Our Clients:

Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Sep 9, 2023 8:05 pm

USMNT blanks Uzbekistan in international friendly

weston mckennie
Photo by: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

Ricardo Pepi and Christian Pulisic both scored in second-half stoppage time to put the finishing touches on the United States men’s national team’s 3-0 victory over Uzbekistan in an international friendly in St. Louis on Saturday.

The win marked Gregg Berhalter’s return as coach.

Matt Turner made three saves to pick up the clean sheet for the Americans, who will face Oman in another friendly on Tuesday. That match will be held in St. Paul, Minn.

Timothy Weah also scored for the U.S. He wasted little time putting the U.S. on top, sending a right-footed shot past Uzbekistan goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov in the fourth minute.

Weston McKennie was on the receiving end of a cross, quickly controlling it before playing keep-away from a trio of Uzbekistani defenders. He then sent the ball back to a trailing Weah, who fired a shot into the bottom left corner of the net.

The United States nearly doubled its lead just 12 minutes later, but Luca de la Torre’s left-footed shot was saved by Yusupov.

Uzbekistan had two opportunities to level the match shortly before the break, as Eldor Shomurodov put a shot on target in the 42nd minute before sending another shot at Turner in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. Both tries were stopped, though, and Turner wouldn’t be forced to make another save until the 61st minute.

After the visitors were unable to break through for 90 minutes, Pepi’s essentially sealed the victory with a right-footed strike in the first minute of second-half stoppage time.

But the U.S. wasn’t done yet.

Three minutes later, Malik Tillman drew a foul on Uzbekistan’s Umar Eshmuradov in the penalty area. That sent Pulisic to the spot, where he sent a laser into the upper left corner of the net to forge the three-goal advantage.

Yusupov finished with three saves for Uzbekistan.

The Americans doubled up the Uzbekistanis in shots on goal (6-3), but the visitors did hold a 15-13 advantage in shots. The U.S. maintained possession for 64.6 percent of the match.

Saturday’s match will help the United States prepare for its CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 16. The Americans don’t know who they will be playing yet, but the winner of that match will qualify for the 2024 Copa America.

–Field Level Media

You may also like

LAFC, Club America
Jun 1, 2025 1:44 am

Denis Bouanga’s goal in 115th minute sends LAFC to Club World Cup

Denis Bouanga scored on a blast in the 115th minute and host Los Angeles FC rallied for a 2-1 extra-time victory over Mexico’s Club America on Saturday to earn a…

galaxy
Jun 1, 2025 1:02 am

Galaxy finally end winless streak, avoid historic mark

Seventeen matches into the 2025 season, the Los Angeles Galaxy finally collected their first victory with Saturday’s 2-0 win over visiting Real Salt Lake. The Galaxy’s 16-match (0-12-4) winless drought…

Austin FC, San Diego FC
Jun 1, 2025 12:57 am

San Diego FC stay hot at home, blank Austin FC

Luca de la Torre scored his fourth goal of the season in the 60th minute and San Diego FC defeated visiting Austin FC 2-0 on Saturday night. Substitute Milan Iloski…

More Soccer News

LAFC, Club America
Jun 1, 2025 1:44 am

Denis Bouanga’s goal in 115th minute sends LAFC to Club World Cup

Denis Bouanga scored on a blast in the 115th minute and host Los Angeles FC rallied for a 2-1 extra-time victory over Mexico’s Club America on Saturday to earn a…

galaxy
Jun 1, 2025 1:02 am

Galaxy finally end winless streak, avoid historic mark

Austin FC, San Diego FC
Jun 1, 2025 12:57 am

San Diego FC stay hot at home, blank Austin FC

Dejan Joveljic
May 31, 2025 11:09 pm

Dejan Joveljic tallies twice to lead Sporting KC past Dynamo

Union, FC Dallas
May 31, 2025 11:01 pm

Short-handed FC Dallas draw with MLS-leading Union

Read all
fb-post
advertisment
title-icon

Upcoming events

See all odds
[gs-fb-comments]