Sebastian Lletget scored his first career USMNT goal back in 2017 in Avaya Stadium in World Cup qualifying. Moments later he suffered a devastating injury.
Finally back in the national team fold, Lletget returned to Avaya Stadium in Gregg Berhalter’s second match in charge. And wouldn’t you know it, he scored the winner.
Lletget came through with a goal in the 80th minute and an assist in the 88th to beat Costa Rica 2-0 and give Berhalter a 2-0 start to his USMNT coaching career on Saturday in San Jose, California. Not that it came easy for the Americans, who on Sunday beat Panama 3-0.
The U.S. struggled to create offense in the first half. The U.S. had 55 percent of the possession, but Costa Rica had a slight advantage in what few shots were taken, 4-3.
The second half, however, picked up quickly, similar to how the USMNT ramped up offensively in the second half against Panama.
Cristian Roldan should have opened the scoring in the 51st minute when the ball bounced right to him near the penalty spot, but the Seattle Sounders midfielder somehow lashed his effort well wide.
It was so pretty until the shot pic.twitter.com/MnhL42C5pJ
— The American Outlaws (@AmericanOutlaws) February 2, 2019
Moments later, Nick Lima (the right back, mind you) ripped a shot that struck the post and bounced out. Corey Baird deserved an assist for the effort to keep the ball in play and set up the attempt.
THISCLOSE!
The post denies this fantastic rip from @nick__lima. Keep pushing, boys! pic.twitter.com/8AclSN4sRu— U.S. Soccer MNT (@ussoccer_mnt) February 2, 2019
Then it was center back Aaron Long’s turn to get a look at goal. On a corner kick, Long’s attempted flick shot bounced back to him before he turned and fired over everyone. All of this came in the first 15 minutes of the second half.
In the 68th minute, Roldan hit the same post Lima hit as the USMNT crept closer to a goal without any actual end product.
This post officially is our new enemy. pic.twitter.com/r7edLN4bcM
— The American Outlaws (@AmericanOutlaws) February 2, 2019
4 - This is just the fourth time in the last five years that the #USMNT has hit the post multiple times in a match. Unlucky. #USAvCRC
— OptaJack (@OptaJack) February 2, 2019
Finally, it was Sebastian Lletget, who scored the breakthrough with a back-post header on a cross from fellow substitute Jonathan Lewis in the 80th minute.
THERE IT IS! @SLletget's glorious return to @AvayaStadium gets the #USMNT on the board! pic.twitter.com/HBd416sbsY
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@ussoccer_mnt) February 2, 2019
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Lletget said on FOX after the match. “It’s truly an amazing feeling.
“I knew he was going to hit it back post because we had been working on it all camp.”
Sebastian Lletget, a 26-year-old San Francisco native, played in just three matches in the 2017 season due to a Lisfranc injury suffered on his first trip to Avaya Stadium with the USMNT. After a comeback year with the LA Galaxy (three goals in 28 matches), Lletget played in end-of-year friendlies against Italy and England in November, both shutout losses.
Called into Berhalter’s first January camp, he showed he’s not done yet with the above goal. Then he added an assist for good measure.
In the 88th minute, Lletget played a delightful through ball for Paul Arriola, who chipped past the onrushing keeper, did a flip and celebrated securing a 2-0 victory.
Make that a double! @PaulArriola beats the 'keeper to double the #USMNT's lead in the 88th! pic.twitter.com/V4VmMHCSOZ
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@ussoccer_mnt) February 2, 2019
With that, the Berhalter era is off to a strong start, though it will only get harder.
The friendlies against Panama and Costa Rica, plus the entire January camp, did not include any of the Europe-based players and was more focused on young MLS talent. Both Panama and Costa Rica fielded their share of young players as well.
On Sunday, Berhalter gave seven players their first USMNT caps against Panama. On Saturday, Costa Rica did the same, debuting five players in the starting lineup, adding two more as subs. Berhalter meanwhile kept most of the same starting XI with two changes: Wil Trapp for Michael Bradley and Paul Arriola for Jeremy Ebobisse.
Two matches in, Berhalter said he likes where this team is going. He set three goals for the January camp: team building, style of play and competing. After the match Saturday, he discussed each of those aspects:
- Team building: “Good”
- Style of play: “We need to keep going”
- Competing: “These guys are animals”
Two out of three ain't bad.
The next time the USMNT takes the field will be in March with friendlies against Ecuador and Chile. These matches will be during a FIFA international break, meaning Berhalter will have his first opportunity to coach players like Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie.
The first meaningful match of the Berhalter era will be in this summer’s Gold Cup, which the USMNT will open on June 18 at Allianz Field in Minnesota.
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