The selection of USA won this Monday 1-0 at the The Savior and qualified for the semifinals of the CONCACAF Nations Leaguefinishing as the leader of group D ahead of the Salvadoran team, which needed a victory on American soil to advance.
After losing in Honduras (0-1) on March 22, El Salvador lost in Orlando to a goal in the 62nd minute by Ricardo Pepi, a Groningen forward, on loan from Augsburg. The United States, which has not lost to El Salvador since 1993, with a record of 17 wins and five draws, will play the semifinals of the CONCACAF Nations League next June. They closed the group stage with two victories in the last three days, after the resounding 7-1 endorsement of Granada at home.
El Salvador had a great opportunity to break equality on one occasion caused by a throw-in from midfield. Brayan Gil received the ball on the edge of the area and offered it to Jairo Henríquez, whose curling shot with his right foot was sent to a corner by a great save from goalkeeper Matt Turner.
Defensively, the Salvadoran team managed to contain the American technique and only really risked once, right on the brink of halftime, when Weston McKennie pardoned a header after a cross hung towards the far post by Chrstian Pulisic. Previously, Gio Reyna, with a change of pace at the three-quarter line, opened up spaces and released a low right foot from 25 meters that goalkeeper Mario González sent for a corner without any particular trouble.
Sergiño Dest played the entire match against El Salvador
But the US team stepped up its aggression at the restart and gave warning of that in the 45th second when Gio Reyna slammed a low shot with his right foot into a post. El Salvador’s defense would hold out for 17 more minutes, but at minute 62 the United States broke the tie with a great goal from Ricardo Pepi, who had just jumped onto the field.
The former Dallas FC forward took advantage of a great vertical pass from McKennie and past the goalkeeper with a graceful lob from the right foot. Pepi celebrated in style, who needed confidence after being left out of the World Cup in Qatar. Spaces opened up for the United States, but the poor success of Pulisic, who missed at least two clear chances in front of the goal, prevented Gregg Berhalter’s team from making the score bigger.
DATA SHEET
1 – United States: Turner; Dest, Miles Robinson, Ream, Antonee Robinson; McKennie (Cardoso, m.92), Musa (De La Torre, m.72), Zendejas (Aaronson, m.60), Reyna (Booth, m.72), Pulisic; Dike (Pepi, m.60)
0 – El Salvador: Gonzalez; Roldán (Blanco, m.46), Zavaleta, Domínguez, Tamacas; Orellana, Reyes (Menjívar, m.76), Landaverde (Martínez, m.57), Dueñas (Gil, m.57), Henríquez; Brian Gil
Referee: Mario Escobar: He admonished Reyes, from El Salvador (m.66)
Goal: 1-0, Ricardo Pepi (d. 62)
Incidents: Match corresponding to the fourth day of group D of the League of Nations A played at the Exploria stadium in Orlando (Florida, USA) before about 23,000 spectators
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