AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Jesús Ferreira tied the United States' international record with four goals and the Americans beat Grenada 5-0 on Friday night in a World Cup sendoff, a CONCACAF Nations League match 164 days before their opener in Qatar.
After an array of misfires, Ferreira put the U.S. ahead in the 43rd minute, then added goals in the 54th, 56th and 78th to give him seven in 12 international matches. His four goals matched Landon Donovan (2003), Joe-Max Moore (1993), Buff Donelli (1934) and Archie Stark (1925).
Paul Arriola added a goal in the 62nd as the Americans stretched their home unbeaten streak to 26 games since a September 2019 loss to Mexico, matching the team record set from 2013-15.
On a 96-degree evening, stars Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams didn't dress for the No. 15 U.S., playing a Spice Boys team ranked just 170th and winless since beating the U.S. Virgin Islands in March 2021.
when Arriola crossed and the ball deflected off Kayden Harrack to the 21-year-old, who cut to the center and beat goalkeeper Jason Belfon inside the far post with a left-foot shot from 8 yards. The U.S. entered with just one goal from the run of play by a forward in 13 games.
when he sprinted behind the defense as Arriola fed him, then
Second-half sub Brenden Aaronson pulled Belfon off his line for Ferreira's fourth, leaving him
Arriola, Ferreira's Dallas teammate,
Cameron Carter-Vickers started in his international competitive debut and joined Aaron Long to become the 20th center back pairing in 53 games since coach Gregg Berhalter was hired in December 2018. The U.S. made eight changes from Sunday's 0-0 exhibition draw against Uruguay,
Malik Tillman, a 20-year old who switched to the Americans from Germany last month, made his competitive debut at the start of the second half when he replaced Weston McKennie.
The unusual prep schedule was caused by FIFA's 2010 decision to stage the tournament in Qatar, a vote the U.S. Justice Department said was impacted by bribes paid to executive committee members of soccer’s governing body.
In 2015, FIFA moved the tournament to winter from its traditional June/July slot, a shift into the middle of the European club season that will limit pre-tournament training to one week and eliminated the possibility of the U.S. Soccer Federation's usual sendoff series.
The Americans have just three more warmup matches, at El Salvador on Tuesday in the Nations League and exhibitions in Europe on Sept. 23 and 27, likely against Asian opponents.
The 15th-ranked U.S. opens the World Cup against No. 18 Wales on Nov. 21, faces No. 5 England in a Black Friday matchup four days later and finished the first round against No. 21 Iran on Nov. 29.
Notes: GK Ethan Horvath and forward Haji Wright didn't play, perhaps leaving them to start at El Salvador. ... MF Gio Reyna, sidelined by a leg injury since April 8, was at the training camp though not on the roster. His father, former U.S. captain Claudio Reyna, is sporting director of Austin’s Major League Soccer team.
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