USMNT scores four in dominant, assured rout of Oman

Here’s a taste of our thoughts on the USMNT’s individual performances from the 4-0 win over Oman.

Yunus Musah: 8.5 — It’s almost impossible to understate how important Musah will be to this side’s midfield, calmly linking Tyler Adams and the backs to the attacking unit. He barely put a foot wrong, connecting 44-of-45 passes and making eight recoveries. He’s 20 years old, too, y’know?

Chris Richards (Off 72'): 8 — An imperious presence at both ends and still just 23. Richards is going to get a great chance to clamp onto a starting spot, as he’s impressed even taking into account the competition level.

Full player ratings, here.

U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker was on TNT after the game.

“Overall we’re really happy with the camp, with the players. Gregg and a lot of new staff saw a great young side out tonight. Overall we’re really happy with what we saw tonight and excited to take things forward into October.”

Crocker also detailed what he’s looking for a USWNT coach, and said the Yanks hope to have a women’s coach in place by December’s USWNT camp.

It could’ve been worse for Oman, who traveled halfway across the world after a friendly with Palestine and met a USMNT determined to have a comfortable win.

The Americans had 60 percent possession, which seems lower than the eye test, and out-attempted Oman 19-7. Oman didn’t get a single shot on Ethan Horvath.

Paredes had been in the game for just a few moments when he prods the USMNT’s fourth goal.

The Wolfsburg youngster blazes down the right side and sends a ball toward the six for an onrushing Pepi.

It doesn’t get there, diverted into the Oman goal by a defender.

4-0, and a totally fitting score line.

DeJuan Jones, called in due to a family issue for Joe Scally, makes an impact off the bench in the build-up to another Pepi goal.

Pepi takes an entry pass from Jones, snapping a shot through the legs of a defender and into the goal for 1-0.

Jones had entered for Sergino Dest and now it’s another debut for the Yanks. Kevin Paredes enters and... makes an impact.

It’s a debut for Benjamin Cremaschi, the 18-year-old Inter Miami midfielder who’s starred for the U.S. U-19s.

He’ll enter for Malik Tillman, and Mark McKenzie will sub into the match in place of Chris Richards. Richards had less to do tonight but was quite good.

Nothing Gregg Berhalter or AC Milan will like to see as Yunus Musah is clattered into by a sliding boot.

Should’ve been at least a yellow card, but Musah is going to play on for now despite a stoppage putting him on the turf for an extended spell.

Surely his day is set to be over soon after going 90 in the win over Uzbekistan.

Brenden Aaronson is standing over a free kick.

The wall is lined up, and Aaronson hits it right at it.

Good news for the Union Berlin man, though: The wall just moves.

That’s not gonna help a keeper, and Oman keeper Ibrahim Al Mukhaini slips to boot.

2-0 USMNT.

The Yanks are bringing on Ricardo Pepi and Brenden Aaronson at the break.

That means Folarin Balogun’s day ends with a goal, while Christian Pulisic also exits for the Yanks.

It all makes sense. Now let’s see another goal or three. Pepi meets an Aaronson cross and tries to oblige, but it’s wide of the near post.

We’re getting ahead of ourselves but... can we fast-forward to next month’s games against Germany and Ghana?

This is an unfair match-up, especially on U.S. soil after Oman played in Muscat, a 2-1 win over Palestine, less than a week ago.

The USMNT has 67% possession, an 8-2 advantage in shots, and have more than doubled Oman’s completed passes. The U.S. has six corners to zero for Oman.

More goals, please, but otherwise it’s a big thumbs-up emoji.

Here’s what Berhalter said on TNT:

“Better intensity, better runs behind the back line, and quicker ball movement. It also has to do with the opponent. Overall pleased with the execution.”

Berhalter praises Weston McKennie when asked about the USMNT midfielder, but says he wants to see him combining more centrally... and wants a goal out of the Juve man.

Still 1-0 but pure dominance — and the international break is feeling even better when you look at the scoreboard and see Uzbekistan leading Mexico 2-1 in Atlanta.

The Yanks are just buzzing around the Oman defense and it’s good football. They’ve got a goal from their center forward but it sure would be nice to get goal No. 2.

Oman has a spell of mild promise in the USMNT end but it’s not a real problem.

Another gorgeous McKennie cross from the left to the right, and it’s Dest running onto this one.

The volleyed cross-shot is not on frame, and Malik Tillman can’t reach it either.

USMNT still knocking, and in firm control of this... but the score is still just 1-0.

The Yanks have the ball in the goal again — and it’s a pretty one — but it’s not going to make its way onto the scoreboard.

Kristoffer Lund cues up a chance with an entry from the left, but Christian Pulisic picks the pocket of a defender and hits a hard cross that Weah puts home.

It was either offside or a handball against Weah — seems likely to be the latter as Weah appeared to be plenty onside — and it remains 1-0.

Well, that’s one item checked off our list.

Timothy Weah’s cross is a bit wayward and Weston McKennie tracks it down. The Juve man crosses it back to his teammate, who lays off for Sergino Dest.

The fullback gets full power on his shot and it’s saved, but Balogun passes it into the goal for 1-0.

Dest and Weah have shown really good interplay on the right side. Whether they can defend effectively against higher-end left sides will be worth watching but this looks very fun.

Half chances for both teams as Oman threatens down Sergino Dest’s flank but can’t get a shot on goal, then the Yanks win a corner at the other end.

Christian Pulisic’s service is cleared and it remains scoreless.

As we kick off with hopes of the Yanks securing a comfortable win versus the ‘Gulf Samba’ of Oman, here are three things we’ll be watching closely tonight:

1. Will Folarin Balogun get on the score sheet ahead of a return to new club AS Monaco and before meeting Ghana and Germany next month?
2. Can Miles Robinson look more like the player who looked indispensible before his major injury?
3. The new guys: Are young dual nationals Malik Tillman and Kristoffer Lund ready to be a part of the furniture?

Some changes!

Gregg Berhalter was forced into one by Luca de la Torre’s broken nose, and Malik Tillman will join Yunus Musah and Weston McKennie in the midfield.

Ethan Horvath takes the place of Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matt Turner in goal, while Miles Robinson starts over Tim Ream at center back.

Kristoffer Lund goes in at left back for Antonee Robinson, while the front three remains the same. Good times.

Again, we’re operating with a new measuring stick here; The Yanks are less than four years from hosting the men’s World Cup, and set to do it with perhaps the most talented team in history, one that’s set to be largely in its prime and carrying unparalleled experience on the world stage.

It’s doing so under a coach who has been backed by a new director in Matt Crocker, so much so that Gregg Berhalter’s been rehired by the federation. There’s a little bit of a rub there, though; The players seemingly wanted Berhalter back in the job and Crocker would’ve been silly not to include that in his hiring thought process.

And so those players performances will fittingly determine the length and success of Berhalter’s new run as boss.

Berhalter chose a terrific XI from a very strong 24-man squad for the match against Uzbekistan and there’s really no question he gave them a path to a comfortable victory. Understandably rusty? Yes, for sure, and bad giveaways were responsible for almost all of Uzbekistan’s chances. Performance? Not great. Plan? Berhalter gets a check.

How will Berhalter approach Oman? There would’ve been a pre-camp plan but does he feel he needs to adjust any of it to get the right message into the heads of his men before October friendlies with Ghana and Germany?

It seems unlikely, but he’ll have to tweak some things as Luca de la Torre has broken his nose. Yunus Musah went 90 minutes and Weston McKennie 81. Malik Tillman and Benjamin Cremaschi are also there, as is Tanner Tessmann who did some nice things but also was a part of at least two gaffes versus Uzbekistan.

Berhalter will start Ethan Horvath with Matt Turner returning to England as he awaits the arrival of his new baby daughter. Christian Pulisic, Sergino Dest, Antonee Robinson, and Tim Ream joined Musah in going 90. Will any of those players start against Oman, or might we see Brenden Aaronson, Kristopher Lund, Cade Cowell, Joe Scally and/or others?

Lots to watch on Tuesday.

FIFA ranking: 73
Elo rating: t-65

Just above Uzbekistan in FIFA’s list and behind them in ELO — level with Albania — this game’s expectations should be about the same for visitors and hosts as the Uzbekistan friendly that ended 3-0 to the Yanks on Saturday.

Oman’s roster for this match is exclusively domestic-based and led by 30-year-old Mahmood Al-Mushaifri and 33-year-old captain Harib Al-Saadi. The former is seventh in Oman caps all-time.

But there’s no Eldor Shomurodov here, and Oman is going to have to find threat and goals from a crew of six forwards, two uncapped, that have combined for 24 goals from 173 caps.

Oman has only escaped the Asian Cup’s group stage once, but it was in its last go-round (2019). They are looking to shine in Qatar come January for the 2023 edition, and World Cup qualifying begins in November.

Its Asian Cup group is Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Kyrgyzstan. The Saudis are the best of the bunch and will be Oman’s first group stage match. This friendly is very much preparation for that.