Pepi strike lifts US in 1-0 win over El Salvador / Photo: © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
-
Saka to be carefully managed after latest injury setback, says Arteta
-
Oil hits $116 with stocks mixed on earnings, AI
-
Goodell says NFL's France debut 'just the beginning'
-
De Zerbi says Tottenham's dire record at Chelsea 'more motivation'
-
Singapore widens haze probe to local firms linked to Indonesian fires
-
Lula, Bolsonaro in final debate showdown before Brazil vote
-
Hundreds of Syrians protest repeated Israeli incursions
-
Poulter latest golfer to leave LIV
-
El Salvador sends troops to Haiti to find 4 missing soldiers
-
Gunman kills one, wounds five in town outside Paris
-
Liverpool must go 'full gas' despite injury issues, says Iraola
-
Melania Trump says secured ceasefire in Ukrainian city of Oleshky
-
Oil hits $115 with stocks mixed on earnings, AI
-
Carrick 'confident' he can turn around Man Utd slump
-
Casualties feared as multi-storey building collapses in Nairobi
-
PSG v Lyon French Ligue 1 game postponed due to Paris protests
-
Man Utd defeat to Como 'unacceptable', says Carrick
-
Meghan Markle 'distressed' over claims father had child abuse images
-
Hurzeler 'focused' on Brighton job despite Man Utd links
-
Gunman kills one, wounds four in town outside Paris
-
Hammer blow for Kenya as world marathon champ Jepchirchir suspended for doping
-
France to deploy 70,000 police ahead of new protests
-
Latin America's right-wing swing looms large over nature summit
-
Mekies hails Verstappen as Red Bull's driving force amid revival
-
European, Mideast foreign ministers hold talks in Istanbul
-
Tanker with Russian diesel heads to New York under Trump deal
-
World marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir suspended for doping: AIU
-
New centre puts focus on Portuguese dictator Salazar's legacy
-
Romania blames Russia for new deadly attack on ship
-
Oil nears $115 with stocks mixed on earnings, AI
-
Waze rejects Malaysia's data security claims after civil servant ban
-
Asian football endorses Infantino re-election in apparent U-turn
-
'Call of Duty' seeks to win back fans with warfare spectacle
-
Ukraine says two soldiers died after arrested girl sent Russian poison
-
Volvo Cars shares plunge on losses, job cuts
-
New Greece law bans social media for under-15s
-
France braces for new protests as Macron seeks to restore order
-
Netanyahu orders West Bank closure as attack wounds Israelis before election
-
Kering shares tumble as Gucci fails to reassure investors
-
Asian stocks mixed ahead of weekend as tech recovers early losses
-
West Bank attack wounds 5 as Israel PM cancels events
-
How five Boeing 777s linked Madagascar's power elite to Iran
-
Ahead of APEC summit, Trump comes knocking on Kim's door
-
South Korea proposes holding border talks with North
-
Emergency nurseries rescue DR Congo's Ebola orphans
-
Ukraine's young figure skaters twizzle on despite Russian threat
-
Bezzecchi tops Australian MotoGP practice as wallaby hops onto track
-
Asian football endorses Infantino re-election as FIFA president
-
Under-threat Ospreys bet on new ground and Australian 'stardust'
-
Complete Kane hopes for 'special night' as Ballon d'Or rumours swirl
Pepi strike lifts US in 1-0 win over El Salvador
Second-half sub Ricardo Pepi needed almost no time to make his presence felt, delivering the game-winning goal in the United States' 1-0 victory over El Salvador on Monday in the CONCACAF Nations League.
The Netherlands-based striker, who scored twice in a starting role in the United States' 7-1 thrashing of Grenada on Friday, came on in the 60th minute at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
He'd barely had a chance to touch the ball when Weston McKennie's crisp through ball found him in the area and he shook off defender Roberto Dominguez and lofted a shot over Salvadoran keeper Mario Gonzalez in the 62nd minute.
Although the defending champions needed only a point against El Salvador to assure themselves of a place in the final four of the Nations League in June, Pepi said the win at home mattered.
"I think it was important for me personally and for the team," said the 20-year-old, who missed out on a place in the US World Cup squad last year.
"It was a roller coaster," he said. "Up and down, not making it to the World Cup and now back with the squad. Happy to be back."
The first half saw the United States struggle to create openings against El Salvador's suffocating defense.
El Salvador threatened less than two minutes into the game, with Jairo Henriquez's shot from the edge of the box pushed wide by a diving Turner.
Gio Reyna, playing his first match before home fans since he was engulfed in World Cup controversy, had one of the best first half efforts for the United States with a long range shot that Gonzalez tipped wide with his fingertips.
The hosts opened the second half aggressively. Reyna hit the post in the 46th minute and seconds later Tim Ream went close with a volley.
Pepi had a chance to double the lead in the 79th minute when Taylor Booth found him on the left side of the area, but his shot skimmed wide of Gonzalez's far post.
The match was the United States' second competitive fixture under interim coach Anthony Hudson.
The United States are trying to retain the Nations League title they won in 2021 with final victory over Mexico -- who have also secured their place in the final four by finishing top of Group A.
F.Müller--BTB
