The USMNT opened play in league A group A of the 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League with a 7-0 shutout of Cuba at Audi Field in Washington, DC. Weston McKennie opened the scoring 32 seconds into the game, doubling the lead in the 5th minute. Jordan Morris scored in the 9th with McKennie finishing off his hat-trick in the 13th minute. An own-goal made it 6-0 USMNT in the 37th with Josh Sargent scoring in the 40th. Christian Pulisic converted a penalty in the 62nd minute. Brad Guzan didn't need to make a save to keep the clean sheet.
"As a team we've been in camps pretty often and we're getting familiar with each other," McKennie told FS1 about combining with Morris. "We're also really good friends off the field as well. The whole team, it's unbelievable the chemistry and connection we have off the field. It's like a real big family. In training the coaching staff reiterates 'look at this play, it's open it's open it's open' so it definitely showed today."
The USMNT plays Canada at Toronto's BMO Field on Tuesday (7:30pm ET - ESPN2) in their second Nations League game. Canada only plays one Nations League game in the October window, currently leading group A with six points and a +7 goal difference.
Okay, and here is that record-setting @WMcKennie hat trick in 40 seconds!
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 11, 2019
4-0, #USAvCUB pic.twitter.com/hZtGR3NiBG
-- GAME REPORT --
Match: U.S. Men's National Team vs. Cuba
Date: October 11, 2019
Competition: Concacaf Nations League - League A, Group A
Venue: Audi Field; Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 13,784
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Weather: 72 degrees; clear skies
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 6 1 7
CUB 0 0 0
USA - Weston McKennie (Jordan Morris) 1st minute
USA - Weston McKennie (Jordan Morris) 5
USA - Jordan Morris (Weston McKennie) 9
USA - Weston McKennie (Reggie Cannon) 13
USA - Dario Ramos (own goal) 37
USA - Josh Sargent (Jordan Morris) 40
USA - Christian Pulisic (penalty kick) 62
Lineups:
USA: 1-Brad Guzan; 20-Reggie Cannon, 3-Matt Miazga, 13-Tim Ream, 5-Daniel Lovitz; 15-Cristian Roldan, 6-Jackson Yueill, 8-Weston McKennie (7-Paul Arriola, 46); 11-Jordan Morris (21-Tyler Boyd, 46), 19-Josh Sargent, 10-Christian Pulisic (capt.) (17-Sebastian Lletget, 67)
Substitutes not used: 12-Sean Johnson, 22-Zack Steffen, 2-DeAndre Yedlin, 4-Michael Bradley, 6-Miles Robinson, 9-Gyasi Zardes, 16-Nick Lima, 18-Corey Baird, 23-Aaron Long
Head coach: Gregg Berhalter
CUB: 21-Nelson Johnston; 3-Erick Rizo, 5-Daniel Morejon, 7-Rolando Abreu (22-Randys Reve, 59), 9-Maykel Reyes, 10-Aricheell Hernandez (capt.), 14-Karel Espino, 16-Dario Ramos, 17-Jean Carlos Rodriguez, 20-Manuel Cruz (18-Jose Armelo, 46), 23-Luis Paradela (11-Jose Perez, 83)
Substitutes not used: 1-Sandy Sanchez, 12-Elier Pozo, 2-Felipe Hurtado, 13-Anibal La Pera, 15-Lazaro Monzon
Head coach: Pablo Elier Sánchez
Stats Summary: USA / CUB
Shots: 24 / 4
Shots on Goal: 12 / 0
Saves: 0 / 4
Corner Kicks: 17 / 0
Fouls: 9 / 6
Offside: 5 / 0
Misconduct Summary:
CUB - Dario Ramos (caution) 49th minute
CUB - Erick Rizo (caution) 78
Officials:
Referee: Jose Raul Torres Rivera (PUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Jairo Morales Garcia (PUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Limanuel Sola Morales (PUR)
4th Official: William Rene Anderson Abrams (PUR)
Photo by John Dorton - ISIPhotos.com
