It wasn’t exactly a night of celebration for the United States. This was not a great victory, nor was it a severe test of will. Rather, it was another night where Gregg Berhalter was able to reconnect with the USMNT via a glorified scrimmage.
Those tough tests will come soon – next month, when Germany and Ghana take on the Americans in Connecticut and Tennessee. But tonight the United States didn’t have to embarrass itself, and that’s exactly what it did.
An opening goal from Folarin Balogun was the only legitimate goal for the United States in what would be a 4-0 victory for the United States over a thoroughly outclassed Oman team.
After Balogun fired the first goal, the Americans would remain scoreless for the rest of the first half.
It was a shocking performance in the net from Oman keeper Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini that actually led to the Americans improving on their result on the night.
Folarin Balogun (20) scored the opening goal in the United States’ 4-0 win over Oman
Brenden Aaronson scored a free kick in the 60th minute – his first goal for the US in six months
It was a dreadful evening for Oman keeper Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini – who should have saved two goals
Brendan Aaronson’s free kick in the 60th minute went straight through the Oman wall, with Al-Mukhaini reading the shot terribly well.
A few minutes later, Ricardo Pepi shot a shot that went off the keeper’s hands and into his own net.
A Khalid Al-Braiki own goal in the 81st minute cemented the result, which looked less like a solid victory and more like a confirmation of what should already have been known: that the Americans were the better side.
Midfielders Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah had a phenomenal impact on the game, combining for 112 completed passes with a combined completion rate of 87 percent.
Berhalter said he was “pleased with the whole camp” and called it a “really good learning experience for all of us.”
He also praised centre-backs Chris Richards and Miles Robinson, saying they were both given a match ball ‘which we never do’.
Berhalter said their efforts made Oman’s counter-attack ‘non-existent’, but admitted the absence of one of their best attacking players may have contributed to that.
MORE TO FOLLOW.