USA v OMAN
A very acrobatic clear of a great ball in by the USA. Lund, open a number of times very near the ball, still it gets played back some 40 yards, is he being frozen out? Far post for Lund, from Weah he is a half a step shy, more on the pass, but he did not go to the ball and it is headed away for a corner that is back to the US in their defensive third. Richards playing a poor ball to Lund, he was lucky to recover it. Dest goes just high for Pulisic from a distance, GK coming for it. McKennie with a hard shot, not held and sent home by Balogun, 1-0 at 14’. Weah runs into his defender and is seeking a foul as is the crowd and the talking heads, the player does not have to move away as you close on him, run into him at your own peril. ‘Keper is out and Balogun is unable to chip him a bit, Weah puts one away but a foul brings it back. Weah loses the ball but wins the corner. 3 players occupy the same space, yet none get it on net? A high ball to Horvath allows the forward to get in and pressure, he has no issue taking it on a bounce and passing it off. No flag as Dest was offside on a long crossing ball that winds up over the end line. Lund for McKennie who opts for a heel pass, losing it. Weah from Dest goes inside from the end line and the GK grabs it without issue. Balogun holds it gives to Lund who passes it to no one in the area, gets it back and loses it over the end line. McKennie finds Dest from a good 50 yards, the header goes off the mark for a corner. McKennie for Tilman, he drops it at the feet of Robinson and it is blocked, rebound played out by the defense. McKennie falling back gets his head on the ball but it’s an arcing ball that the GK takes ahold of. Great movement gets it to Weah, he brings it in a bit then his shot is well wide. Balogun for Pulisic who outruns his support and has to pull it back. A lead ball, the ball bounces around, Pulisic who took the corner recovers it. Pulisic and others holding the ball in the area, no shots, McKennie trying to beat 3, loses the ball. To Tilman is just too long and out of play. A wall pass goes awry but the US is able to recover it. Tilman wins a corner off his deflected shot off a partial clear of a ball in.
Although a far better showing through this first half, the result is the same as the last game 1-0. The US needs a goal to create some breathing room and some urgency and open up Oman defensively as they chase the game even more. They have had their fair share of good looks on goal but a number of wide shots leave it at a one goal difference. I would look for Oman to press more as they do not want to go late in the game down a goal.
Balogun for Pepi, Pulisc yields for Aaronson. Pulisic was active but made no real impact, to replace him with the engine of Aaronson is not a bad idea. And go with the hot hand in Pepi, although these games are against weaker teams, he has been scoring. Oman with a corner a bit of a jump for Horvath with a defender right in front of him putting it to the ground was risky but he grabs it again with no problem. Again not the best of balls played back to the GK, this far better than the other. Weah lays it back, well off the mark for Dest, now his gives it to him from 2 feet and it works. Pepi off the corner goes side netting showing his danger near the goal. Robinson with a hard foul given and the player is down for a bit as his captain appeals for a card. Another corner for Oman grabbed out of the air by Horvath. Tilman loses it recovers and is whistled for a foul. Aaronson, pulled down just beyond the arc is now over the ball, through the wall into the net. As the wall leapt, 2 players separated and it went through off one, the GK never had a chance, the ball bounced in front of him and he slipped, 2-0 at 61’. McKennie for Dest then it slows, Dest to Tilman in the area, he cuts it back to Pepi, well wide on his try on goal. Musah fouled it is play on, right call it gets to McKennie he too is dropped. Still down, Musah, the native New Yorker is grabbing at the top of his foot. He remains on. Musah goes through a player, seems he stepped on the players hand, he is in pain, trainer called out. Tilman and Richards will depart for Cremaschi and McKenzie, his 3rd game of ‘23. Weah leads the charge, finds Dest who is yards wide of goal. Musah taken down at half field. Oman are seeing much more of the ball this half but not getting much done. Jones on the roster due to injury awaits to enter the game. Cremaschi gathers in a rebound lays it off to Dest who again is way off, now is off for Jones. McKennie loses it out of touch gets the throw, his pinging it about the park has been on less display compared to the first half. Pepi at 79’ gets one into the corner 3-0. He reeled in the strong ball from Jones, turned then buries it in the net. Now Paredes is in for his first game. Kevin sends in a ball and its slid tackled into the net by Oman, instant offense right there a pair of subs have created goals for the USMNT. Lund again well open and the ball is going seemingly everywhere but to him. The US holds it well, McKennie is just wide off a feed from Pepi. Again the US holds possession getting it up field Musah trying to get it in the area, gets a corner. The restart finds a US head but lands atop the net. 88’ Musah cautioned. Sloppy play by the US leads to a corner for Oman at 90’. Too many touches in the area without a shot and the US is unable to pad their lead in the 2’ of extra time. Musah from a good 30 yards Paredes gets it and for the 2nd time is writhing on the ground then up again. Cremaschi looks a bit out of synch.