Weston McKennie struck twice for the USMNT. (USA TODAY Sports)
The U.S. men’s national team’s Concacaf Nations League match at Grenada essentially was no contest on Friday night.
Ricardo Pepi and Weston McKennie bagged braces in a 7-1 rout in St. George’s, Grenada. Alejandro Zendejas tallied his first international and Christian Pulisic and Brenden Aaronson also found the net for the Americans 2-0-1, 7 points).
The USA (2-0-1, 7 points) , which took over the Group D lead, needs at least a draw in its final match, against El Salvador (1-0-2, 6) to clinch a spot in the CNL semifinals in Las Vegas on June 15.
While he did not score, Gio Reyna started in his first match with the U.S. after his parents ignited a controversy with head coach Gregg Berhalter for his lack of playing time at the World Cup. For the first time since Major League Soccer began in 1996, the USA did not field at least one player from the domestic league.
Pepi snapped a personal 10-match international scoreless streak when he put the Americans ahead with a fourth-minute header off a Pulisic cross. Pulisic and Luca de La Torre finished with two assists apiece.
Reyna started in central midfield rather than his wing role under Berhalter. He was replaced in the 64th minute.
Auston Trusty made his U.S. debut, pairing in central defense with Mark McKenzie, who got his first start since October 2021. Forward Taylor Booth also made his debut in the 64th minute.
The Starting XI had many players who hadn’t seen much playing time. That included right back Bryan Reynolds, who made his first start since December 2021. The U.S. starting lineup included goalkeeper Matt Turner left back Joe Scally, McKennie along with Luca de la Torre, Pulisic, Reyna and Aaronson in midfield, and Pepi at striker following his omission from the World Cup roster.
Wearing the captain’s armband for the 13th time, Pulisic partnered with left back Joe Scally to create numerous chances down the left side throughout the first half. They wasted little time getting the USA on the board, with Pulisic setting up the first goal after four minutes with a nice cross that Pepi headed home.
Grenada then had a short spell of opportunities at goal, the most threatening coming in the seventh minute when Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong ripped a hard shot from the top left side of the box to the far post, but was denied by USA goalkeeper Matt Turner whose fingertip, diving save deflected the shot off the right post.
Pulisic and Pepi nearly combined again after 12 minutes when the Chelsea forward chipped a ball behind the defense that left Pepi alone at goal, but his shot from close range was handled by goalkeeper Jason Belfon.
Pulisic kept orchestrating, and minutes later set up Aaronson who did well to create separation before doubling the lead with a low shot as he dribbled across the box.
Grenada had no answers for Pulisic, who then drew two fouls and took the ensuing free kicks that resulted in both McKennie goals – including an acrobatic volley just past the half hour and a lunging touch in front of goal two minutes later for his 10th and 11th career goals.
McKennie’s quick tallies were in the midst of a flurry during which Grenada got one back on a nice buildup off a restart that ended with Myles Hippolyte scoring on a well-struck shot from 17 yards.
The USMNT kept its foot on the gas to start the second half, and again Pulisic was involved just four minutes in, this time putting away his 23rd international goal on a pass from Luca de la Torre.
De la Torre also set up Pepi’s second on the night, which was a well-struck shot to beat the ‘keeper near-post, and Zendejas closed out the scoring less than ten minutes after coming into the match with a curling left-footed shot from the top of the box. Zendejas had two other quality attempts, but Belfon came up with fantastic saves on both shots.