Giovani Reyna scored his first goal for the United States since 2021 in a 4-0 friendly win over Ghana at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee on Tuesday night.
The Americans rebounded well from Saturday’s 3-1 loss to Germany, with Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogan scoring after Reina scored in the 10th minute.
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It was Raina’s second game with the US since last year’s World Cup — he was used sparingly because of off-field issues — and he used his place in Gregg Berhalter’s starting XI to score his first goal with the national team. Squad vs Costa Rica from June 9, 2021
Raina has returned to fitness since suffering a broken leg last June and played his second straight first half. The 20-year-old midfielder’s first game under Berhalder is against Germany on Saturday after the pair’s collapse in Qatar.
Raina added his second after the U.S. was awarded an indirect free kick in Ghana’s box, Pulisic rolling the ball in front of his teammate to give the Americans a 4-0 lead at the break.
After the U.S. began its second term with four friendlies, Berhalter leads the Americans to the quarterfinals of the two-time CONCACAF Nations League, a spot in the 2024 Copa America next month.
Ghana knocked the USA out of the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, and the Americans opened the 2014 tournament with a win over the Black Stars. The 11th-ranked USA achieved its highest margin of victory against African opposition in 2000 against South Africa.
The Americans stepped up after Sergino chased Test towards goal and passed wide to Balogun, whose cross went past defender Nicholas Oboku. The ball fell to Raina, who curled a right-footed shot from 12 yards.
Pulisic slotted home a penalty kick past Gideon Mensah and Tim Weah for his 28th international goal.
With the United States pressing, Weah created the third goal when Jerome Opoku failed to control a pass down the flank. Weah took the ball and centered Balogun, who spun as he took a touch and scored his third goal in six appearances from the middle of the penalty area.
Raina got his second goal from an indirect free kick 10 yards out, awarded when Opoku sat on the ball. Reina poked the ball to Pulisic, who tapped it in and Reina kicked the ball into the roof of the net.
There was little pressure on American goalkeeper Matt Turner, but he tipped Mohamed Kudus’ 41st-minute shot over the crossbar.
German-born midfielder Leonard Maloney, 24, entered in the 65th minute to make his 60th U.S. debut under Berhalter.
No. 60 Ghana lost 2-0 against Mexico and snapped a five-match unbeaten run under Chris Hughton, who took over as coach in February. The qualifiers for the Black Stars Open World Cup are next month.
As one of the co-hosts, the United States automatically gets a chance to compete in the World Cup.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.
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