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- United States Dominate Ghana 4-0 in Nashville Friendly; Reyna Shines with Brace
United States Dominate Ghana 4-0 in Nashville Friendly; Reyna Shines with Brace
Chicago, USA.- The United States national soccer team rebounded on Tuesday after a 1-3 loss to Germany last Saturday. They clinched a commanding 4-0 victory against Ghana at the Geodis Park Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Giovanni Reyna scored twice, and Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun each added a goal, all within the first 39 minutes of the match.
Eager to bounce back after their defeat to Germany in Connecticut, Coach Greg Berhalter's team exhibited strong momentum and aggressiveness in the first half, turning the second half into a mere formality.
Berhalter played an offensive combination with Gio Reyna, Pulisic, and Timothy Weah, supporting the solo striker, Balogun. All four players left a significant mark on the match.
Reyna initiated the scoring spree just ten minutes in, seizing a loose ball in the penalty area and driving it home with a right-footed shot. Weah dazzled with skillful plays on the wing.
In one of Weah's standout moments, he was fouled in the penalty area, leading to a penalty that Pulisic confidently converted to make it 2-0 in the 19th minute.
Pulisic is currently in great form. He recently scored a crucial goal against Germany and also delivered a vital 1-0 win for his club, AC Milan, against Genoa in Italy's Serie A.
Weah continued to dominate on the wing. In another stellar move, he sent in a cross that Balogun masterfully controlled and shot into the net, bringing the score to 3-0 in the 22nd minute.
Ghana, with Iñaki Williams from Athletic Bilbao in the starting lineup, seemed mentally disengaged from the match. Within a short span, the African team received two yellow cards, one for Addo and the other for Partey. By the 39th minute, Reyna added his second, essentially sealing the victory for the U.S.
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder rounded off the U.S. triumph by converting a direct free kick just outside the penalty box.
Upon resumption, the U.S. team dialed down the intensity. Berhalter introduced Luca De La Torre, the gifted midfielder from Celta Vigo, Weston McKennie from Juventus, and the Mexican-American winger Ricardo Pepi from PSV Eindhoven.
There was also positive news defensively for the U.S. After showing vulnerabilities against Germany, goalkeeper Matt Turner, from Nottingham Forest of the English Premier League, enjoyed a clean sheet.
Match Details:
United States: Turner; Dest, Robinson, Richards (subbed off for Carter Vickers at 72'), Lund; Cardoso (subbed off for Maloney at 65'), Musah (subbed off for De La Torre at 72'); Weah, Reyna (subbed off for Aaronson at 46'), Pulisic (subbed off for McKennie at 46'); Balogun (subbed off for Pepi at 46').
Coach: Greg Berhalter
Ghana: Nurudeen; Mensah (subbed off for Schindler at 46'), J. Opoku, N. Opoku, Seidu; Addo, Partey (subbed off for Abdul Samed at 64'); Paintsil (subbed off for Owusu at 64'), Ayew, Kudus (subbed off for Nuamah at 75'); Williams (subbed off for Semenyo at 75').
Coach: Chris Hughton
Goals:
1-0, 10': Reyna
2-0, 19': Pulisic
3-0, 22': Balogun
4-0, 39': Reyna
Referee: Miguel Ángel Ortiz (Mexico). He showed yellow cards to Ghana's Addo at 30' and Partey at 35'.
Note: The friendly match took place at Geodis Park Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, with an estimated crowd of 30,000 spectators.