Gio Reyna began in his first match with the U.S. after his parents disparaged then-coach Gregg Berhalter for his lack of playing time on the World Cup, a 7-1 rout of 173rd-ranked Grenada within the CONCACAF Nationals League on Friday night at St. George’s.
Ricardo Pepi and Weston McKennie had two goals each and Alejandro Zendejas scored his first international goal.
Christian Pulisic and Brenden Aaronson also scored for the No. 13 Americans, who had never won by a 7-1 rating.
Pepi ended a 10-match international scoreless streak when he put the U.S. ahead with a fourth-minute header off Pulisic’s cross.
Pulisic and Luca de La Torre had two assists each for the Americans, who for the primary time since Major League Soccer launched in 1996 did not field not less than one MLS player.
Berhalter used Reyna sparingly on the World Cup and the 20-year-old nearly was sent home by Berhalter for lack of hustle in training.
The player’s parents, former U.S. captain Claudio Reyna and former women’s player Danielle Egan Reyna, notified the U.S. Soccer Federation of a 1992 domestic violence incident involving Berhalter and the lady he later married — Danielle Egan’s former college roommate.
The united states commissioned a law firm to research and appointed Anthony Hudson interim coach after Berhalter’s contract expired Dec. 31.
The law firm said there was no legal impediment to retaining Berhalter, who stays a candidate, and the us delay a training decision until after a latest sporting director is hired, probably this summer.
In the primary competitive U.S. match for the reason that World Cup, Reyna began in central midfield relatively than his wing role under Berhalter. He played until the sixty fourth minute.
Auston Trusty made his U.S. debut, paired in central defense with Mark McKenzie, who got his first start since October 2021. Forward Taylor Booth made his debut within the sixty fourth.
Right back Bryan Reynolds made his first start since December 2021. The U.S. starting lineup included goalkeeper Matt Turner and, left back Joe Scally, McKennie together with Luca de la Torre, Pulisic, Reyna and Aaronson in midfield, and Pepi at striker following his omission from the World Cup roster.
The U.S. improved to 5-0 against Grenada with a 22-3 (15-2) goals advantage.
Pepi scored from 7 yards within the fourth minute, his first international goal since October 2021. Aaronson scored within the twentieth minute off Pulisic’s feed, his seventh international goal. and McKennie Aaronson’s Leeds teammate, scored within the thirty first, getting a head to Pulisic’s angled free kick and volleying together with his weaker left foot.
Myles Hippolyte scored within the thirty second minute for Grenada in his international debut, beating Turner from 16 yards. McKennie got his eleventh international goal within the thirty fourth after Trusty headed down a cross. knocking the ball in together with his right foot from short range.
Pulisic scored his twenty third international goal within the forty ninth minute with a shot that bounced in off goalkeeper Jason Belfon, and Pepi got his fifth international goal within the 53rd, scoring from 6 yards after running onto de la Torre’s through ball. Zendejas, who committed to the U.S. over Mexico, made his American competitive debut within the sixty fourth minute and scored from 23 yards following a turnover within the 72nd minute.
Johnny Cardoso entered within the 76th in his American competitive debut, tying him to the U.S. program.
The Americans complete group play Monday in Orlando, Florida, against El Salvador, which has five points. and would advance to the semifinals in June with a win or draw. Grenada finished last within the group with one point.
