Second-half substitute Cole Bassett scored in the 89th minute in his international debut to lift the U.S. men’s national team to a 1-0 victory over 10-man Bosnia and and Herzegovina in an international friendly at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. on Saturday night.
Goalkeeper Matt Turner set a USMNT record with his ninth shutout of the year. Kasey Keller held the old mark. It also was the USA’s 12 clean sheet of 2021.
Bassett, 20, who plays for the Colorado Rapids, buried a rebound of a Jonathan Gomez shot from close range to give the Americans their record 17th win of 2021.
While the USA entered the match with a Starting XI of exactly an average age of 24, Bosnia’s entire roster had a total of eight international appearances under its collective belt.
The USMNT Starting XI has averaged 24 or younger in 20 matches this year and under 25 in all 22 contests.
Win No. 1️⃣7️⃣ for 2021 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/qgAAksarLO
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) December 19, 2021
Both teams had chances in the opening half.
Dominating the right flank, the U.S. sent in cross after cross, but Ricardo Pepi could not convert, whether the ball was just out of his reach, blocked by a defender or he placed a mediocre shot toward the net.
On the other side of the pitch, goalkeeper Matt Turner was at the top of his game, catching everything Bosnia sent his
The USMNT received an expected advantage in the 40th minute when Bosnia’s Amar Begić was shown a red card by referee Kaylor Herrera (Costa Rica) for a dangerous tackle on midfielder Kellyn Acosta.
Acosta earned his 21st cap of 2021 tonight, marking the most appearances by a USMNT player in a calendar year since 1994. Acosta is the 11th player to earn 21 or more appearances, but the first to do it outside of the team’s residency years in 1993 and 1994.
