Resurgent Ricardo Pepi secures narrow win for USMNT over El Salvador in Concacaf Nations League
ORLANDO — Recalled and resurgent, Ricardo Pepi's instant striking impact secured the United States men's national team's spot in the Concacaf Nations League semifinal.
Pepi scored within two minutes of entering as a second-half substitute, the eventual decisive goal in a 1-0 victory over El Salvador at Exploria Stadium in the final game of Group D play. The U.S. collected 10 of a possible 12 points in its group, which also included Grenada, whom it battered 7-1 on Friday night.
Pepi, the former FC Dallas prodigy who was not selected for the 2022 World Cup squad, netted a brace in that contest and now has six goals in 14 appearances for the national team. He's rediscovered his scoring touch during a loan spell at Dutch side Groningen, producing nine goals in 21 Eredivisie matches — compared to no goals in 16 across all competitions at Augsburg, which broke its transfer fee last January to sign the then-19-year-old.
"It's been a roller coaster, to be honest," Pepi said after the game. "I'm happy to be in the squad and scoring goals again after missing the World Cup. I think I made a big statement tonight, and I'm just happy to be fighting with my teammates again and helping them out."
El Salvador limited the U.S. to six shots in the first half, none that truly troubled goalkeeper Mario Martínez. Hugo Perez's squad was resolute in the home leg back in June as well, grinding out a 1-1 draw as Jordan Morris provided a 91st-minute equalizer for the visitors.
El Salvador might have had the best opportunity of the opening half as well, with Jairo Henríquez forcing Matt Turner into a diving save inside of two minutes. The Arsenal goalkeeper later received treatment for discomfort on his left side, but remained in the game.
The U.S. seized control out of halftime. Gio Reyna played a tidy combination with Christian Pulisic down the left flank and drilled the near post roughly 45 seconds after the whistle. Tim Ream and Weston McKennie could not convert consecutive chances off corners, and Alejandro Zendejas was denied on a lob attempt courtesy of Bryan Tamacas' sliding goal-line clearance.
Pepi checked in at the hour mark for former Orlando City standout Daryl Dike, and made an immediate impact. He bent his first run around Roberto Domínguez and after a fantastic ball from McKennie, fought off the defender and calmly chipped Martínez.
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Only two players scored six goals for the U.S. senior side at a younger age than Pepi (20 years, 77 days): Pulisic and Jozy Altidore.
“Really pleased with him, for him,” interim manager Anthony Hudson said. “With his club team, unfortunately not being in a great place in the table, sometimes it can be tough. … When you come out of that environment, and come back to your national team environment, it gives you a little bit of a break.
“I think that has helped him. We, as a staff, really value him. We love him as a person and as a character, and we believe in him. And, yeah, he’s had a good week. He’s come in, taken his chances and, to be fair to him, he could have had quite a few more.”
Mexico prevailed in Group A on Sunday night with a 2-2 draw against Jamaica, reaching the Nations League final four. Groups B and C will be decided Tuesday when Canada hosts Honduras and Costa Rica faces Panama.
The semifinals are scheduled for June 15 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Orlando, meanwhile, continues to be a stronghold for the Americans. With the win, the USMNT improves to 6-0-0 all-time at Exploria Stadium, including a 5-1 rout over Panama in a World Cup qualifier 364 days ago.
