on September 9 at CityPark in St. Louis (5:30 p.m. ET, TNT, Telemundo), before facing Oman on September 12 at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT).

The two games will also mark the return of Gregg Berhalter, who was re-hired as head coach in June following six months away from the team.

“We are thrilled to have a number of core players in this group while also being able to introduce some new faces to the senior team,” Berhalter said. “Uzbekistan and Oman are types of teams we could face in the World Cup, so it’s an important opportunity to gain that experience.”

Berhalter’s roster features 12 players who were part of the 2022 World Cup squad, including Christian Pulisic, who has the most caps on the current roster with 60.

Some key players will miss out due to injury, including Gio Reyna, Tyler Adams, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Walker Zimmerman, Taylor Booth and Josh Sargent.

USMNT September 2023 roster (club; caps/goals)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Drake Callender (Inter Miami; 0/0), Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest; 8/0), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest; 32/0)

DEFENDERS (9): Sergiño Dest (PSV; 26/2), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo; 0/0), Mark McKenzie (Genk; 11/0), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg; 0/0), Tim Ream (Fulham; 51/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; 10/1), Antonee Robinson (Fulham; 36/2), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 25/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; 6/0)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; 7/0), Ben Cremaschi (Inter Miami; 0/0), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo; 16/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus; 44/11), Yunus Musah (AC Milan; 27/0), Malik Tillman (PSV; 4/0)

FORWARDS (6): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin; 32/7), Folarin Balogun (Arsenal; 2/1), Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; 8/1), Ricardo Pepi (PSV; 16/7), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan; 60/25), Tim Weah (Juventus; 31/4)

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USMNT September friendlies see first-ever matches vs. Uzbekistan, Oman

September’s FIFA window will see two unfamiliar foes for the USMNT

The U.S. men’s national team’s first post-Gold Cup friendlies will see two games against first-ever opponents visit in September.

The USMNT will host Uzbekistan on September 9 at CityPark in St. Louis (5:30 p.m. Eastern, TNT, Telemundo), before taking on Oman three days later at Minnesota United’s Allianz Field (8:30 p.m., TNT).

“We are very intentional and committed to presenting different challenges to our team during the next three years as we continue to develop the program,” said head coach Gregg Berhalter in a press release announcing the games. “Uzbekistan and Oman are first-time opponents for us and both are preparing for the AFC Asian Cup, so we expect them to be good tests. We look forward to visiting two excellent soccer facilities and performing in front of the fantastic supporters in St. Louis and the Twin Cities.”

Berhalter will be making his return to the touchline for the USMNT in these games, with interim coach B.J. Callaghan carrying on with the squad that is currently participating in the Gold Cup.

Not the teams the USMNT planned on facing

Fox Sports reported on Wednesday that U.S. Soccer had tried to line up some blockbuster friendlies in this window. Argentina and Brazil were reportedly closing in on deals to be the opposition in September, but with CONMEBOL electing to use the full window for World Cup qualifying, the USMNT had to look elsewhere.

That resulted in looking towards Asia, where like CONCACAF the FIFA window wasn’t yet occupied by competitive matches. That search ended with two teams that are currently ranked 73rd (Oman) and 74th (Uzbekistan) by FIFA.

Neither side has ever qualified for the World Cup, but both have been close at times. Uzbekistan has made the knockout round in the last five AFC Asian Cup tournaments, while Oman broke through for the first time in the 2019 edition.

Both have qualified for the 2023 Asian Cup, which will be played in January 2024 to avoid the summer heat in host nation Qatar.

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Troon-managed La Vie Club in Oman reopens its golf course with plans for development

The former Muscat Hills Golf and Country Club was the first fully grassed course in Oman.

The former Muscat Hills Golf and Country Club, the first fully-grassed golf course in Oman in western Asia, has been rebranded La Vie Club and re-opened under management by Arizona-based Troon.

The course, about a 10-minute drive from the Muscat airport, opened in 2009 but shut down in 2020 during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The property was since purchased by Oman investment company Omnivest. Troon was appointed to manage the property in 2022.

The first phase of the project is the reopening of the 18-hole course. Preview play began earlier this year, and a full reopening is scheduled for Sept. 1 as the course is returned to its original design by reducing the extended grass areas. A temporary clubhouse will be used starting this summer, and a full clubhouse is slated to open in early 2026.

The second phase of development includes residential, commercial and tourism buildings, including an 80-room boutique hotel that will feature a 70-meter rooftop pool overlooking the golf course.

“We are very excited to reestablish the club as one of the premier golf facilities within the region serving golfers, the community and growing the game of golf in Oman,” La Vie Club operations manager Freddie Rexstrew said in a media release announcing the news. “We will be delivering the Troon Experience and are focused on being a fun and family-friendly club.”

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