In the first competitive match since the World Cup, the United States were able to show their quality in a 7-1 victory over Grenada on Friday. Braces from Ricardo Pepi and Weston McKennie helped pace the team while Christian Pulisic and Luca De La Torre also assisted two goals. From the first kick, the freedom that interim head coach Anthony Hudson has given the team showed as Pepi scored his first goal only four minutes into the match. With captain Pulisic leading the way, the rest of the team fell in line driving at Grenada early and often.
Despite the team not including a single current player in MLS for the first time since the league was founded in 1996, that doesn't mean that MLS' influence wasn't felt with nine members of the starting XI getting there starts in MLS academies. While there was room for improvement as the team did concede a goal and a few nervy chances to Grenada, there can't be much to complain about on a night like this as now only a draw is needed against El Salvador on Monday to win the group.
Mixing things up, Hudson was able to get a lot of players involved as Pepi showed that he wanted to prove a point after missing out on the World Cup squad and his presence in space made a difference. While Grenada may not be the best competition that he could've faced, confidence and goals are important for Pepi as you can only score against what was put in front of you.
It was also a big day for debutants with Auston Trusty and Taylor Booth getting their first caps and Alejandro Zendejas celebrated getting officially cap tied to the United States by scoring a goal. Bryan Reynolds was also rewarded for his good form in bouncing back from what has been a disastrous move to Roma that he's making the best of on loan at Westerlo. With the uncertainty around Sergino Dest's future at the club level, Reynolds has a lot to gain with big performances for club and country and he was effective in this match controlling the flank.
By the time all the damage was done, Pepi and Weston McKennie had two goals apiece, with Pulisic, Brenden Aaronson, and substitute Alejandro Zendejas also getting on the scoresheet. In matches like this, all that Hudson can ask is that his team keeps the goal at hand in mind so that they don't lose focus and this was a team that was driven and not underestimating their opposition.
Going to the World Cup can bring arrogance to a team if they feel entitled to return there and that's not something that showed in the USMNT's performance despite already qualifying for the 2026 World Cup as the host nation. Part of the reason behind this is that the team needs to win the group to secure automatic qualification for the 2024 Copa America where they'll get to test themselves against top opposition, but also, the way the team exited the World Cup should leave them hungry to improve. That hunger to score and drive shined against Grenada.