Not quite win and in, but close, now lose by 5 or more and you are out. The only down side, the shutout was lost, possible concerns were the limping of Moore and Ferreria at the end of the game, Shaq, holding the back of his leg. I am sure others are beyond weary, but it hurts far less with a result such as this. Unlike last game when mentioning Gio Reyna, they did not just mention his mother, a member of the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame, but showed her with her husband, Claudio. Hearing the commentators mentioning so many out of the FC Dallas system, which yes, there are a good many, our local area here, Danielle, mother of Gio from LI, coaches wife the same, father of Pulisic as well. Musah born in NYC, Johnson with NYCFC, Long and Adams, NYRB, Weah from Queens, James Sand Rye but no mention of any of that. Canada is in we want very much to join our neighbors to the north and co hosts of the 2026 World Cup, always good to qualify for the CUP before hosing it to prove you belong, the trio of hosts for the ’26 event have a great chance of all making it! Panama is out now as a result of this result today, a loss and they go home, adios.
Carrasquilla gets off a full side volley, without success but shows his quality. Moore sends in a dangerous cross but it is not high enough and is headed away. Arriola is fouled 20 yards out and Pulisic is over the ball. It goes off the wall for a corner, such a dangerous DFK. Ferreria clears a ball out for a corner and Zimmerman is down, a poorly centered ball by Moore causes some concern. VAR awards a PK on the Walker foul, it may very well be a red card, hands to face and neck, but no, just a spot kick. Ferrria holds the ball getting harassed, then hands it off to Pulisic for the kick, he goes left the GK goes right, the ball goes in 1-0 USA at 15’. Going up for a high ball, Steffan gets his gloves to it , can’t hold on then turns into an acrobat in making the 2nd save and is down, he does have back issues. Horvath is now active on the bench, Sean Johnson of NYCFC is not dressed, he has yet to give up a goal for the USMNT. Robinson sends a ball into Arriola he nods it home 2-0 USA at 23’. Ferriera on a 1v 2 gives to Pulisic back to Jesus, it gets lost but the US recovers and holds the ball, it should have been shot by Jesus, out numbed but had a chance with a shot on net. The shot by Arriola is blocked, Ferreira cleans it up for a 3-0 score line at 27’. The one big difference between this game and El Tri is that the USA are FINISHING, yes a far weaker team, but they are getting their shots on net and not at the GK or well wide. Arriola takes a forearm to the face and he is down, checking for blood out of his nose, VAR gives it a look, it is inadvertent. Jesus tracking and all over Godoy, finally gets a whistle. The shutout was lost at 86’, Godoy the culprit in both PK’s put away for goals sent home the sole goal for his nation. At 49’ Pulisic with distraction once more from Ferrierra made it a brace on a PK, he went right as did the GK, he went a bit higher than did he netminder. He would cap off the scoring with help from Del Torrre and a great run. Pulisic took the ball in the area spun, beating one defender, deftly nutmegged the other and struck it true.
The US played much better as a team albeit facing a far weaker team, next up Costa Rica, a total fail may not even be enough to miss out on the World Cup, but I would not rule anything out. That they had a banner out reading they qualified is a slap in the face to the game. They showed until the waning moments no signs of fatigue from the game at altitude, and had high energy all game long. I fully expect them to not lose by what is it, 6 goals to the Ticos. I recall some 4+ years ago after losing to the Costa Ricans, not playing well, being pushed all over the field, Pulisic getting physically knocked down and around, until Dempsey came in to stand up, not a soul did so, they lost, it was a 7 goal difference from the last time they met. At the time I interviewed another Capt. America, Michael Bradley, about the next game, that infamous one with T&T, all he had to say was we have to win, so I do not feel 100% but rather certain they will come out the other side of the game this week with their tickets punched for the desert. Pulisic was a leader, he did not over do it has he has in other games, trying to win the game alone. So many other players stepped up Ferreria was active all game, Robinson a force getting forward, Zimmerman standing tall in the back. Adams was stellar, again under control as he walked that tightrope of not getting another caution to miss the contest with CR. Del Torre did not have a bad game but has been for more active in games past. A team win, well done, the issues with Mexico gone or just due to weaker opposition?, that will be known after the game with the Ticos.