Antonee Robinson and Ricardo Pepi scored their first international goals after a halftime change in formation, Brenden Aaronson and Sebastian Lletget added late goals and the United States revived its World Cup qualifying campaign with a 4-1 win over Honduras on Wednesday night.
U.S. captain Christian Pulisic joined the lengthy American injured list, limping off in the 60th.
Robinson scored in the 48th minute and Pepi, starting in his international debut, in the 75th. Aaronson scored off a slick pass from Pepi in the 86th, and Lletget added his eighth international goal in the third minute of stoppage as Catrachos fans cheers turned to boos and whistles.
Ricardo Pepi is now the second youngest U.S. player to score in a World Cup qualifier (behind Christian Pulisic).
“18-year-old Ricardo Pepi’s time is now.” — @BrooksDT
More: https://t.co/CfE9ZPWs4e pic.twitter.com/xU21K5Iuib
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 9, 2021
Ricardo Pepi, the second-youngest American to play in a World Cup qualifier, bailed the U.S. men out with a go-ahead goal in the 75th minute against Honduras Thursday and the 18-year-old had an assist on two more before it was over. https://t.co/oWMKtgCLqO https://t.co/oWMKtgCLqO
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) September 9, 2021