United States men’s national soccer team plays to scoreless draw vs. El Salvador in World Cup qualifying opener
in Nashville. The USMNT wraps up this first qualifying window with a game in Honduras on Wednesday.
American soccer fans still haven’t recovered from the shock of the USMNT failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. No doubt some will see the tie against El Salvador, a team the U.S. men are 18-1-6 all-time against, as more of the same.
Christian Pulisic, was back in Nashville trying to regain his fitness after a bout with COVID-19.
While this group of Americans is loaded with talent — 10 are on European teams that are still playing in the Champions League, and they defeated archrival Mexico for the titles in two different tournaments this summer — they are inexperienced. Especially in this setting.
9 games despite many players gone for World Cup qualifiers
The Americans started fast, with Reyna and Miles Robinson both having good chances in the first nine minutes. Reyna rustled the side of the net in the third, and Robinson’s header was just a touch too high in the ninth.
It seemed as if it was only a matter of time before the USMNT got a goal, which wouldn’t have been a surprise. The United States had never lost to El Salvador in World Cup qualifying, and just once in the teams’ previous 24 meetings.