Jordan Morris scores in stoppage time as USMNT earns 1-1 draw against El Salvador
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – The U.S. Men’s National Team came from behind to tie El Salvador 1-1 Tuesday night in a Concacaf Nations League group stage match played on a rain-soaked, mud-patched Estadio Cuscatlán.
After El Salvador’s Alexander Larin put the home side up 10 minutes before the half, second half substitutes Luca de la Torre and Jordan Morris combined to bring the USA level in second half stoppage time, with Morris heading in de la Torre’s cross for the tying goal.
The USA completed the four-game June window with a 2-0-2 record, and now await its final two preparation matches to be played in September in Europe before heading to Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The U.S. resumes Concacaf Nations League group play in March 2023, hosting El Salvador and visiting Grenada on dates to be determined.
.@delatorreluca ➡️ @JmoSmooth13
WE'RE LEVEL. pic.twitter.com/4AD3HvpRYn
— USMNT (@USMNT) June 15, 2022
Gregg Berhalter made seven changes to the side the defeated Grenada in the CNL opener, keeping only the backline of Reggie Cannon, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Aaron Long and Antonee Robinson intact.
Having sustained rain for days, the field conditions were a factor as both sides struggled to find their footing early on.
The first opportunity came in the 24th minute. Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams combined on the right off a short corner, with Adams swinging a ball to the back post. Haji Wright, making his first career start, rose above two defenders near the goal and headed the ball back out, where Yunus Musah connected on a first-time shot that goalkeeper Mario Gonzalez saved for a corner.
Musah – the Insiders Man of the Match – then connected with Pulisic down the center, with Pulisic laying off a pass to Wright who hit it just wide.
The hosts then capitalized with 10 minutes to go in the half when Larin curled in a shot from a tight angle that caught USA goalkeeper Ethan Horvath anticipating a cross and went in for the opening goal.
The U.S. would use all five substitutes in the second half, the first two being Weston McKennie and Jesus Ferreira to start the final stance. The two nearly combined for the equalizer minutes in when McKennie played a nice ball through two defenders for Ferreira at the edge of the box. Gonzalez had come way off his line to cut off the play, but Ferreira was able to get by him and shoot, only to have defender Roberto Dominguez slide to block the ball the ball from going in.
Musah then had the best chance for the U.S. in the 58th, accelerating down the middle before playing a quick pass with Tim Weah at the top of the box. Musah shot but again Gonzalez stepped up and made a huge save from the top of the six yard box.
In a game that had a combined 26 fouls, things got more feisty in the final 20 minutes. USA winger Paul Arriola was shown a straight red for a challenge on Larin less than 10 minutes after coming on.
The disadvantage only lasted a few minutes. In the 79th, Ferreira sprung Musah with a nice ball down the middle. With only one man to beat, Musah was brought down by Ronald Rodriguez, who was subsequently ejected. Musah took the ensuing free kick, placing a nice shot to the far upper left corner, but once again Gonzalez lunged up to make the save.
Still searching for the equalizer, the U.S. then brought on de la Torre and Morris in the 80th minute. Morris had a header blocked with an arm that went unseen by the referee in the 87th, but made his next chance count, heading in de la Torre’s 30-yard cross from the left for the tying goal in the first minute of second half stoppage time.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
SLV – Alexander Larin (Kevin Reyes), 34th minute: Salvadoran Kevin Reyes sent a long cross near the endline that was controlled by Larin out wide on the left flank. With USA right back Reggie Cannon marking, Larin curled in a left-footed shot from a tight angle that caught USA goalkeeper Ethan Horvath flatfooted and went in for the opening goal. USA 0, SLV 1
USA – Jordan Morris (Luca de la Torre) 90+1 minute: Pushing for the equalizer, Pulisic sent a lined corner kick from the right side to McKennie who connected with a solid header that was saved by Gonzalez. The second chance ball fell out to de la Torre outside the box on left side. De la Torre recovered and sent a dipping cross into the mix that Morris rose high to head in from six yards out. USA 1, SLV 1
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- Jordan Morris scored his 11th international goal and his fifth in the Nations League, giving him sole possession of the USMNT’s scoring lead in the competition.
- The USA is 19-1-7 all-time against El Salvador, holds a 12-0-5 advantage in matches played in official competition and is 2-1-5 in away matches against Los Cuscatlecos.
- Forward Haji Wright earned his first start, first cap in official competition and first away appearance for the USMNT tonight.
- Tonight’s Starting XI had an average age of 24 years, 26 days.
- The USMNT lineup also averaged 22 caps and 11 appearances in official competition.
- Gregg Berhalter made seven changes to the USMNT lineup that started Friday’s CNL opener against Grenada, with the back line of Reggie Cannon, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Aaron Long, and Antonee Robinson as the holdovers.
- Christian Pulisic wore the captain’s armband for the 10th time tonight. Pulisic (23.74) is the second-youngest player during the modern era (1990-present) to captain the USMNT 10 times, following only Tony Meola (23.18) who did so on April 29, 1992 at the Republic of Ireland.
- Aaron Long was the only player to start each of the USA’s four matches during the June window. Weston McKennie, Jesús Ferreira, and Antonee Robinson also appeared in all four.
- Robinson continues his run as the only player to appear in all 10 matches during 2022.
- With teams limited to dressing 23 players, defenders George Bello, Walker Zimmerman, and midfielder Malik Tillman were not part of the matchday squad.
-U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-
Match: El Salvador vs. United States Men’s National Team
Date: June 14, 2022
Competition: Concacaf Nations League
Venue: Estadio Cuscatlán; San Salvador, El Salvador
Attendance: 6,313
Kickoff: 8 p.m. local (10 p.m. ET)
Weather: 68 degrees; rainy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 0 1 1
SLV 1 0 1
SLV – Alexander Larin (Kevin Reyes) 35th minute
USA – Jordan Morris (Luca de la Torre) 90+1
Lineups:
USA: 18-Ethan Horvath; 22-Reggie Cannon, 20-Cameron Carter-Vickers (14-Luca de la Torre, 81) 15-Aaron Long, 5-Antonee Robinson; 4-Tyler Adams (13-Jordan Morris, 80), 11-Brenden Aaronson (8-Weston McKennie, 46), 6-Yunus Musah; 21-Tim Weah (7-Paul Arriola, 61), 19-Haji Wright (9-Jesús Ferreira, 46), 10-Christian Pulisic (capt.)
Substitutes not used: 1-Matt Turner, 12-Sean Johnson, 2-DeAndre Yedlin, 3-Erik Palmer-Brown, 16-Joe Scally, 17-Cristian Roldan, 23-Kellyn Acosta
Head coach: Gregg Berhalter
SLV: 1-Mario Gonzalez; 13-Alexander Larin, 5-Ronald Rodriguez, 3-Roberto Dominguez, 21-Bryan Tamacas (2-Linzandro Claros, 87); 6-Narciso Orellana, 14- Christian Martinez, 8-Brayan Lanaverde (7-Darwin Ceren, 61); 19-Kevin Reyes (22-Roberto Molina, 61), 9-Nelson Bonilla (capt.) (12-Cristian Gil, 68), 17-Jairo Henriquez (4-Erick Cabalceta, 86)
Substitutes not used: 18-Tomas Romero, 23-Kevin Carabantes, 10-Eric Calvillo, 11-Joaquin Rivas, 15-Kevin Melara, 16-Eduardo Vigil, 20-Enrico Dueñas
Head coach: Hugo Perez
Stats Summary: USA / SLV
Shots: 10 / 5
Shots on Goal: 6 / 1
Saves: 0 / 4
Corner Kicks: 7 / 3
Fouls: 12 / 16
Offside: 2 / 1
Misconduct Summary:
USA – Reggie Cannon (Caution) 45+1 minute
USA – Paul Arriola (Ejection) 70
USA – Tyler Adams (Caution) 76
SLV – Ronald Rodriguez (Ejection) 79
SLV – Mario Gonzalez (Caution) 85
Officials:
Referee: Cesar Ramos (MEX)
AR1: Alberto Marin (MEX)
AR2: Miguel Hernandez (MEX)
4th Official: Juan Gabriel Calderon (CRC)
Insiders Man of the Match: Yunus Musah
