The US national football team has trounced Morocco’s Atlas Lions with a 3-0 victory at the much-anticipated friendly game against at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The US national team put a great display ahead of the Qatar World Cup.
A few minutes after the game kicked off, the US national team made their first clear chance, threatening the Moroccan squad’s defensive line. The US squad then pressed high against Morocco’s Atlas Lions’ defence.
Midway through the first half, Brenden Aaronson and Timothy Weah scored, Haji Wright converted a second-half penalty kick on Wednesday night in the first of four World Cup warmup matches in June.
Wednesday’s win has helped the US national football team break their bad run of consecutive losses against the Moroccan national team.
For Morocco’s Atlas Lions, the occasion called for building on their past successes against the US national team and further extending their unbeaten run. Meanwhile, the US national team aspired to further cement their positive results under head coach Gregg Berhalter’s management.
As the game progressed, the Moroccan squad grew more and more confident, dominating the play and repeatedly threatening the American goalkeeper. Yet, having lacked good finishing, Morocco’s Atlas Lions’ continuous attempts bore no fruits.
On the other end, the US national team resorted to swift counter-attacks as Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic managed to shake off the walls of the Moroccan squad in the 24th minute.The American superstar cut through the Moroccan defensive line, produced a brilliant assist to Brenden Aaronson who scored the game’s opener.
Satisfied with a comfortable 2-0 lead, the US squad retreated to defense, giving much room to make an early comeback.
The referee’s whistle came to put an end to the first half, sending both teams to the dressing room to refresh in the hope of a better second half.
A visibly re-energised Moroccan team entered the second half with more drive and determination to create more troubles for the US squad and eventually seize the day and turn the tides in their favour. However, the US squad managed to absorb the Moroccan team’s growing heat and keep the Moroccan goalkeeper out of reach.
Keen to not let this golden chance slip through their toes, the Moroccan team launched a full-scale offensive on the opponent’s defense. But the Atlas Lions’ relentless efforts yielded no fruits.
The US scored the third goal from the penalty spot by H. Wright. With this comfortable lead, the US team grew more relaxed and dominated the game. The Moroccan players, on the other hand, fall short in conveying their chances into goals as the US goalkeeper stood tall against the Atlas Lions’ continuous threats.
Moroccan football fans had to stay up late to see how the long-awaited game would unfold, while the Moroccan diaspora in the United States had their full share of the game as thousands of them massed up to the stadium to watch the friendly game.
