USMNT dominate Trinidad & Tobago in first match of 2021 at Exploria Stadium

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Courtesy of US Soccer

For the fourth time since the stadium opened, the U.S. Men’s National Team played a match at Exploria Stadium.

For the first time, three hometown players were able to play for the Stars and Stripes as Orlando City’s own Andres Perea, Chris Mueller, and Daryl Dike all made second-half appearances in a dominating 7-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago at Exploria Stadium on Sunday night.

“You know, you can only play against the opponent on the field against you,” Head Coach Gregg Berhalter said after the match. “What I really liked from the guys was the focus and the intensity and after three weeks of training with a relatively new group, a young group. It’s good to be able to see those elements on the game field against a real opponent. So, you know, I think we know that this wasn’t a World Cup qualifying caliber team based on who they had available, but nonetheless it was good to see the focus of the team.”

Much like their last match in December against El Salvador, the U.S. got off to a hot start. Just two minutes in, Sam Vines threaded a perfect pass into Jesus Ferreira, who then centered off his pass to Jonathan Lewis to finish off.

Seven minutes later in the 9th minute, the three combined again, this time it was Ferreira finishing off a Vines cross, coming off a Lewis pass.

The Stars and Stripes would add two more thanks to winger Paul Arriola, which stretched the lead to 4-0 at halftime.

The second half was more of the same for the US. Centerbacks Aaron Long and Miles Robinson combined in the box for Robinson’s first US goal just a few minutes after half. Lewis and Ferreira would score again later in the half, but after the 7th goal found the back of the net, that was all the scoring for the rest of the match.

Orlando City’s Andres Perea came in at halftime, while Chris Mueller and Daryl Dike entered the match at the 65th minute.

Scoring Summary 

2′ – Jonathan Lewis (US)

9′ – Jesus Ferreira (US)

22′ – Paul Arriola (US)

41′ – Paul Arriola (US)

52′ – Miles Robinson (US)

55′ – Jonathan Lewis (US)

62′ – Jesus Ferreira (US)


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