The U.S. came alive in the second half to beat Oman 4-0 in a friendly Tuesday night in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Greg Berhalder, returning for his second term since returning as U.S. coach, saw his team labor first — just like Saturday’s 3-0 win over Uzbekistan — before withdrawing late in the game.
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Clear-cut chances were hard to come by, but a first-half put-back by Falorin Balogun and a second-half free kick by Brendan Aaronson helped make it two wins from two for the USMNT once Berhalter took charge again.
Ricardo Pepi came off the bench to score in the 79th minute, and the United States’ pressure forced an own goal from Oman’s Khalid Al-Breiki to put the hosts up 4.
The Americans have another pair of friendlies in the October international window as they face Germany on Oct. 14 and Ghana three days later — this time against top-tier teams.
Tim Weah made Balogun’s move towards goal bounce across the field with a cross. Weston McKenney took the ball, turned and beat Abdullah Fawaz, then back to Weah on the far side of the penalty area. Weah played the ball to Sergino Test, who fired a shot past goalkeeper Ibrahim Al Muqaini. Balogan tapped the ball in with his left foot from just outside the 6-yard box for his second international goal.
Aaronson, who replaced Christian Pulisic early in the second half, was awarded a free kick when he was tripped by Ahmed Al Khamisi. Aaronson sent his kick through the wall and past Al Mucaini on a hop from 27 yards. It was Aaronson’s eighth goal in 34 internationals.
Pepi scored his ninth international goal, sixth in six games this year, finishing off a Tijuan Jones cross from inside the penalty area.
Benjamin Gremachi, an 18-year-old Inter Miami midfielder, entered in the 71st minute, followed by Kevin Paredes, a 20-year-old Wolfsburg defender. There have been 59 debuts under Berhalter.
The game-time temperature against Honduras in St. Paul for February 2022 World Cup qualifiers went from 5 degrees to 58 degrees.
The U.S. made four changes from Saturday’s win over Uzbekistan. Ethan Horvath starts for Nottingham Forest’s Matt Turner, Christopher Lund for Anthony Robinson on the left, Miles Robinson for Tim Ream in central defense and Malik Tillman for Luca de la Torre in midfield.
Horvath played his first international since June 2022.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.
