USA vs Ghana score, result, highlights as Gio Reyna brace sparks USMNT onslaught in friendly

Kyle Bonn

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USA vs Ghana score, result, highlights as Gio Reyna brace sparks USMNT onslaught in friendly image

The United States were humbled by Germany over the weekend, with a 3-1 defeat reminding the USMNT just how much work they still have to do to be a top international contender.

Just three days later, the U.S. made it clear that while they are still looking for answers at the top of the food chain, they aren’t troubled by those below them.

Gio Reyna’s first career international brace sparked a rout of African rivals Ghana, racing to a 4-0 victory with all goals scored in the first half. Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun added the other goals as the hosts eviscerated their opponents in comprehensive fashion, with Ghana looking extremely disinterested throughout the 90 minutes.

Reyna opened the scoring just 10 minutes into the game, and Pulisic doubled the lead from the penalty spot on 19 minutes via a spot-kick won by Tim Weah. Balogun crashed home a third minutes later, and Reyna’s second completed the scoreline minutes before halftime as the U.S. ran riot throughout the opening stanza.

Sergino Dest was electric throughout the game, bombing forward as he put his struggles against Germany far in the rear-view mirror. Matt Turner was only called upon once in goal, but he stood tall with a sensational save just moments before the break.

The errors made in the Germany defeat won’t be forgotten, but this result will foster a much more comfortable feeling regarding the October international break as the players head back to their clubs with a taste of victory fresh in their mouths.

The Sporting News followed the USA vs Ghana match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happened.

MORE: The Sporting News speaks exclusively to Cameron Carter-Vickers about his desire for pressure

USA vs Ghana score, result

  Score Goal scorers
USA 4 Reyna (10', 39'),
Pulisic (19'),
Balogun (22')
Ghana 0 –

Kickoff: 7:37 p.m. local (8:37 p.m. ET / 5:37 p.m. PT)
Location: GEODIS Park (Nashville, TN)
Referee: Marco Antonio Ortíz Nava (MEX)

Starting lineups:

USA (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Turner (GK) — 2. Dest, 12. M. Robinson, 4. Richards (Carter-Vickers, 73'), 23. Lund — 15. Johnny (Maloney, 65'), 6. Musah (de la Torre, 75'), 7. Reyna (McKennie, 46') — 21. Weah, 20. Balogun (Pepi, 46'), 10. Pulisic (Aaronson, 46').

Ghana (4-3-1-2, right to left): 12. Nurudeen (GK) — 2. Seidu, 18. N. Opoku, 8. J. Opoku, 14. Mensah (Schindler, 46') — 4. Addo, 5. Partey (Samed, 64'), 13. Paintsil (Owusu, 64') — 20. Kudus (Nuamah, 75') — 19. I. Williams (Semenyo, 75'), 9. J. Ayew.

USA vs Ghana live updates, highlights, commentary

FULLTIME: USA 4-0 Ghana

A scoreless second half comes to a close, with the U.S. doing well to protect the lead and dominate the match despite failing to find the back of the net. Overall, it was an emphatic performance for the hosts, who were hardly troubled at all from start to finish.

USA vs Ghana: Second Half

82nd min: Jordan Ayew does well to put Sergino Dest under significant pressure, working himself into a good shooting position, but his effort from a tight angle is blocked about halfway to the frame.

76th min: Matt Turner is hoping to escape with a clean sheet, and he does well to concede an awkward corner before Luca de la Torre heads the ensuing delivery clear.

Mohammed Kudus and Inaki Williams are brought off for Ghana, as neither managed to find any openings up front.

73rd min: Tim Weah somehow manages to send in a dangerous cross to the penalty spot as he contorts his body around to get power on the delivery, but Kristoffer Lund sends the ball into the night sky.

Cameron Carter-Vickers enters to replace Chris Richards for his second substitute appearance of this international window. Moments later, Yunus Musah also exits, with Luca de la Torre coming on. Gregg Berhalter is out of substitutions.

64th min: Chris Hughton makes another pair of changes, as Thomas Partey is protected on his imminent return to Arsenal. He hands the captain's armband to Jordan Ayew as Salis Samed enters.

For the U.S. Lennard Maloney will enter for his USMNT debut, replacing Johnny Cardoso who had an excellent performance.

61st min: Sergino Dest goes on yet another mazy run, this time slaloming through the attacking third, charging into the penalty area centrally looking to finish off a solo goal, but he's dispossessed at the last minute as three Ghana defenders close him down.

59th min: Tim Weah takes his time getting up from a hard challenge on the touchline. Ghana are starting to get more established on the ball, as the U.S. sit back and protect their big lead.

54th min: Chance, USA! Weston McKennie nearly scores a worldie from outside the top-left corner of the penalty area! Sergino Dest bombs forward again, and he pulls it back centrally to McKennie who rifles an off-balance shot from distance that doesn't miss the top corner by much.

This is an onslaught from the United States, and Ghana can't get a sniff of possession. The visitors look highly disinterested.

51st min: Chance, USA! Ricardo Pepi picks the pocket of Ghana goalkeeper Abdul Nurudeen and seems to be in on goal, but he was facing the corner flag and couldn't adequately contort his body for the shot. Instead, Pepi waits for support and finds Brenden Aaronson, and he feeds Johnny Cardoso, but his awkward effort is skied high and wide left.

49th min: Chance, USA! The U.S. counter viciously as Tim Weah is released down the right, and while he gets by his defender, there's nobody able to provide support, so he has a go from an extremely tight angle, and he misses across the face of goal, but not by much at all!

Kickoff: Gregg Berhalter makes a host of changes, as all three goal scorers were withdrawn. Gio Reyna, Christian Pulisic, and Folarin Balogun were protected with the game well in hand, while Weston McKennie, Brenden Aaronson, and Ricardo Pepi all enter the match.

Ghana make a change as well, with the struggling Gideon Mensah coming off and Kingsley Schlinder.

HALFTIME: USA 4-0 Ghana

An absolute incredible 45 minutes from the United States. Wow. Gio Reyna has a pair, and both Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun added goals. They've managed to put the struggles against Germany to bed in emphatic fashion.

Ghana, for their part, were utterly putrid, with a huge amount of bad giveaways, awful tackles, and generally terrible togetherness. Their frustration showed early and often, and the U.S. capitalized.

USA vs Ghana: First Half

41th min: Chance, Ghana! MATT TURNER WHAT A SAVE! It's the first chance of the match for Ghana, and Turner comes up huge! Mohammed Kudus has a go from the top of the penalty area, and he produces a curler of the highest quality. Turner is up to the task, launching his body up and to his right to get a palm to the effort!

39th min: GOAL! USA! The U.S. get a rare indirect free-kick inside the penalty area!! A Ghana defender is called for falling and then sitting on the ball. It's taken from right on the penalty spot, and it's GORGEOUS!

Gio Reyna touches it first, simply tapping it to Christian Pulisic, and Pulisic taps it right back to Reyna who curls it into the top corner!

36th min: Chance, USA! Christian Pulisic nearly has a fourth for the U.S. but it's stopped well by Abdul Nurudeen! Folarin Balogun found him with a low, lateral cross and Pulisic met it right outside the six-yard box in stride, but his shot is right down the middle and doesn't fool the goalkeeper.

35th min: Now Thomas Partey is booked for a bad foul on Gio Reyna, who comes sliding in late and sends the Borussia Dortmund youngster flying.

31th min: Chance, USA! A cross into the middle meets the head of Folarin Balogun who puts his effort on target, but it's saved!

30th min: Sergino Dest, who had an awful match against Germany, has been electric tonight. He latches onto the ball near his own end line and immediately dances through the entire Ghana midfield before being fouled by Edmund Adoo just past midfield. It draws the first yellow card of the match.

26th min: Sergino Dest gets forward down the right and his off-balance cross finds Folarin Balogun, but it's a little too hot for the U.S. striker to handle and he cannons his volley into the night sky.

22nd min: GOAL! USA! Folarin Balogun strikes this time, and the U.S. are absolutely flying! It's an absolutely glorious turn-and-finish as he receives the ball with his back to goal and blasts it home. The Ghana defense is absolutely all over the place!

The goal came from Tim Weah on the right as he totally picks the pocket of a Ghana defender and crosses to his striker in the middle.

18th min: PENALTY, USA! Tim Weah draws the foul and the referee points to the spot! It's a truly awful tackle from Gideon Mensah, who brainlessly sticks his leg and hip out and completely misses the ball, bundling over Weah in the process.

Christian Pulisic will take, and...GOAL! USA! He blasts the penalty straight down the middle, and the goalkeeper dives to his left to open the door!

15th min: Chance, USA! Folarin Balogun tries a cheeky flick to double the lead, but it's saved by the goalkeeper! Sergino Dest's cross was just inches behind the U.S. striker, so he looked to adjust by back-heeling the ball into the net, but just couldn't get it out of Abdul Narudeen's reach.

10th min: GOAL! USA! Gio Reyna has opened the scoring! The U.S. break down the right edge of the penalty area and Folarin Balogun's cross to the middle is stopped by Nicholas Opoku's outstretched leg. It's not cleared, however, and falls right to Reyna at the top of the six-yard box, and he lashes the ball home with a one-time finish!

It's Reyna's first international goal since the summer of 2021! The move was started by Sergino Dest who delivered the run and vertical ball to feed Balogun through. A great team goal that incorporates a number of things Gregg Berhalter has publicly been asking for from his team.

9th min: The U.S. have a free-kick just inside the Ghana half as Thomas Partey fouls Christian Pulisic. Ghana are looking to play extremely physical against the AC Milan winger.

7th min: Both teams have long spells of possession but neither works a goal scoring chance. A really high-quality tackle from Alidu Seidu dispossesses Christian Pulisic on the left touchline.

2nd min: Chance, USA! Christian Pulisic is thumped from behind by Alidu Seidu at the top of the penalty area and is apoplectic about the lack of a whistle. The referee missed that one just two minutes in.

Moments later, the U.S. re-collect the ball but the shot from Folarin Balogun is straight at the Ghana goalkeeper.

Kickoff: They're under way in Nashville! U.S midfielder Yunus Musah has Ghana heritage, and was eligible to play for their national team before committing to the United States.

USA vs Ghana: Pre-match commentary, analysis, stats, and more

15 mins to kickoff: The teams are out on the field warming up and kickoff is imminent! A big chance for the USMNT to put the defeat to Germany behind them, and even potentially best Mexico's result against Ghana in the process.

30 mins to kickoff: He's not starting tonight, which is a bit of a surprise, but Cameron Carter-Vickers has built his career back up from USMNT obscurity to his spot as a key contributor. He spoke exclusively to The Sporting News about what sparked the turnaround.

Still just 25 years old, Carter-Vickers is a top pick to not only make the 2026 World Cup roster but start at the tournament.

Tonight, his absence is probably down to minutes management as he has just returned from a hamstring injury that delayed the start of his 2022/23 season at Celtic. He played 25 minutes off the bench against Germany and could play a role here tonight as a substitute as well.

45 mins to kickoff: It's somewhat that Lennard Maloney was not included in tonight's USMNT starting lineup. The U.S. desperately needs a true No. 6 behind Tyler Adams on the depth chart. Gregg Berhalter has made it known he wants Yunus Musah to play higher up the pitch, and both Johnny Cardoso and Luca de la Torre are more No. 8's than they are true defensive midfielders.

Cardoso gets the start, and he's a fantastic player who should stick around for a while, but why not give Maloney a chance to shine after the U.S. was exposed against Germany without a true No. 6? It seems unfair not to give him a run-out with an opportunity for him to impress.

1 hour to kickoff: The lineups are in, and Gregg Berhalter has made three changes to the USMNT starting lineup which began in Hartford against Germany. Johnny Cardoso comes in to replace Weston McKennie in midfield, Miles Robinson enters at center-back for Tim Ream, and Kristoffer Lund will take over at left-back, moving Sergino Dest back to his natural right-back and sending Joe Scally to the bench.

It's unlucky for Cameron Carter-Vickers, who is working his way back from injury but would seem fit enough to start after starting for Celtic the match before the international break and playing 25 minutes against Germany on Saturday.

1 hour 15 mins to kick: The history between these two teams is well documented. Ghana pipped the U.S. in both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, before the United States swung back in 2014. All three matches finished with a 2-1 score.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM USA vs GHANA 2014 | HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2010

1 hour 30 mins to kick: There were clear weaknesses exposed by the 3-1 defeat to Germany on Saturday, but some positives too. The USMNT will be confident that they are getting closer to being a capable, top-tier international squad, but there's still work to do.

The goal today will be to relegate Saturday's defeat to what it was — a competitive loss to a world-class European power — and not a harbinger of anything more troubling. Struggles today would transform Saturday's loss from the former into the latter.

1 hour 45 mins to kick: One longtime USMNT veteran is quietly retiring after this weekend. Michael Bradley, whose 151 international caps rank third all-time with the United States, will end his career as Toronto FC play their final regular season match.

It's an inauspicious and unassuming end to one of the most dedicated careers in U.S. Soccer history, and it's a shame the U.S. didn't consider calling him in to this international window for a more fitting send-off.

2 hours to kickoff: This match provides the United States with a chance to correct many of the issues that plagued them against Germany, most notably the disorganization in midfield. The link between Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah was severed throughout the 90 minutes in Hartford on Saturday, something Gregg Berhalter and players addressed both after the weekend's match and prior to this game today.

"It's really these fine moments, these split seconds where you need to be well-positioned...that's where it went wrong," Berhalter said after the defeat to Germany.

"On the goals, our lines weren't connected enough and weren't clear enough, and it made open space for Germany," Berhalter said as a follow-up ahead of today's match. "We started defending in a 4-4-2 with Gio [Reyna] higher, and we weren't connected enough and got too man-orientated on their midfielders."

USA vs Ghana lineups & team news

Gregg Berhalter makes three changes to the starting lineup that took the field against Germany on Saturday. Kristoffer Lund enters at full-back, sliding in on the left while Sergino Dest moves to the right and Joe Scally drops out. Johnny Cardoso also comes into midfield for Weston McKennie as the U.S. looks to improve its scattered structure from the last time out.

Gio Reyna starts again as he did against Germany, but don't be surprised to see him come off at halftime again, with Gregg Berhalter looking to send the young playmaker back to Borussia Dortmund in top fitness.

Matt Turner remains as the starter in goal, despite his understudy Ethan Horvath needing minutes as he rides the bench behind Turner at their club Nottingham Forest.

After coming off the bench against Germany, Cameron Carter-Vickers was thought to be a candidate to start as he works his way back from a hamstring injury that delayed the start of his season. Yet he remains on the bench as Miles Robinson gets the start over Tim Ream. 

USA starting lineup (4-3-3): Turner (GK) — Dest, M. Robinson, Richards, Lund — Johnny, Musah, Reyna — Weah, Balogun, Pulisic.

USA subs (12): Horvath (GK), Carter-Vickers, Ream, D. Jones, Scally, Maloney, de la Torre, McKennie, Paredes, Zendejas, Aaronson, Pepi.

The two most influential players in the Ghana lineup are both based at Premier League clubs: Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey and West Ham playmaker Mohammed Kudus. Both started against Mexico, and unless head coach Chris Hughton wishes to give them rest, they should start here as well.

While today's Ghana roster doesn't quite feel as star-studded as it has been in years past, there is still a collection of players at 'Big Five' clubs. Captain Jordan Ayew is no longer an everyday option as younger talent comes through, but the 32-year-old Crystal Palace winger can still cause problems for opposing back lines.

29-year-old domestic-based goalkeeper Richard Ofori wears the No. 1 shirt, but he's only started three times since the start of 2020 as Lawrence Ati-Zigi has established himself as the regular option between the sticks. Yet tonight, it's the inexperienced Abdul Nurudeen in goal against the United States.

Ghana starting lineup (4-3-1-2): Nurudeen (GK) — Seidu, J. Opoku, N. Opoku, Mensah — Addo, Partey, Paintsil — Kudus — I. Williams, J. Ayew.

Ghana subs (10): Ofori (GK), Ati-Zigi (GK), Schindler, Samed, Ambrosius, Owusu, Konigsdorffer, Nuamah, Semenyo, Fatawu.

How to watch USA vs Ghana

  • Date: Tuesday, October 17, 2023
  • Time: 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT
  • TV channel (English): TNT
  • Streaming (English): Fubo, HBO Max
  • TV channel (Spanish): Universo
  • Streaming (Spanish): Fubo, Peacock, Telemundo Deportes en Vivo, Universo NOW

The United States national team friendly against Ghana will be broadcast in English on TNT, with streaming available on HBO Max.

It will also be broadcast in Spainsh on Universo, which is available to stream on Peacock, Universo or Telemundo's streaming services.

Both English-language and Spanish-language broadcasts are available to stream on Fubo for those without a subscription to the aforementioned premium streaming services.

USA vs Ghana betting odds & lines

  USA
win		 Draw Ghana
win		 Both teams
to score Y / N		 Over / Under
2.5 goals
BetMGM
(USA)		 -145 +270 +380 -105 / -135 -105 / -135

Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn Photo

Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.