It didn't take long for the USMNT to put their loss to Germany behind them with a 4-0 victory over Ghana on Tuesday. A Gio Reyna brace led the way, while Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic also scored as the team netted four goals in the first half of play. Every time the USMNT went forward, it felt like they were going to score, and that's because they just about did score with every opportunity. After coach Gregg Berhalter called for getting Balogun more involved, the striker took five shots in the first half and showed what he can do when played into space. Adding to the highlights, Lennard Maloney picked up his first cap for the team as the German-born midfielder became the 60th player to earn their first cap under Berhalter in what was a great night of soccer all around.
It's a tie for the largest margin of victory ever over an African team for the USMNT as Gio Reyna's first international brace helped push the team to end the international break on a high point. While the defense wasn't tested much, Matt Turner even made a big save to secure a clean sheet in the first half in what was an excellent all around performance for the USMNT.
The game has slowed down quite a bit since the introduction fo Maloney but Ghana could try for a consolation goal so that they don't end the international break losing to the United States and Mexico by a combined 6-0 score.
The German born midfielder is now the 60th debut under Berhlater to tie Bob Bradley for the second most debuts of all USMNT coaches. Cardoso will leave the game as the USMNT get to look at two defensive midfielder options in the match.
Turning over the Ghanaian keeper due to a strong press, the United States may be up big but it doesn't mean that they're pulling their feet off the gas any time soon.
Brenden Aaronson, Ricardo Pepi, and Weston McKennie are coming in as Berhalter withdraws all of his goalscorers at halftime with Gio Reyna, Christian Pulisic, and Folarin Balogun all depart. Kingsley Schindler will enter for Ghana in place of Gideon Mensah as the Black Stars look to get anything out of this game.
We've been taking about the attack so much but don't forget that Turner is in net too making an amazing save on Kudus to keep the USMNT clean sheet intact in the first half.
Genuinely I've never seen something like this from the USMNT. Straight off the training ground, Gio Reyna has a brace and the USMNT are ahead 4-0 after a sweet set play with Christian Pulisic. Talk about being back.
Balogun again puts a header on target following a good run from Dest who is more comfortable on his favored right hand side. Every time the USMNT takes a foray forward it feels like it will end in a goal which is the kind of fear this improving attack likes to play with.
Well, that was quite a turn by the USMNT man and they're now ahead by three goals only 23 minutes into the match. There's no better way to get over a loss than by scoring three goals almost immediately out of the gate.
It's a penalty to the United States and they can now go ahead 2-0 within 20 mintues. Pulisic will take and make his chance without issue.
The USMNT heard Gregg Berhalter's call to get Balogun more involved as the striker already has two shots on target in the first 15 minutes and was involved in Reyna's goal. Ghana are off the pace but the United States will want a second goal to really drive things home in the match.
It only took 11 minutes for the United States to open the scoring as a great run from Sergino Dest ended in a Gio Rryna goal and the USMNT is off to a flying start. Reyna is bringing exactly what he's expected to in the final third.
The USMNT is already trying things in attack and it's positive that it took less than two minutes for Balogun to put a shot on target. With the United States pressing early, Ghana will have a lot to deal with.
Both teams are coming off of disappointing losses in their last matches but they can quickly right the ship depending on how things go tonight.
With a few lineup tweaks especially Kristoffer Lund coming in at left back to push Sergino Dest back to his favored right side, the United States will turn things around with a victory and Balogun will score for good measure as well. Pick: United States 2, Ghana 1
Nine of the 11 starters are dual nationals: Folarin Balogun (England, Nigeria), Johnny Cardoso (Brazil), Sergiño Dest (Netherlands, Suriname), Kristoffer Lund (Denmark), Yunus Musah (England, Ghana, Italy), Christian Pulisic (Croatia), Gio Reyna (Argentina, England, Portugal), Matt Turner (Lithuania), and Tim Weah (Jamaica, Liberia).
The wings especially will be something to watch as if the USMNT isn't careful they can be cut apart on the counter.
Ghana starters: 12-Abdul Manaf Nurudeen, 2-Alidu Seidu, 4-Edmund Addo, 5-Thomas Partey (Capt.), 8-Jerome Opoku, 9-Jordan Ayew, 13-Joseph Paintsil, 14-Gideon Mensah, 18-Nicholas Opoku, 19-Iñaki Williams, 20-Mohammed Kudus
Available Subs: 1-Richard Ofori, 16-Lawrence Ati-Zigi, 24-Fatawu Abdul Hamid, 3-Kingsley Schindler, 21-Salis Abdul Samed, 7-Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer, 22-Antoine Semenyo, 23-Stephan Ambrosius, 11-Elisha Owusu, 17-Ernest Nuamah
Three changes are incoming for Berhlalter as Tim Ream, Weston McKennie, and Joe Scally drop to the bench. It's a more dynamic defense to swarm Ghana but all eyes will be on Johnny Cardoso in midfield who is in a big role tonight.
USMNT starters: 1-Matt Turner, 2-Sergiño Dest, 4-Chris Richards, 6-Yunus Musah, 7-Gio Reyna, 10-Christian Pulisic (Capt.), 12-Miles Robinson, 15-Johnny Cardoso, 20-Folarin Balogun, 21-Tim Weah, 23-Kristoffer Lund
Available Subs: 18-Ethan Horvath, 3-Cameron Carter-Vickers, 5-DeJuan Jones, 8-Weston McKennie, 9-Ricardo Pepi, 11-Brenden Aaronson, 13-Tim Ream, 14-Luca de la Torre, 16-Kevin Paredes, 17-Alex Zendejas, 19-Joe Scally, 22-Lennard Maloney
If you think that when the United States men's national team face Ghana something is usually on the line, you'd be correct. The USMNT and the Black Stars are set for their fifth-ever meeting with three of the previous four coming in consecutive World Cups. Outside of Concacaf sides, this Ghana team is one that the United States has played the most frequently, but this is also their longest gap between meetings as the two sides haven't squared off since 2017. The United States have won their last two matches against the Black Stars by a 2-1 score, but each time that they have met has been a memorable affair and all have been decided by only one goal either way.
Out of these meetings, which has been the best clash of the two nations? From Clint Dempsey's goals to John Anthony Brooks' winner, let's take a walk down memory lane.
4. United States 2, Ghana 1: 2017
With three of the matches taking place at the World Cup, even though the USMNT won this friendly, it has to rank slightly lower in context. Dom Dwyer opened the scoring before Asamoah Gyan missed a penalty right before the half. Gyan made up for the miss but not before Kellyn Acosta was able to grab the eventual winning goal in the match putting his side up 2--0 and giving them the cushion to withstand Gyan's goal. Acosta is the only member of that USMNT squad still in the overall national team pool while Ghana has gone through an entire turnover in personnel. It's a match that shows just how much things can change in only six years.
It's time for the USMNT to take the pitch again and while there may be a few changes from the XI that took the pitch against Germany, the vast majority of the XI is becoming set under Gregg Berhalter. Behind Christian Pulisic who has scored four goals in his last five USMNT matches, the team will look to bounce back facing Ghana who lost to Mexico last time out. The USMNT hasn't lost consecutive matches under Berhalter since 2019 and it's not a streak that they'd like to bring back tonight.
