Gio Reyna returns as USA thrash Grenada in Concacaf Nations League

Gio Reyna started in his first match with the US after his parents disparaged then-coach Gregg Berhalter for his lack of playing time at the World Cup. The game ended in a 7-1 rout of Grenada in the Concacaf Nations League on Friday night.

Ricardo Pepi and Weston McKennie had two goals each and Alejandro Zendejas scored his first international goal. Christian Pulisic and Brenden Aaronson also scored for the Americans, who had never won 7-1.

Pepi ended a 10-match international scoreless streak when he put the US ahead with a fourth-minute header off Pulisic’s cross. Pulisic and Luca de La Torre had two assists each for the Americans, who for the first time since Major League Soccer launched in 1996 failed to field at least one player from the competition.

After Berhalter used Reyna sparingly at the World Cup, the player’s parents, former US captain Claudio Reyna and former women’s player Danielle Egan Reyna, notified the US Soccer Federation of a 1992 domestic violence involving Berhalter and the woman he later married – Danielle Egan’s former college roommate.

The USSF commissioned a law firm to investigate and appointed Anthony Hudson interim coach after Berhalter’s contract expired at the end of 2022. The law firm said there was no legal impediment to retaining Berhalter, who remains a candidate to return as US coach, and the USSF put off a coaching decision until after a new sporting director is hired, probably this summer.

In the first competitive US match since the World Cup, Reyna started in central midfield rather than his wing role under Berhalter. He played until the 64th minute.

Auston Trusty made his US debut, paired in central defense with Mark McKenzie, who got his first start since October 2021. Forward Taylor Booth made his debut in the 64th.

Right back Bryan Reynolds made his first start since December 2021. The US starting lineup included goalkeeper Matt Turner and, left back Joe Scally, McKennie along with Luca de la Torre, Pulisic, Reyna and Aaronson in midfield, and Pepi at striker following his omission from the World Cup roster.

Pepi scored from close range in the fourth minute, his first international goal since October 2021. Aaronson scored in the 20th minute off Pulisic’s feed, his seventh international goal, and McKennie, Aaronson’s Leeds teammate, scored in the 31st, getting a head to Pulisic’s angled free kick before bringing the ball down and volleying it home with his weaker left foot.

Myles Hippolyte scored in the 32nd minute for Grenada on his international debut, beating Turner from 16 yards. McKennie got his 11th international goal in the 34th after Trusty headed down a cross, knocking the ball in with his right foot from short range.

Pulisic scored his 23rd international goal in the 49th minute with a shot that bounced in off goalkeeper Jason Belfon, and Pepi got his fifth international goal in the 53rd, scoring from six yards after running onto de la Torre’s through ball. Zendejas, who committed to the US over Mexico, made his American competitive debut in the 64th minute and scored from 23 yards following a turnover in the 72nd minute.

Johnny Cardoso entered in the 76th in his American competitive debut, tying him to the US.

The US victory means they only need to draw with El Salvador on Monday to make the Nations League semifinals in June.