Anglo-Nigerian forward Folarin Balogun scored once, while Timothy Weah, son of Liberian football legend George Weah, was a bright spark in the United States men’s national team’s (USMNT) 4-0 thumping of Ghana at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee.
Balogun scored the USMNT’s third goal of the game, while Weah provided an assist and also won the penalty that led to his side’s second goal as they hit four past the Black Stars in the first half to bounce back from defeat in their previous match to Germany.
FINAL IN NASHVILLE ???????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/kYgUMXZEEK
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) October 18, 2023
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Giovanni Reyna put the United States ahead inside the first ten minutes with a close-range finish after Balogun’s low cross was inadvertently deflected into his path.
Nine minutes later, Christian Pulisic, who has been in red-hot form since securing a move to Italy with AC Milan, doubled his side’s lead with a well-struck penalty after Weah was brought down in the box by Gideon Mensah.
The former Chelsea forward took the kick and sent goalkeeper Abdul Manaf Nurudeen the wrong way for his second goal in consecutive games.
Balogun then got on the scoresheet himself with a brilliant finish on the half turn after he received a cutback from Weah, who proved very dangerous on the USMNT’s right side all game long.
Reyna completed his double six minutes before halftime with a freekick from inside the box after Nicholas Opoku failed to release the ball by keeping it in between his legs while on the floor.
The referee blew for a freekick inside Ghana’s area, and after touches from Balogun and Pulisic, Reyna sent the ball flying into the top corner and past the wall of red shirts on the goal line.
The end of the match marked a back-to-back defeat for the Ghanaians, who also lost to Mexico last weekend, and brings an end to their matches in this international window as they get set for next month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
