US gets win over N. Ireland in friendly
The U.S. broke out a 3-4-3 formation with wingbacks, a new weapon in the team’s arsenal under coach Gregg Berhalter that opened space for Christian Pulisic.
The result was the Americans’ first win at a European opponent in six years.
Gio Reyna scored on a deflected shot off a pass from Pulisic in the 30th minute, Pulisic doubled the lead with a penalty kick in the 59th and the United States beat Northern Ireland 2-1 Sunday in an exhibition at Belfast.
“That’s where I want to be. I want to help lead this team in whatever way that is, whether that’s with the captain’s band or not,” Pulisic said. “I hope I can always lead by example and be one of the hardest workers out there. And that’s always going to be my aim. And if I do that, I think the guys will see that and do the same, I hope.”
Pulisic captained the U.S. for the fourth time, the first since Oct. 11, 2019, against Cuba.
Berhalter’s formation morphed into a 5-41 at times that resulted in better defensive pressure on a bumpy field with soft patches.
“I think it gives the team a lot of stability in the back, especially it allows you to swing the ball around just having that extra man in the back,” Pulisic said. “And it just allows me to come inside a bit more and for me to find that space in the pocket.”
Berhalter made four changes, inserting Tim Ream and Matt Miazga as part of a three-man central defense with Aaron Long. Antonee Robinson started at left wing and Sergiño Dest shifted from left back to right wing. Jordan Siebatcheu got his first start after making his debut in Thursday’s 4-1 win over Jamaica at Wiener Neustadt, Austria.
“Christian, their team plays a similar way, right? Sergiño at Barcelona plays a similar way,” Berhalter
said. “Antonee Robinson at Fulham plays as a wingback. Gio played the similar position for Dortmund. So we thought that they would be comfortable playing that way.”
Reyna received a pass from Ream and took four touches with no pressure. His right-footed shot from 24 yards deflected off a leg of Ciaron Brown and over goalkeeper Conor Hazard for his second international goal.
“Whenever you beat a European team, it’s always good for your confidence,” Reyna said.
Pulisic, who often plays on a wing for Chelsea,
earned the penalty when he took a pass from Reyna and was tripped by Daniel Ballard. He slid the ball to the left of Hazard for his 15th international goal and a 2-0 lead.
Niall McGinn scored his sixth international goal in the 88th with a sharply angled volley after getting past Robinson, who was hobbling after hurting his left leg on a sliding tackle by Alistair McCann.
Next up is a May 30 exhibition at Switzerland, followed by the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal at home against Honduras on June 3.