Gregg Berhalter needed more final product to match his side’s dominance — his words, not ours — during a recent defeat in 2022 World Cup qualifying, and he got it as the Yanks beat Honduras 3-0 on Wednesday.
[ MORE: USA 3-0 Honduras recap & highlights | Player ratings ]
Weather undoubtedly played a factor for both sides. The temperature at time of kickoff was 3º F.
[ MORE: Full USMNT World Cup qualifying schedule & results ]
USMNT vs Honduras live updates – score & goals (video highlights)
8th minute: Weston McKennie got on the end of Kellyn Acosta’s free kick to the near post and guided an inch-perfect header home to give the USMNT a 1-0 lead.
THERE IT IS!@WMckennie puts the @USMNT on top! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/yMnMcvOdzX
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 3, 2022
37th minute: Walker Zimmerman was merely in the right place at the right time, to apply the right touch, to give the USMNT a 2-0 lead and, more importantly, a bit of breathing room and confidence.
Another set piece, another GOAL for the @USMNT 🔥@thewalkerzim sends it home for the 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/2hxLMjDHFn
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 3, 2022
67th minute: Christian Pulisic made it three goals from set-pieces just three minutes after he came off the bench to replace Jordan Morris.
CHRISTIAN. PULISIC. 🇺🇸
Just minutes after coming into the game, @cpulisic_10 scores the third goal of the night for the @USMNT pic.twitter.com/U0S28UV1Qh
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 3, 2022
The defeat in Hamilton, Ontario, raised a number of questions from fans and pundits alike, as the USMNT was comfortably beaten by the leaders of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying without their best player, superstar winger Alphonso Davies, in the team. Though they held a lion’s share of the possession — Berhalter’s apparent reasoning for his side’s perceived dominance — the USMNT, in truth, created very little of serious danger to Milan Borjan’s goal. 0.17 xG for shots on target.
CANADA 2, #USMNT 0
* Good: The US was super active in midfield
* Bad: only 0.94 xG
* Horrible: only 0.17 xG for shots on target* Zardes: 1 shot (blocked), 0.05 xG, 0.01 xA, 0 chances created in 69 minutes pic.twitter.com/RJpbBgnmg5
— Bill Connelly (@ESPN_BillC) January 31, 2022
[ MORE: Canada 2-0 USMNT recap & highlights | Player ratings ]
It was the type of performance that will sometimes make even the most ardent of a manager’s supporters question whether or not the program is headed in the right direction. And still, a victory over Honduras (3 points from 10 games – already eliminated from qualification) on Wednesday would leave the USMNT (currently 18 points) in a strong position ahead of the final window in March, even with the quadrennial trip to Estadio Azteca to face Mexico (18 points) in matchday 12. The USMNT can clinch neither a top-three (automatic) nor top-four (intercontinental playoff) spot on Wednesday.
Here’s everything else you need to know ahead of USMNT vs Honduras.
[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]
USMNT team news, injuries, lineup options
Tyler Adams and Chris Richards, both of whom started against Canada, departed USMNT camp on Monday due to injuries suffered on Sunday. No one has been added to the roster, leaving Berhalter with 25 players in camp. On the plus side, Timothy Weah rejoined the team in Minnesota after he was denied entry into Canada due to international discrepancies over his COVID-19 vaccination status.
Seven changes to our lineup tonight:
– @thewalkerzim wears the ©.
– @delatorreluca makes his Starting XI debut.
– @JmoSmooth13 earns his first WCQ start since 2017.Full Lineup Notes » https://t.co/6yzIp2067V#USAvHON x @VW pic.twitter.com/KYdT0F6gAk
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) February 2, 2022
Honduras team news, injuries, lineup options
For the first time in nearly a decade, Honduras appear to lack the top-end talent required to compete with, and consistently beat, the top sides in CONCACAF. The current generation has found it difficult to live up to the lofty standards set throughout much of the 2010s. That much was evident the last time these sides met back in September, when the USMNT won 4-1 in San Pedro Sula.
✅ La selección nacional de #Honduras 🇭🇳🇭🇳presenta su
1️⃣1️⃣ titular para enfrentar a #USA🇺🇸.🏟 Allianz Field
🌡 ➖1️⃣6️⃣#FENAFUTH #LaHsomos pic.twitter.com/LW2qH4maZK— Selección Nacional de Honduras (@FenafuthOrg) February 2, 2022
