The U.S. National Team ends the year with a victory
It was a beautiful night for soccer and a special win to end the year. USMNT made the opponent feel uncomfortable by attacking since the beginning of the match.
USMNT 1-0 Bosnia | 2021 to Remember for the USA
The United States National Tram defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina in a tense game at Dignity Health Sports Park. With this victory, the US Men’s National Team had its best year with 17 favorable results, including three against Mexico, a Nations Team title, a World Cup, and first place in the CONCACAF Qualifiers.
“Kings of CONCACAF”
Wow, where do I start? I have never felt so confident in a USA side ever. Even with the 2014 World Cup, behind us. I have never seen a USA dominate Mexico so many times in one year. Now I can’t make the judgement, maybe all of you can help me. Is this USA team that good already, or is this Mexico team that bad? Either way, Mexico is not in good shape. We may see Tata Martino on the hot seat one more time.
Gregg Berhalter’s USMNT on the Brink Again
WHEW, let’s all just go ahead, exhale a big sigh of relief. Am I the only one that gets Flashbacks to the Trinidad game every time we play a qualifier? If so, let me know. Well enough about the emotions, let’s get to the facts. The USMNT have done it again, they pulled a win with 2 goals in Columbus, out of nowhere, but this was no “Dos A Cero” type of game. The game was instead a nail biter in its own right, it was for The Captain America-less USMNT went ahead and got the job done in this international window. They pushed forward and got 6 points out of the possible 9. All done with a nice little scare in the middle of the qualifying games and Gregg being on the hot seat once more. The USMNT stand 5 points above 5th place currently, and as long as Gregg doesn’t try Rocket Science with the lineup, the United States should qualify for the World Cup in 2022. The lineup came out and everyone was excited for once, Paul Arriola had a last-minute injury, and it forced Weah to start in his place. A player that everyone wants to see with their own eyes what the hype is about. The Lille player gets constant European play. The son of Current Liberian President and son of the only African player to ever win the Balón de Oro, got on the scoresheet to propel the USMNT past a very old Costa Rican side. This Costa Rican side had all the same names that you have come accustomed to. Bryan Ruiz, Keylor Navas and MLS Veteran Francisco Calvo to name a few. A player that I had my eye on this match was 18 years old Yunus Musah. The New York Native, or at least New York vacationer, has played 295 minutes in La Liga for the Valencia side so far. Valencia is no pushover as well. They currently sit 8th in La Liga, right above a club in shambles, Barcelona. The reason for me keeping a closer look at Musah, is because this team needs stars to step up with the absence of offensive powers like Cristian Pulisic and Gio Reyna. He did step up to the plate completely. Yunus Musah completed over 90 percent of his passes in this last game, and actually was at 100 percent in the final third. Musah also picked up his second Career assist on the Sergino Dest banger that put USA on the board. Let's remember this team is extremely young, Musah is still only 18! All in all, this team looks like it finally has some depth to get the job done in CONCACAF, which is completely needed. Qualifying can be brutal, unlucky and just a complete toss up when it comes to CONCACAF. Mix that all in with a big spoon of no VAR, and let's see what you will get at the end. The USMNT have their long anticipated matchup vs Mexico this next upcoming window, and I know everyone in North and Central America will have it marked on their calendar. Let's see if Tata’s Mexico team can finally get revenge after the Nations League and Gold Cup. With Pulisic and Reyna back, these next upcoming games will be a sight to see. The USA team is starting to gel, let's all get ready for Qatar.
All Aboard The Ricardo Pepi Train
The United States squeezed out a 4-1 one win vs Honduras. We can all take a relaxing deep breath now, including Gregg Berhalter. This was the most nail biting 4-1 victory I have ever seen! The pressure that mounted on Berhalters shoulder when everything wasn’t working in the first half, the correct adjustments were made. Hopefully this is a wake up call for everyone. The team played extremely well in the second half and tied up the game right away coming out of the half. Then goals started pouring in, the first goal went in off a beautiful shot by A.Robinson, the second one was a beautiful header by Pepi, the third goal was a nice slotted goal from Aaronson on a nice Pepi pass and the last goal came from Lletget on a rebound of a Pepi shot. Pepi is the Man of the Match. These second half boys made the USMNT finally look like a team full of Europeans going into Honduras and getting a result, but the irony is the MLS based players balled out. This lineup was the youngest lineup to have ever started a WCQ for the USMNT. Ricardo Pepi becomes the second youngest USMNT starter ever, only behind Captain America (Pulisic) himself.
I think we can all agree that this 9 position is Ricardo Pepi’s to lose. Sargent and Pefok need to show me and the United States fanbase something before even thinking about getting that spot back. It's the day after the USA Honduras matchup and I can tell you there is no stress thing about the USMNT. Ricardo Pepi is going home to FC Dallas to play vs the San Jose Earthquakes this weekend and everything returns to normal. 2 Italian teams came knocking to sign Pepi this last transfer window and it seems like that trend will continue. His debut performance in WCQ will only make his price skyrocket. Let’s not forget Ricardo Pepi is a Mexican-American with his trajectory of going to Europe every passing minute. He chose to play for the United States of America. The USMNT repaid him by playing him a full 90 minutes in his debut. Mexico unfortunately could not offer that to him. A Mexican American playing in MLS, no way they can give him 90 minutes in a WCQ. If Pepi becomes at least a pivotal bench player for the USMNT then this a win in the Gregg Berhalter era. A win that, we need to give credit when credit is deserved, proves that Gregg Berhalter can attract talent. A trait that Jurgen Klinsmann was so good at. Something the USMNT needs is to keep their player pool with the best talent possible.
Berhalter made every single decision right in the second half, he made a decision to take off Sargent and leave on Pepi. This decision caused the United States to score 4 goals for the first time ever away in a WCQ. Berhalter was on the hot seat, but since Mexico dropped some points vs Costa Rica, the seat got cold. It was reassuring seeing that Berhalter can make changes mid game, and find a way to win.
Looking forward to the next couple of games for the USMNT, they have found a new striker in Pepi. They don’t have to worry about much because all the European players will be coming back healthy and ready to go. Hopefully Mckennie can calm down and help this squad succeed. The USMNT take on a harder series of teams next month in Jamaica, Costa Rica and Panama. The Mexico game will come as well, but we have to wait till November to see Ricardo Pepi score a hat trick on El Tri.