CHESTER, Pa. (May 28, 2018) – First international goals from Walker Zimmerman, Josh Sargent and Tim Weah propelled the USA to a 3-0 friendly victory against Bolivia at Talen Energy Stadium on Memorial Day.
The USA’s starting XI took the field with an average age of just 22 years, 160 days old. While the MNT attack took some time to find its footing, the young talent in the USA ranks put on an encouraging display. Weah made a number of threatening runs on the right wing and combined well with Christian Pulisic and Sargent. Weah and Sargent were the two youngest U.S. players on the field and the former U-17 World Cup teammates partnered for some of the MNT’s best opportunities.
The red, white and blue broke through late in the first half. A 37th-minute corner kick from Joe Corona found Walker Zimmerman at the penalty spot, where he rose above his mark to rifle a header into the top right corner and give the USA a 1-0 lead. The goal marked Zimmerman’s first international tally and Corona’s first assist.
After the break, Sargent, playing up top as the lone forward, capitalized on some lackadaisical play from Bolivia by intercepting a pass from substitute goalkeeper Carlos Lampe in the penalty box before pinging a low shot off Lampe into the net for a 52nd-minute goal.
Just seven minutes later, Weah also opened his senior account. Left back Antonee Robinson made an impressive run up the left side and drilled a low ball across the top of the six-yard-box for a hard-charging Weah to volley it into the roof of the net to make it 3-0. Both just 18 years old, Sargent and Weah’s goals make them the fifth and fourth youngest goalscorers in MNT history, respectively.
On the defensive end, Zimmerman, debutants Erik Palmer-Brown and Robinson as well as captain for the USA Eric Lichaj put in a solid shift behind a relentless defensive midfield effort from Weston McKennie to help goalkeeper Alex Bono and the U.S. notch a clean sheet.
Next Up: The U.S. Men’s National Team heads to Europe to take on Republic of Ireland on June 2 in Dublin at Aviva Stadium in Dublin (3 p.m. ET; ESPN2, UniMás, UDN) and France on June 9 at Groupama Stadium in Lyon (3 p.m. ET; ESPN, UniMás).
Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA - Walker Zimmerman (Joe Corona), 37th minute: Bolivia poked the ball out from Weston McKennie on a run down the right side to give the USA a corner kick, one of seven in the first half. Joe Corona lined up to take it, and Zimmerman lurked behind the central crowd in the box. He moved up to the penalty spot as Corona approached, leapt above his marking defender, Ronald Raldes, and sent a header into the top right corner for his first international goal. USA 1, BOL 0 [WATCH]
USA – Josh Sargent, 52nd minute: As substitute Bolivia goalkeeper Carlos Lampe attempted to play the ball out of the back of his defense, he didn’t put enough on his chipped pass, allowing Sargent to intercept. He turned on goal and snapped a hard shot at Lampe that bounced off the ‘keeper’s shins and rolled into the net, making Sargent the second-youngest player to score in his MNT debut. USA 2, BOL 0 [WATCH]
USA – Tim Weah (Antonee Robinson), 59th minute: The USA’s third goal came as center back Erik Palmer-Brown played Robinson forward on a run up the left side. Robinson made some shifty moves to get past a defender as he neared the Bolivia endline before whipping a low cross into the middle of the six-yard box. Weah charged in to one-touch the ball up and over Lampe into the net and become the fourth youngest goalscorer in MNT history. USA 3, BOL 0 [WATCH] FINAL
Key Saves:
BOL – Luis Haquin, 20th minute: Bolivia intercepted a USA free kick in its own territory, but Weston McKennie recovered to poke the ball out. Sargent collected the loose ball in stride and took a few touches across the top of the box, before cutting it back to Weah, who one-touched it back as Sargent dashed to the net, but the Werder Bremen forward’s one-timed shot was deflected by Haquin.
NOTES
- U.S. Men’s National Team Match Report -
Match: U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Bolivia
Date: May 28, 2018
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Talen Energy Stadium; Chester, Pa.
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 1 2 3
Lineups:
USA: 22-Alex Bono; 15-Eric Lichaj (capt.) (2-Matt Olosunde, 74), 4-Walker Zimmerman, 14-Erik Palmer-Brown, 17-Antonee Robinson; 6-Weston McKennie; 11-Tim Weah (16-Julian Green, 61), 8-Joe Corona (25-Keaton Parks, 62), 10-Christian Pulisic (17-Jorge Villafaña, 89), 23-Rubio Rubin (20-Lynden Gooch, 73); 13-Josh Sargent (9-Andrija Novakovich, 61)
BOL: 23-Guillermo Vizcarra (1-Carlos Lampe, 46); 2-Carlos Añez, 3-Oscar Baldomar (22-Jose Sagredo, 32), 4-Luis Haquin, 6-Danny Bejarano. (8-Leandro Maygua, 79), 7-Luis Ali, 10-Fernando Saucedo, 16-Ronald Raldes (capt.), 17-Alexis Ribera (13-Rodrigo Rodriguez, 79), 18-Rodrigo Vargas (11-Bruno Miranda, 63), 20-Hector Ronaldo Sanchez (9-Leonardo Vaca, 66)
Subs: 5-Gustavo Olguin, 11-Bruno Miranda, 12-Jaime Cornejo, 14-Edson Perez, 15-Jose Vargas, 16-Julian Green, 19-Wilfredo Soleto, 21-Miguel Quiroga, 24-Rodrigo Borda, 25-Sergio Moruno
Stats Summary: USA / BOL
Shots: 22 / 4
Shots on Goal: 6 / 0
Saves: 0 / 3
Corner Kicks: 12 / 5
Fouls: 20 / 6
Offside: 2 / 1
Misconduct Summary:
BOL – Fernando Salcedo (caution) 49th minute
Officials:
Referee: Oshane Nation (JAM)
Budweiser Man of the Match: Walker Zimmerman