The United States men's national team started its post-World Cup era with a 4-1 friendly win over Peru on Saturday. The match at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando was defined by a wave of new faces, with 11 players making their international debuts.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino said before the game he was likely to go with a mix of veterans and newcomers. He delivered on that promise with a lineup that included teenage debutants Cavan Sullivan, Peyton Miller, and Justin Ellis, who scored the opening goal in the fourth minute.
Justin Ellis found the net early, assisted by Gio Reyna's free kick. Gianluca Lapadula equalized for Peru in the 15th minute, but Malik Tillman restored the lead from the penalty spot in the 67th minute after fellow debutant Albert won the foul. Julian Hall added a third in the 72nd minute before Sebastian Berhalter completed the scoring in the 90th.
The result snapped a run of four consecutive defeats for the USMNT, moving their recent form to one win in five matches. They will look to build on this performance when they host Chile in another friendly on Wednesday.
Among the notable absences were Christian Pulisic, Ricardo Pepi, Folarin Balogun, Weston McKennie, and Haji Wright, all out injured. After the match, only goalkeepers Brian Schwake and Cole Campbell remained from the original 13 uncapped players available for selection. The team's current squad list is available on our squad page.
Pochettino praised the performance of his young squad, noting the energy and tactical discipline they showed. He specifically highlighted Cavan Sullivan's composure on the ball and his ability to create space under pressure. The coach confirmed that several of the debutants would remain with the squad for the upcoming match against Chile.
Peru's manager, Jorge Fossati, acknowledged the US team's superior physicality and speed in transition, which he said made the difference in the second half. He pointed to the penalty decision as a turning point that shifted momentum firmly to the hosts.
US Soccer also confirmed that midfielder Luca Koleosho, who was an unused substitute, withdrew from the squad after the match due to a minor hamstring issue and will not be available against Chile.
First reported at sports.yahoo.com
