US Overcomes Slow Start Against Trinidad

A double yellow card in the first half, and a fresh set of legs in the second half, was all the United States Men’s National Team needed to soundly defeat the Trinidad and Tobago National Team, 3-to-nil, in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Nations League play. 

Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Noah Powder drew his first yellow card in the 18th minute and his second in the 37th minute to give the US a man-advantage for the remainder of the match.   The US used the advantage to pummeled Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Denzil Smith with 28 shots during the match.  The keeper stood fast until Ricardo Pepi found the back of the net in the 82nd minute on a cross from Antonee Robinson.  Pepi entered the match in the 66th minute. 

Pepi’s goal unleashed a torrent of goals, at least for soccer, starting with Robinson’s strike in the 86th minute.  Robinson’s goal was set-up by collecting the rebound of Gio Reyna’s shot at the top of the box and beating Smith from 20 feet out. 

Pepi’s score was his 10th career goal and seventh of 2023. The 20-year-old forward has scored five of his seven goals off the bench this year, the most by a USMNT player in a calendar year.  Pepi (21 caps; 20 years, 311 days) becomes the second fastest USMNT player to reach double-digit goals both by caps and age. He trails Jesús Ferreira (20 caps) and Christian Pulisic (20 years, 189 days).

Reyna claimed is own goal three minutes later.  Robinson played a ball to Reyna near the top of the box, which he passed to Balogun. Balogun then returned the pass, leaving Reyna uncovered to finish from the left corner of the six-yard box. 

Reyna’s was the seventh of his international career and marked the second time he has scored in back-to-back international matches, following his brace in last month’s 4-0 win vs. Ghana.

The United States controlled the match in every aspect, owning to Powder’s red card and the depth of the US talent.  The Americans out-shot Trinidad and Tobago 26-to-1, 8-to-0 on-target, controlled time of possession 76% to 24%, complete 648 passes to 222, and lead in corner kicks 10-to-0.