Panic meters were reaching Cuova levels on Wednesday night in San Pedro Sula. The U.S. trailed Honduras at halftime and it looked like the Americans were headed toward a dismal two points from their first three World Cup qualifiers. Gregg Berhalter made three halftime changes, somewhat surprisingly leaving on qualifying novices Ricardo Pepi and James Sands.
Ricardo Pepi repaid the faith.
The second youngest USMNT player to ever appear in a World Cup qualifier — behind only Christian Pulisic — the 18-year-old Pepi played a pivotal role in all four goals to lead the U.S. to a much-needed 4-1 win over Honduras on Wednesday. The win gave Gregg Berhalter’s side five points from its first three matches — not a great start, but certainly not the disaster the Americans were facing down 1-0 at halftime.
Pepi, playing in his first-ever USMNT game, will be credited with a goal and an assist, but he was key in starting the play for the equalizer and his saved shot set up Sebastian Lletget’s stoppage-time cherry on top. The final three goals came after Pulisic hobbled off the pitch with an apparent ankle injury, a worry for Chelsea but right now secondary to the USMNT’s massive win.
Now THAT's how you close out this World Cup Qualifying window. Proud of our boys. pic.twitter.com/3gSD85MthY
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) September 9, 2021
Heading into a near must-win match on the road in a hostile environment, Berhalter chose an extremely young lineup featuring four World Cup qualifying newcomers, with Pepi leading the line.
Pretty boring USMNT lineup, eh?
Youngest USMNT WCQ lineup in modern era1st WCQ for Bello, McKenzie, Pepi, Sands
Pepi is 2nd-youngest USMNT player in a WCQ
7 starters under 23
8 starters with under 20 caps
— Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) September 9, 2021
Pepi has been a breakout star in MLS for FC Dallas and recently chose to represent the U.S. over Mexico. You can read here about why USMNT fans are excited about this youngster, or you can just read on to see how he turned Wednesday’s match around.
At halftime of Wednesday’s match, USMNT’s World Cup hopes were dismal. Brayan Moya scored in the 27th minute for Honduras, which racked up a worrisome 11 first-half shots.
Brayan Moya strikes first to give Honduras the lead pic.twitter.com/9Y3RvIgrai
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 9, 2021
The Gooch, the Deuce and Davies were despondent at halftime of Paramount+’s halftime show. The USMNT traditionally struggles on the road in World Cup qualifying, especially when going behind a goal.
"I think Tyler Adams needs to go back into the midfield and I think we need to figure out a way to get another attacking player on because we need a goal to score."@clint_dempsey breaks down the changes he wants to see in the second half. pic.twitter.com/5OOHMjTh5s
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 9, 2021
Berhalter, who has received a metric shit ton of criticism for earning draws in the first two qualifiers against El Salvador and Canada, made three changes at the half, adding Antonee Robinson, Lletget and Brenden Aaronson to the mix. The changes paid near immediate dividends, but Pepi was in the middle of it all.
Ricardo Pepi vs Honduras (Sept. 8, 2021)
The U.S. equalized when Pepi’s hold-up play sparked an attack that ended in Robinson placing the ball into the side netting. Pepi not only started the play, he pulled defenders away from Robinson, giving him the time and space needed to score the all-important first goal.
Just a great finish from @Antonee_Jedi. We’re all tied up here in Honduras. pic.twitter.com/8sWxsEd9B6
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) September 9, 2021
A-plus on the celebration from Robinson, who was huge in the second half.
After Pulisic left injured in the 62nd minute, it looked like either side could come away with all three points. Somewhat surprisingly given the fact he waited so long to use substitutes against Canada, Berhalter used his fifth and final sub to replace Sands with DeAndre Yedlin in the 73rd minute. Almost immediately, Yedlin supplied the cross for Pepi to head home what proved to be the winner.
RICARDO PEPI WITH HIS DEBUT GOAL TO GIVE THE @USMNT THE LEAD pic.twitter.com/8UiNxA8mCO
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 9, 2021
A first USMNT goal in his first USMNT appearance, and what a time to do it.
But Pepi wasn’t done.
In the waning minutes of the 90, the pressing of Cristian Roldan forced a turnover that fell to Pepi. The Texan raced forward before laying off to Aaronson to put the game away.
RICARDO PEPI FINDS BRENDEN AARONSON FOR THE @USMNT'S THIRD pic.twitter.com/q7wCIu6SaV
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 9, 2021
And if that wasn’t enough, Pepi had one last opportunity on goal. Though his shot was saved, Lletget was there to pounce on the rebound and add a little to the goal difference.
SEBASTIAN LLETGET MAKES IT FOUR pic.twitter.com/d7nCb78tAZ
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 9, 2021
That’s four goals, four contributions from Ricardo Pepi.
After the match, Pepi gave the perfect post-game interview.
Exclusive post game reaction from the one and only @Ricardo_Pepi9. pic.twitter.com/BZ5C64Mcfj
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) September 9, 2021
Let’s. Go. USMNT fans can exhale after a nervy night.
The USMNT now has jumped up to a three-way tie for second place in the Concacaf qualifying octagon, behind Mexico, which battled back for a 1-1 draw with Panama earlier Wednesday. Canada, which trounced El Salvador 3-0, and Panama also have five points. The top three teams automatically qualify for Qatar 2022, while the fourth-place team goes to an intercontinental playoff.
¡Luego de 3 fechas todo está muy parejo en las eliminatorias para la Copa Mundial de la FIFA! #WCQ pic.twitter.com/YqiEGrKUWA
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) September 9, 2021
Next up for the U.S. will be the October qualifiers against Jamaica in Austin, Texas, Panama in Panama City and Costa Rica in Columbus, Ohio, from Oct. 7-13.
