EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (Oct. 16, 2018) — Bouyed by 18-year-old Josh Sargent’s 49th minute strike, the U.S. Men’s National Team played to a spirited 1-1 draw against Peru in front of 24,959 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. The result in USA-Peru, presented by Volpi Foods, sees the MNT move to 3-3-3 in 2018.
While the match marked the return of veteran Brad Guzan between the sticks, the nine players that started in front of him held eight or fewer caps going into the match, including debutantes Jonathan Amon, Reggie Cannon and Aaron Long.
Despite some lack of familiarity, the U.S. team strung together a few good attacking chances early on. Following a ninth minute throw-in on the left, midfielder Marky Delgado switched the field to send Tim Weah into space down the right. The 18-year-old ran at Nilson Loyola and centered for Kellyn Acosta, whose left-footed hit breezed wide of the right post.
Then on the quarter-hour mark, a quick counter attack almost came good for the MNT. Acosta played forward for Sargent on the left, with the rising striker playing a clever backheel into the path of Amon. The speedy winger cut inside but over-hit the final pass as Weah sped down the right flank.
Carrying large swaths of possession through the rest of the half, Peru was able to connect passes in and around the area, but a stingy effort from the U.S. midfield and back line ensured none of La Blanquirroja’s four first-half shots were on target.
In fact, the visitors’ most threatening attack wasn’t a shot at all. In the 38th minute, Andy Polo fed Paolo Hurtado down the right. The winger swung in a dangerous cross to the near post, but Guzan alertly read it, cutting out the danger at the six as Raul Ruidiaz lurked in behind.
The U.S. sprung the attack on the other side of halftime. Just two minutes in, Amon pumped a ball over the back line to put Sargent into space. The striker gained entry into the box, and cut back to juke a Peru defender before centering for Weah, but his one-time effort curved wide of the right post.
With a bit of confidence after that play, Sargent put his name on the scoresheet two minutes later. Following a foul committed against Amon on the right, Acosta delivered a pinpoint low ball for Sargent at the top of the area, with the young striker hitting a one-time effort that came off of both Christian Ramos and Renato Tapia before hitting the back of the net.
A number of substitutions were made to aid Peru’s attack, but their first shot on goal didn’t come until the 70th minute, when Johan Madrid centered the ball for Yoshimar Yotun, but the Orlando City SC midfielder’s long-distance hit was easily held by Guzan.
Another great look came to Peru five minutes later when Yotún played a pass for Polo. The Portland Timbers’ attacker hit a 25-yard effort that beat Guzan, but rang off the cross bar before the follow-up header from Ruidiaz was nodded over the bar.
Continuing to knock on the door, Peru finally broke through in the 86th minute when Polo’s low cross from the right found an unmarked Edison Flores for the late equalizer at the back left post.
The MNT heads to Europe to close out 2018 and the Kickoff Series next month. The window opens in London as the USA makes its second visit to new Wembley Stadium to take on 2018 FIFA World Cup Semifinalists England on Thursday, Nov. 15 (3 p.m. ET; ESPN2, UniMás & UDN). The curtain comes down on the 2018 schedule five days later, when the MNT travels to Genk, Belgium to face four-time World Cup winners Italy at the Luminus Arena (2:45 p.m. ET; FS1, UniMas & UDN).
Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Josh Sargent (Kellyn Acosta), 49th minute: Jonathan Amon was fouled near the right corner flag, leading to a dangerous free kick opportunity. In a well-worked set piece, Acosta delivered a low ball to the top of the area for Sargent, who one-timed an effort that deflected off Christian Ramos and Renato Tapia to roll past José Carvallo into the left side of the goal. USA 1, PER 0 [WATCH]
PER – Edison Flores (Andy Polo), 86th minute: Peru found the equalizer late. After winning the ball at midfield, it was swung over to Polo on the right. There, the attacker centered a low cross that slid through the six-yard box to find Flores for the unmarked tap-in at the back left post. USA 1, PER 1 FINAL
Key Save and Defensive Plays:
USA – Brad Guzan, 38th minute: Generally busier barking instructions in the first half, Guzan was called into action just before the half when Andy Polo played a pass for Paolo Hurtado down the right. The winger swung in a dangerous cross to the near post, but Guzan alertly read it, cutting out the danger at the six with Raul Ruidiaz ready to strike.
PER – Pedro Aquino, 78th minute: Julian Green played Bobby Wood towards the end line on the right. The substitute striker cut a ball across the box where Ben Sweat took a swing, but Aquino was there to nod away the danger.
USA – Brad Guzan, 90+3 minute: Looking for the late winner, Peru earned a free kick on the right which saw Yordy Reyna swing in a dangerous cross, forcing Guzan to dive as he parried away the danger.
Additional Notes:
- U.S. Men’s National Team Match Report -
Match: U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Peru
Date: October 16, 2018
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field; East Hartford, Conn.
Attendance: 24,959
Kickoff: 8:05 p.m. ET
Weather: 45 degrees; clear
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 0 1 1
PER 0 1 1
USA – Josh Sargent (Kellyn Acosta) 49th minute
PER – Edison Flores (Andy Polo) 86
Lineups:
USA: 1-Brad Guzan; 18-Reggie Cannon (2-DeAndre Yedlin; 84), 5-Cameron Carter-Vickers, 21-Aaron Long, 19-Ben Sweat; 20-Will Trapp (capt.), 11-Tim Weah (17-Antonee Robinson; 90+2), 8-Marky Delgado, 23-Kellyn Acosta (4-Michael Bradley; 79), 24-Jonathan Amon (16-Julian Green; 55); 13-Josh Sargent (7-Bobby Wood; 69)
Substitutes not used: 22-Ethan Horvath, 3-Matt Miazga, 6-John Brooks, 14-Fafa Picault,
Head Coach: Dave Sarachan
PER: 21-José Carvallo; 5-Alexander Callens, 7-Paolo Hurtado (26-Yordy Reyna; 59), 8-Sergio Peña (19-Yoshimar Yotún; 66), 11-Raúl Ruidiaz, 13-Renato Tapia (23-Pedro Aquino; 67), 14-Andy Polo (18-André Carrillo; 90+1), 15-Christian Ramos (capt.), 17-Luis Advíncula (2-Johan Madrid; 46), 20-Edison Flores, 22-Nilson Loyola;
Substitutes: 1-Pedro Gallese, 12-Patricio Álvarez, 4-Anderson Santamaria, 6-Miguel Trauco, 10-Christian Cueva, 16-Horacia Calcaterra, ,24-Wilder Cartagena
Head coach: Ricardo Gareca
Stats Summary: USA / PER
Shots: 5 / 14
Shots on Goal: 2 / 3
Saves: 2 / 1
Corner Kicks: 2 / 6
Fouls: 12 / 10
Offside: 0 / 2
Misconduct Summary:
PER – Luis Advíncula (caution) 45th minute
USA – Tim Weah (caution) 54
PER – Christian Cueva (caution) 82
Officials:
Referee: Ivan Barton (SLV)
Assistant Referee 1: Geovany Garcia (SLV)
Assistant Referee 2: David Moran (SLV)
4th Official: Ismael Cornejo (SLV)
Budweiser Man of the Match: Wil Trapp