PREVIEW – The United States Men’s National Team heads to Port of Spain for their second leg match against Trinidad and Tobago tonight. The USMNT won the first leg in Austin, Texas 3-0 last week. Let’s take a look as the USA looks to advance to the Concacaf Nations League Semifinals and exercise some demons against the Soca Warriors. Let’s take a look at this potential banana skin of a quarterfinal second leg.
Trinidad and Tobago vs USMNT Prediction for November 21
Three goals, and a job left to finish.
🎥 Last night's highlights pic.twitter.com/0ILJ13bA82
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) November 17, 2023
USMNT Talking Points
Let’s start with some injury news. We already knew Johnny Cardoso had to withdraw from the camp due to an ankle injury with no replacement. Over the weekend it came out that Weston McKennie has also left the camp due to left knee tendinopathy. This leaves Gregg Berhalter with fewer options at midfield. Yunus Musah should be a lock to start again in a double pivot role. He’ll likely pair with Luca de la Torre. Brothers Brenden and Paxten Aaronson were on the bench for the first leg. Both could see minutes. GGG may even give Lennard Maloney a run out.
This writer would not expect many changes elsewhere on the pitch. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Tim Ream work well as a center back pairing. Antonee Robinson certainly will get the start after his spectacular in the first leg. To say nothing of his new blonde dye job.
There is a bit of a concern that the USMNT did not finish off T&T sooner in the first leg. Yes, they won 3-0, but all three of those goals came after the 80th minute. This was with a 37th minute red card to the opponent. It was good for Ricardo Pepi to score off the bench. Even better that Gio Reyna got on the score sheet after the entire saga with him and Berhalter going back 12 months. This team managed 26 shots with eight on target. They should score sooner in games like that. They should advance with a healthy aggregate lead. Let Florin Balogun eat.
The ATX XI. 🇺🇸
Lineup Notes » https://t.co/WBnNXnbvl1 pic.twitter.com/sCWpXbJKyY
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) November 17, 2023
READ MORE: Goodbye Michael Bradley: The Legendary Career of the USMNT Midfielder
Trinidad and Tobago Talking Points
The last time the Soca Warriors hosted the United States was that fateful game in Couva in 2017. Much like that 2017 that eliminated the USMNT from World Cup Qualification, they are young, especially in the attack and midfield. They will be without Noah Powder, who received that red card in the first leg. Nathaniel James might be the best like-for-like replacement at left wing/midfield.
Manager Angus Eve might have to go with a formation change however. The 5-4-1 created almost nothing in the attack in the first leg, even when they were at full strength. They managed just one shot, which was off target, and had 24% possession. If Trinidad and Tobago have any hope of advancing, they need to come out of their shell and attack more. Given the United States will be shorthanded in midfield, a slight change to a 4-5-1 or 4-2-3-1 could work to their advantage. Look for them to be more aggressive in transition especially after turnovers. Not to temp fate, but it worked six years ago against a disjointed American midfield.
To have any chance in this game, they need to turn this game into a Route One track meet, especially if the pitch doesn’t play well to ground passes. The opponent should be more conservative given the emotions around the game and the aggregate score, which could help relieve some pressure to start.
𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙐𝙥 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩'𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙐𝙎 𝙖𝙩 𝙌2 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙪𝙢 𝙞𝙣 𝘼𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣 pic.twitter.com/HSkHYjaMpy
— TTFA (@TTFootballAssoc) November 17, 2023
USMNT Prediction: Trinidad and Tobago 0 USA 1
The USMNT is still a young team with limited experience in these non-ideal away days in Concacaf. The field and atmosphere will not be ideal. There is rain in the forecast as well, which will not help. Expect Gregg Berhalter to pull a Gregg Berhalter and alter the tactics enough to make it interesting and difficult, while not using it as an exercise to get the fringe guys as many minutes as the fanbase wants. Matt Turner will make a big save or two. Balogun gets on the end of one. Job done, even if not fully deserved.
Oct 14, 2023; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; The United States men’s national team starters pose for a team photo before the first half against Germany at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
