USA 1-0 El Salvador summary: score, goals, highlights, 2022 World Cup qualifying
It wasn't pretty but the USMNT won 1-0
The United States men's national team didn't have their best performance against El Salvador at the Lower.com Field, but Antonee Robinson scored the winning goal to give them the win and the three points on Thursday night. With this result the USMNT is really close to secure their spot to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The United States had two clear opportunities to score in the first 45 minutes, but Jesus Ferreira missed the target twice. El Salvador had a counter attack and their captain, Alex Roldan, fired a powerful right footed shot from inside the box, but the ball went wide. That was the most clear opportunity for the 'Cuscatlecos' to score the entire game.
The United States won 1-0 and after the 90 minutes they ended up with 17 shots, five on target, and held to 62.4% of the possession. While the visiting side had six shots, none on target, and held to 37% of the the possession. The USMNT remains in second place with 18 points, one less than first place Canada, and they could secure their spot in the next World Cup if they will all nine points during this international window.
The United States men's national team managed to take the home win and this is the end of the road for El Salvador. The USMNT will go on the road to face Canada on Sunday and a win would boost the Americans into the group lead in its quest to reach Qatar. Thanks for watching the minute by minute with AS.com/
Four minutes added of stoppage time and this seems like the end of the road for El Salvador.
Kellyn Acosta replaces Yunus Musah.
Zardes' header goes over the goal after a set piece.
Corner kick for El Salvador, the first one for them this game.
Columbus man Gyasi Zardes comes on Jesús Ferreira, Jordan Morris on for Tim Weah as the clock strikes the 73rd minute.
Narciso Orellana comes in for El Salvador
Great solo play by Antonee Robinson, who takes out a couple of defenders and attempts a right footed shot, but once again Mario Gonzalez makes an outstanding save.
First substitution for the USMNT. Christian Pulisic comes out and he is replaced by Brenden Aaronson.
Cristian Gil and Enrico Dueñas come out and they are replaced by Calvillo and Nelson Bonilla for El Salvador.
Corner kick for the USMNT and Weston McKennie's header barely goes wide.
What a great save from Gonzalez after Musah shoots from a close range.
GOL! GOLAZO! GOAL! Antonee Robinson scores for the USMNT after a couple of rebounds, he is able to find the back of the net after a powerful shot with his left foot.
The bench of the USMNT has started to warm up as their coach, Gregg Berhalter, prepares to make some substiitutions.
The second half has started at the Lower.com Field.
It is nil-nil after 45 minutes! We will be back for the second half.
One minute added of sttopgae time
Christian Pulisic tried to go through defenders on top of the 18, but he trips and El Salvador recovered the ball.
WHAT A CHACE FROM THE USMNT! This time Tim Weah receives the ball near the goal and he was able to control it and his left footed f=shot was blocked by a defender from El Salvador.
Sergiño Dest cuts to his left foot just outside the box and he attempted a shot but it was blocked by Darwin Cerén.
SO CLOSE! El Salvador switch the point of attacking from right to left and Alex Roldan shot a powerful right footed shot, but it barely went wide.
The first shot on goal is for El Salvador! Enrico Dueñas takes a free kick from distance, but he lacked power and USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner was able to control it.
The first missed opportunity from Ferreira.
Once again Ferreira misses a clear opportunity to score the opening goal of the match. He dove with his right foot, instead of his left, and tried to tap the ball to score, but his shot went over.
Jesus Ferreira receives a ball from Robinson and he dribbles past a defender inside the box to shoot with his left foot. Unfortunately, the shot wen over the goal.
Christian Pulisic attempts a right footed shot from inside the box, but it was blocked by the defenders from El Salvador.
Images from tonight
No shots on goal so far!
Now El Salvador is pressing high and the USMNT is having a hard time leaving their zone.
El Salvador national team has only won one game of their last 15.
El Salvador can't get out of their own half in the first couple of minutes and the United States controls the possession of the ball.
A victory will mean the USMNT (4-1-3, 12 points) will retain at least second place in the CONCACAF Octagonal. A USA win, combined with a draw or loss by first-place Canada (4-0-4, 16) at last-place Honduras (0-5-3, 3) the same day, would boost the Americans into the group lead in its quest to reach Qatar.
The game has started between the USMNT against El Salvador at the Lower.com Field.
Some facts about the USMNT prior to facing El Salvador
The World Cup qualifiers in CONCACAF are set to resume this week with the United States men’s national team looking to secure their spot at Qatar 2022. The USMNT head coach, Gregg Berhalter, confirmed the 28-man roster for three crucial games with six fixtures left in the final round-robin tournament.
The first week of the winter international break has started and several Major League Soccer players have joined their national teams ahead of crucial matches for their ambitions of qualifying for the next World Cup. Between 27 January and 2 February there will be three qualifying games in CONCACAF that could determine who will be in Qatar.
In 300 days (as of 25 January) the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will kick off and 32 teams will feature this year before it expands to 48 in 2026. One of the biggest sporting events in the world will be held for the second time in Asia and for the first time it is scheduled to start in the winter, running from 18 November to 18 December.
The international break in January is crucial for many teams around the world that are looking to book their ticket to Qatar later this year. So far, 13 countries have already qualified for the World Cup, which means there are only 19 spots left to be determined over the coming months.
starting XI for the USMNT
Starting XI for El Salvador
There are only six games left in the World Cup qualifiers in CONCACAF so these nine points are crucial for the United States and the rest of the teams in the round-robin tournament. Prior to facing El Salvador, Brenden Aaronson spoke about the improvement of the USMNT after failing to qualify for the World Cup in 2018.
Many Americans have signed for different clubs in Europe and Aaronson believes that it has helped the USMNT in this new process under manager Gregg Berhalter. “That is the goal and there are many ways to achieve it. A lot of players are in Europe and they have done a great job,” said the midfielder from RB Salzburg.
Securing a place at Qatar 2022 during the January/February international week is possible, if not straightforward, for the United States men’s national team, who currently sit second in CONCACAF’s eight-team World Cup qualifying group. The USMNT, who missed out on Russia 2018, need a series of results to go their way if they’re to confirm their return to the World Cup finals in the next three games.
The USA team will try to add another win on home soil when they face El Salvador in their CONCACAF World Cup qualifier at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio. You can watch the game live on FUBO in the US. Gregg Berhalter's men, who are are unbeaten in their last 18 matches played on American soil, are currently sitting second in the standings with 15 points, one behind leaders Canada, while their opponents are second-to-last with six points.
Hello and welcome to the preview and play by play of United States against El Salvador, game that will be played Thursday January 27th at Lower.com Field.