The U.S. men's national team moved a step closer to qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a dominant 3-0 win over Hondurasin frigid Minnesota weather.
The Americans got off to a great start with a Weston McKennie set-piece header inside 10 minutes, and then theyput the game out of reach just before halftime. Star forward Christian Pulisic came off the bench in the final 25minutes to get a goal that helped the USA pad its goal difference, which could come into play as a tiebreaker in a case the Americans are even with other teams in the standings.
The USA now sits in second place on 21 points and an automatic berth to the 2022 World Cup is very much within reach in the final three qualifying matches that will be played in March. Two of those games will be road trips at Mexico and Costa Rica with a home game against Panama that could turn out to be the clincher or a World Cup qualifying Charlie Sanders Jerseys celebration.
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Honduras was already eliminated heading into the match, rooted in last place in the qualifying table. Outside ofa brief spell of 20 minutes following the USA's goal, Detroit Lions Men Jersey the Catrachos were never really in the game. And when the USA brought in fresh legs in attack, the visitors hadall they could do to prevent the USA from expanding the margin of victory.
"For us, we want to stay first or second in this window We are in a good position going into the last round."Gregg Berhalter discu ses the team's performance and what he expects from moving forward
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The match didn't feature many spectacular pa sages of play, butitwill be remembered most for the severe weather conditions which included temperatures that dipped into negative territory with the windchill. U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner tried to get away with using a hand warmer tied around his waste (the referee made him remove it) and two Honduran players were reportedly treated for hypothermia (the starting goalkeeper and Romell Quioto).
Two Honduran players treated for hypothermia and had to come out of the game.
Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) USMNT vs. Honduras finalscore 1H 2H Final USA 213 Honduras 000
Goals: USA Weston McKennie (Kellyn Acosta) 8th min.USA Walker Zimmerman (Kellyn Acosta) 37th min.USA Christian Pulisic (Walker Zimmerman, Ricardo Pepi) 67th min.
(All times Eastern)
Final: USA 3, Honduras 0
Minnesota soccer fans are different
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88th min.: The USA scores another but it's called back for offside. Brenden Aaronson was offside so Christian Pulisic's goal is disallowed.
84th min.: SUB Cristian Roldan in for Weston McKennie Herman Moore Jerseys , who goes straight into the locker room.
83rd min.: Break in the action and there's Gregg Berhalter taking a photo with fans ... during the game.
Always got time for the fans.
U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT)
gregg berhalter taking a pic DURING THE GAME what is happening USMNT MADNESS
USMNT Only (@usmntonly)
79th min.: USA penalty shout! VAR takes some time to look at it but there wasn't much to the Brenden Aaronson fall in the box.
75th min.: SUBS Brenden Aaronson and Jesus Ferreira come in for Jared Goff Jerseys Ricardo Pepi and Tim Weah. The USA wants to pad that goal difference figure.
67th min.: GOAL USA And the substitute scores! Pulisic scores the USA's third.
. 's 18th goal. 3-0.
U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT)
64th min.: SUB And here's Christian Pulisic coming on for Jordan Morris.
Pulisic enters the game for the
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61st min.: SUB Honduras makes a fourth sub already, bringing on Devron Garcia for Kevin Lopez. And Christian Pulisic is apparently coming on soon for the USA.
60th min.: Great sportsmanship by Tim Weah, knocking the ball out of play with the goalkeeper on the ground with a head injury (a previous Weah shot struck the 'keeper in the head).
58th min.: The USA will not be content until it gets that third. The American forwards are battling hard. Tim Weah and Jordan Morris fight to win the ball back and Ricardo Pepi is the beneficiary for a shot that finishes wide.
56th min.: The USMNT in total control. So much so that goalkeeper Matt Turner has to stay warm by doing sprints while he's waiting to be called into action.
Poor Matt Turner.
Jeff Rueter (@jeffrueter)
50th min.: Strong start from the USA. Great combination play between Weston McKennie and Tim Weah and it's Weah who gets the shot Shane Zylstra Jerseys off, forcing a save.
Wes and Tim, just vibing.Looking for No. 3. x
U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT)
46th min.: The second half is underway and Honduras makes three changes, including the goalkeeper. Romell Quioto is out of the game.
Halftime: USA 2, Honduras 0
Halftime: That's the way Gregg Berhalter drew up that first half. Early goal, solid defending and a second just before halftime. If Honduras showed any fight to start the first half, the visitors looked deflated after conceding the second. It's looking like the second half has more U.S. goals in it.
More first half goals than Minnesota has degrees
U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT)
46th min.: Another set piece opportunity for the USA and Walker Zimmerman had a free header. These set pieces have done in Honduras so far.
37th min.: GOAL USA And on the set piece, the USA scores. Kellyn Acosta with the delivery into the box and the ball reaches Zimmerman in the box with his back to goal and he spins and scores. Austin Bryant Jerseys Honduras wanted a foul but the goal stands.
Another set piece, another GOAL for the sends it home for the
FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer)
36th min.: YELLOW CARDS Wisdom Quaye gets a yellow for a foul on Luca de la Torre. Mejia gets a yellow for protesting the call.
33rd min.: There's an injury break and Matt Turner runs to the sideline to wrap himself in a blanket. It's that cold.
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