Ricardo Pepi and Weston McKennie had two goals each and
Alejandro Zendejas scored his first international goal. Christian Pulisic and
Brenden Aaronson also scored for the No. 13 Americans, who had never won by a
7-1 score.
Pepi ended a 10-match international scoreless streak when he
put the U.S. ahead with a fourth-minute header off Pulisic’s cross. Pulisic and
Luca de La Torre had two assists each for the Americans, who for the first time
since Major League Soccer launched in 1996 failed to field at least one MLS
player.
Berhalter used Reyna sparingly at the World Cup and the
20-year-old nearly was sent home by Berhalter for lack of hustle in training.
The player’s parents, former U.S. captain Claudio Reyna and former women’s
player Danielle Egan Reyna, notified the U.S. Soccer Federation of a 1992
domestic violence incident involving Berhalter and the woman he later married —
Danielle Egan’s former college roommate.
The USSF commissioned a law firm to investigate and
appointed Anthony Hudson interim coach after Berhalter’s contract expired Dec.
31. The law firm said there was no legal impediment to retaining Berhalter, who
remains a candidate, and the USSF put off a coaching decision until after a new
sporting director is hired, probably this summer.
In the first competitive U.S. match since the World Cup,
Reyna started in central midfield rather than his wing role under Berhalter. He
played until the 64th minute.
Auston Trusty made his U.S. debut, paired in central defense
with Mark McKenzie, who got his first start since October 2021. Forward Taylor
Booth made his debut in the 64th.
Right back Bryan Reynolds made his first start since
December 2021. The U.S. starting lineup included goalkeeper Matt Turner and,
left back Joe Scally, McKennie along with Luca de la Torre, Pulisic, Reyna and
Aaronson in midfield, and Pepi at striker following his omission from the World
Cup roster.
The U.S. improved to 5-0 against Grenada with a 22-3 (15-2)
goals advantage.
Pepi scored from 7 yards in the fourth minute, his first
international goal since October 2021. Aaronson scored in the 20th minute off
Pulisic’s feed, his seventh international goal. and McKennie Aaronson’s Leeds
teammate, scored in the 31st, getting a head to Pulisic’s angled free kick and
volleying with his weaker left foot.
Myles Hippolyte scored in the 32nd minute for Grenada in his
international debut, beating Turner from 16 yards. McKennie got his 11th
international goal in the 34th after Trusty headed down a cross. knocking the
ball in with his right foot from short range.
Pulisic scored his 23rd international goal in the 49th
minute with a shot that bounced in off goalkeeper Jason Belfon, and Pepi got
his fifth international goal in the 53rd, scoring from 6 yards after running
onto de la Torre’s through ball. Zendejas, who committed to the U.S. over
Mexico, made his American competitive debut in the 64th minute and scored from
23 yards following a turnover in the 72nd minute.
Johnny Cardoso entered in the 76th in his American
competitive debut, tying him to the U.S. program.
The Americans complete group play Monday in Orlando,
Florida, against El Salvador, which has five points. and would advance to the
semifinals in June with a win or draw. Grenada finished last in the group with
one point.
Notes: After meeting with the U.S. team in Orlando, Reims
midfielder Folarin Balogun visited New York Yankees camp in Tampa. The
21-year-old midfielder, on loan from Arsenal, is eligible to play for England,
the U.S. and Nigeria. ... D Miles Robinson, who hasn’t played for the U.S.
since tearing his left Achilles on May 7, was a healthy scratch. -AP
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