Ethan Horvath to Start in Goal for USMNT Against Oman
In an announcement made by head coach Gregg Berhalter, Ethan Horvath will be starting in goal for the United States men’s national team (USMNT) in their upcoming match against Oman. Berhalter revealed this information during a press conference held at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota. While the coach did not disclose the complete lineup, he did mention that it would be similar to the one used in their previous game against Uzbekistan.
The USMNT secured a 3-0 victory over Uzbekistan in a friendly match last week. However, the scoreline did not accurately reflect the struggles the team faced in breaking through the opposition’s defense and creating goal-scoring opportunities. This game marked the beginning of Berhalter’s second cycle as head coach.
Since the match in St. Louis, there have been a few changes to the roster. Goalkeeper Matt Turner and defender Joe Scally had to depart due to family reasons. They were replaced by Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender and New England Revolution left back DeJuan Jones. Jones had already been in Minnesota for the Revolution’s 1-1 draw against Minnesota United at Allianz Field, where he played the full 90 minutes.
Berhalter praised midfielder Malik Tillman when asked about the new PSV signing’s role in the team. He described Tillman as a fantastic player with dynamic qualities and strong attributes. The coach expressed his confidence in Tillman’s abilities and mentioned that he would be given an opportunity to showcase his skills in the upcoming match against Oman.
Another player who may make his senior national team debut is Miami midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi. Berhalter expressed his admiration for Cremaschi’s adaptability and quick learning abilities. Depending on the game’s circumstances and necessary substitutions, Berhalter hopes to give Cremaschi some playing time off the bench. Cremaschi is eligible to play for both the United States and Argentina and has gained attention following Lionel Messi’s arrival at Inter Miami.
Berhalter also addressed the USMNT’s difficulties in creating scoring opportunities against Uzbekistan. He attributed these struggles to the opposition’s low defensive block, which limited passing lanes into the penalty area. However, Berhalter expects a different challenge from Oman in their upcoming match. Although Oman is ranked just above Uzbekistan in the FIFA ratings, Berhalter emphasized their dynamic counterattack and praised their performance against Germany in a match leading up to the 2022 World Cup.
Oman managed to take seven shots against Germany, despite having only 28% possession. Although none of the shots were on target, Oman’s ability to create chances through midfielder Salaah Al-Yahyaei caught Berhalter’s attention. Oman has played seven games in 2023, reaching the final of the Gulf Cup and defeating Saudi Arabia, who won their World Cup opener against Argentina.
Berhalter acknowledged that Oman would provide a tough test for the USMNT. He highlighted their impressive transition moments against Germany and emphasized the importance of preventing Oman’s counterattacks in the upcoming match.
The match against Oman will undoubtedly be a crucial test for the USMNT as they continue their preparations for future competitions. With Ethan Horvath starting in goal and talented players like Malik Tillman and Benjamin Cremaschi eager to make an impact, fans can expect an exciting and competitive game.