USA vs El Salvador score, result as Ricardo Pepi goal gives USMNT place in CONCACAF Nations League semifinals

It was always going to be tough sledding against a well-coached El Salvador side, but the U.S. men secured a place in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals with a 1-0 victory.

The lone goal of the game was scored by Ricardo Pepi, who came off the bench on the hour mark and needed just two minutes to put the U.S. in front.

The first half was a grind, as the U.S. built into a dominant possessional force but were stymied by El Salvador’s organization and physicality, which frustrated the Americans on multiple occasions. After halftime, however, an injection of energy saw the hosts become truly dangerous, and Exploria Stadium in Orlando could feel a goal coming.

That it did just minutes after Pepi entered the field to replace starting striker Daryl Dike. Receiving a wonderful through ball from Weston McKennie, Pepi raced onto the delivery and beat his defender with pace, finishing with a delightful chip for the moment of magic the U.S. were missing.

In defense, Miles Robinson was exceptional on his return to the national team after suffering an Achilles injury that ended his chance of playing at the 2022 World Cup. He raced back to put in multiple blocks, tackles, and interceptions to keep El Salvador's counter-attack at bay all match.

The United States will now likely play Mexico in the semifinals of the Nations League this summer, unless Canada and Honduras draw, or Panama beats Costa Rica by 6 or more goals.

MORE: Standings, results, and highlights from across the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League

The Sporting News will be following the USA vs El Salvador match live and providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.

El Salvador (4-4-2, right to left): 1. M. Gonzalez (GK) — 21. Tamacas, 3. Dominguez, 4. Zavaleta, 15. A. Roldan (Blanco, 46') — 8. Landaverde (C. Martinez, 56'), 10. E. Hernandez, 6. Orellana, 17. Duenas (M. Gil, 56') — 9. C. Gil, 19. K. Reyes (Menjivar, 75').

Ricardo Pepi's goal two minutes after entering the field means the U.S. secure a place in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal.

El Salvador are well coached, and did well to disrupt things through the opening 45 minutes, but they didn't have the talent or the legs to stick with the hosts through the second half. Ricardo Pepi's goal is big for him personally and big for the team, as they grab all three points and don't leave anything to chance.

After the match, Matt Turner had a fun gender reveal on the field! It's a girl! Congrats to the Turner family!

90+1 min: Christian Pulisic has a chance to put the game away, but he doesn't catch it properly with his left foot and sails it miles over the bar. It hasn't been Pulisic's best game, especially considering how he tore up the field in Grenada.

Weston McKennie is down and appears to be injured, and has to be withdrawn for Johnny Cardoso. That's a concern for Leeds United. Taylor Booth is off the field receiving treatment for a bloody nose, so the U.S. are down to 10 men for the time being.

85th min: Chance, USA! Ricardo Pepi denied by Mario Gonzalez, with what would have been an incredible goal! The highlight was Pepi's first touch, pulling down a cross from Sergino Dest with a gorgeous touch, but his effort from point-blank range was stymied by the El Salvador goalkeeper. What a strike that would have been!

79th min: Chance, USA! Ricardo Pepi fires wide! He's in acres of space at the far post, and Taylor Booth finds him, but his effort goes wide off a deflection. That's close to a second for El Tren!

75th min: Brayan Gil is clean through on goal, but is clearly offside by a few yards. Somehow, Miles Robinson still recovers in time to make the block despite the head start from the El Salvador forward. It's been a heck of a return for Robinson for the national team!

Another change for El Salvador, as Kevin Reyes is withdrawn for Leonardo Menjivar.

71st min: Two more subs for the United States, who now have a lead and are in strong control of the match. Taylor Booth and Luca de la Torre are about to come on, with Gio Reyna and Yunus Musah exiting the action. Musah looked to be injured before the change, which will be something that his club Valencia will be keeping an eye on.

65th min: Chance, El Salvador! Well, it's nearly a rapid response from the visitors, as an awkward but acrobatic effort by Brayan Gil is blocked. He hacked at it with a flying scissor but couldn't get the right contact. Miles Robinson is the one to get the block in.

63rd min: GOAL! USA! In less than three minutes after coming off the bench, Ricardo Pepi makes his presence known! The Groningen striker produces the finish the U.S. were missing through the first hour. He's sent through by a simple vertical ball from deep from Weston McKennie, and he simply beats Roberto Dominguez to it with pace. He finishes one-on-one with a chip, and the U.S. lead. That's what they've been looking for!

60th min: Right on the hour mark, Anthony Hudson makes his first two changes. Brenden Aaronson enters for Alejandro Zendejas, and Ricardo Pepi replaces Daryl Dike up front. They're good swaps, as the two withdrawn were good in the first half but have not been a factor since the break.

55th min: Christian Pulisic sends in a dangerous delivery that forces Mario Gonzalez to come out and punch clear with attackers looming. It's ALL United States right now! A Gio Reyna foul in midfield is the only thing to finally end the pressure.

Another change for El Salvador who look to be tiring. It's Bryan Landaverde and Enrico Duenas to come off, replaced by Christian Martinez and Mayer Gil. That's two of the three Gil brothers on the field, with only Cristian Gil to go.

52nd min: Chance, USA! Alejandro Zendejas comes extremely close to a stunning golazo, producing a turn-and-chip that floats over the head of Mario Gonzalez, but it sails just wide of the far post!

48th min: Chance, USA! The U.S. are denied twice more in quick succession! First a good look by Tim Ream on a set piece is blocked by the face of Roberto Dominguez, as the Fulham defender had a hit but couldn't get it through the trees. Shortly after, El Salvador are forced to head clear off the line to prevent an own goal! This is an energetic start by the United States!

46th min: Chance, USA! GIO REYNA HITS THE POST! He gets on the ball in the penalty area shaded to the left, and he takes a few touches expecting someone to come challenge him. When nobody does, he has a hit himself, seeking the near post, and he pings it, evading the dive of Mario Gonzalez. A quick start for the USMNT!

Kickoff: No changes from the United States as the second half gets under way. The U.S. might need a little more energy, but overall if they continue to dominate the match as they did in the first 45 minutes, a goal should be coming as El Salvador tire.

On that note, El Salvador boss Hugo Perez does make a change, bringing on Nelson Blanco to replace Alex Roldan. The U.S. attacked the El Salvador left flank often in the first half, necessitating that change.

Overall, it's a positive-ish half for the United States. They were stymied by the physicality of El Salvador, but they held the majority of possession and slowly gained more control as the half went on.

Anthony Hudson has been extremely vocal about the officiating in this match, and while there were no yellow cards shown in the first half, you imagine if this continues the bookings will start racking up, and it will be tough for El Salvador to keep all 11 players on the field.

Weston McKennie's whiff at the end of the half is a big one, but there will be more opportunities. El Salvador was dangerous in small spurts, but the U.S. did well to curtail the counter-attack on the whole.

45+4 min: Chance, USA! IT'S A HUGE MISS BY WESTON MCKENNIE! He is in miles of space at the far post as Christian Pulisic delivers a free-kick, and gets his head to the ball, but somehow comes up with a shocking effort, sending the ball across the face of goal and failing to even test Mario Gonzalez in the El Salvador net.

That's by far the best U.S. chance of the half, but it ends up as nothing. A huge missed opportunitity.

45+1 min: As four minutes of stoppage time begin, the U.S. has a great spell of possession, but can't create any good chances. It's a microcosm of the match as a whole, as they build well but run out of ideas in the final third, and resort to delivering bad crosses into the area. If they can get the ball to the head of Daryl Dike in good positions, that would work, but instead the deliveries have been quite poor.

42nd min: Chance, USA! Christian Pulisic gets his head to the cross from Gio Reyna, but it's just a little high for the Chelsea man and he can't get the right contact! Pulisic was right on the goal mouth, and Gio's cross was fizzed to surprise the defender, but it's a little too overcooked to let Pulisic get on the end of it. Close to creating an opportunity on net!

37th min: Brayan Gil looks to be in real pain, down and receiving treatment in the U.S. penalty area after a headed chance is saved by Matt Turner. Gil didn't really collide with anyone, but as he was backpedaling, the ball was just a bit long, and he had to awkwardly jump to reach it. The flag went up anyways, so the chance wouldn't have counted had it gone in. Eventually, he's up and ready to return.

31st min: Both head coaches are working the fourth official hard. U.S. head coach Anthony Hudson is the more assertive one, likely complaining about the accumulation of fouling by El Salvador. The U.S. waste a few good free-kick chances in the attacking third, which is less than ideal.

29th min: Chance, USA! Gio Reyna take aim from distance, firing a shot low to the bottom-left corner, but Mario Gonzalez gets down to make the save! The ensuing corner is claimed by Gonzalez, who is having a very good game.

28th min: Chance, USA! Christian Pulisic is stymied by Mario Gonzalez right on the doorstep! He's put through by Alejandro Zendejas on a vertical ball, but Pulisic's first touch, again, was poor and the ball gets away.

26th min: Sergino Dest, playing in an extremely advanced role down the right, sends in a cross for Daryl Dike who is just beaten to it by an El Salvador defender.

The U.S. have held nearly all the possession since the Yunus Musah injury (he's back on), but lack a sharpness. With McKennie, Reyna, and Musah all on the field, the U.S. don't have a true No. 6 who can begin progressions forward, and it's becoming an issue.

20th min: Yunus Musah down requiring treatment on his shoulder after being hacked by Enrico Duenas. He's in some real pain, looked like he fell on his left side as he went down. Duenas was all up in arms with the call, but it was a clear foul as he threw a hip into Musah after being beaten.

16th min: There's a huge penalty shout from the crowd in Orlando as Sergino Dest is threaded through by Alejandro Zendejas and then goes down under a heavy challenge by Eriq Zavaleta. The referee waves away the questions, and while it did look like a possible penalty live, there was little protest from Dest and thus play continues unabridged.

12th min: Chance, USA! Daryl Dike wins a free-kick on the edge of the attacking third, and Christian Pulisic's delivery to the far post is quality. It meets the head of the always-dangerous Weston McKennie, and his knockdown is right in the path of Tim Ream, but the Fulham center-back is just beaten to the ball by El Salvador goalkeeper Mario Gonzalez. If he had gotten there first, it would be 1-0 U.S.

9th min: A big play by Miles Robinson, racing across the field to prevent an El Salvador counter-attack. He's a very important part of this U.S. player pool and it's great to see him back and healthy.

Matt Turner looks to get the U.S. going on the counter themselves, and does extremely well to find Christian Pulisic down the left in tons of space, but Pulisic flubs his first touch and it goes out of play. That's a big chance gone.

8th min: Sergino Dest and Christian Pulisic earn corners for the USMNT, one on each side. Before the U.S. take their second, Matt Turner is down way on the other end of the field holding his side. That's a very concerning sight for the U.S. as he was not involved in the play. Turner grimaces through on-field treatment and has a few words with the referee. Wonder if he may have hurt himself on his early save, although the replay doesn't show much. He stays on for now.

5th min: The U.S. do not look sharp early. El Salvador have brought their best dark arts with them to Florida, as Weston McKennie gives the littlest shove to Brian Tamacas who flops hard and wins the foul. The Americans will have to do their best not to get frustrated. El Salvador also have good attacking intent, and Matt Turner has to come out to clear a long ball.

2nd min: Chance, El Salvador! The visitors fire an early warning shot as Jairo Henriquez rifles a shot from atop the penalty area that forces Matt Turner into a diving save. It's a good stop. Hard to know if it would have found the inside of the far post or not, but Turner takes no chances. The U.S. clear the ensuing corner.

1st min: Gio Reyna is flagged for offside in an early attack. Exploria Stadium, which was jam-packed for the World Cup qualifier against Panama a year ago, is very sparsely attended tonight. Given that Orlando has shown out recently for a bigger match, ticket prices may be the culprit tonight...

Kickoff: The match is under way from Exploria Stadium in Orlando! The U.S. needs just a draw to advance, but fans will hope it's not quite as nervy — Mexico cut it close, and were on the precipice of defeat against Jamaica last night, and that's no way to back into the semifinals. El Salvador, ranked 74th in the world by FIFA, need to win to shock the U.S. and advance to the semifinals in their place.

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

Kickoff imminent: The United States will be wearing blue tonight. Those kits are fine, but the warmup threads are the real star.

5 mins to kick: The pre-match show interviewed Daryl Dike while he warmed up on the field, which...probably seemed like a good idea at the time they all put the show together, but...it did not come out the way they likely envisioned it! At least Daryl seems locked in!

13 mins to kick: The last time the USMNT were at Exploria Stadium in Orlando was exactly a year ago today. Christian Pulisic led the U.S. to a 5-1 romp of Panama which didn't secure World Cup qualification, but brought them right to the doorstep. Can they do the same today and officially secure a place in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals?

23 mins to kick: The U.S. are on quite the unbeaten run against El Salvador, having avoided defeat against their CONCACAF foes since a 1992 friendly, a run of 21 straight games without a loss. In fact, that 2-0 friendly defeat in 1992 is their only loss to El Salvador in history.

Stretching the unbeaten run to 22 games tonight would mark their longest-ever unbeaten streak against any opponent, currently level with a 21-game streak against Guatemala.

38 mins to kick: Miles Robinson makes his return to the USMNT tonight, earning his first appearance in nearly a year — March 30, 2022. The former Syracuse standout was considered a lock to start at the World Cup, until a torn Achilles ruined those plans. Robinson is back now, and his absence helped pave the way for Tim Ream's renaissance.

50 mins to kick: Remember the last time these two teams played? It's affectionately known as the "mud bowl" thanks to the disgusting field conditions in San Salvador. It was appropriately a slugfest, as the U.S. fought back from a first-half deficit and earned a point thanks to Jordan Morris’s stoppage-time equalizer. They’ll expect better here tonight, as while a draw will be enough to advance, it surely won’t feel good to be stymied twice in a year by the 74th-ranked team in the world.

68 mins to kick: The USMNT lineup is out. Matt Turner starts in goal again, which is harsh on Zack Steffen, but understandable as Turner needs minutes as he serves as backup at Arsenal. The first-choice back line returns as expected, with Dest, Ream, and both Robinsons slotted in. Dike starts up front, Pulisic is captain, and Gio Reyna is deployed again.

The only real surprise is that Weston McKennie is deployed again, given Anthony Hudson's emphasis on load limitation through not just this international break but those to come as well. Meanwhile, Bryan Reynolds is the lone healthy scratch given CONCACAF Nations League roster limitations.

75 mins to kick: The U.S. have played five times previously at Exploria Stadium in Orlando. They're a perfect 5-0-0 in those games, with wins over Panama twice, Canada, Ecuador, and Trinidad & Tobago. They've conceded just two goals across those five games, while scoring 21 of their own.

Weather looks gorgeous, but it's going to be hot, with the temperature expected to be around 88 degrees at kickoff. We could have drinks breaks in both halves if true.

92 mins to kick: It's a young competition, but the U.S. have lost just once in CONCACAF Nations League play. They won the inaugural tournament in 2019/20, winning three out of four group stage games, with just a defeat to Canada as the only blemish. They'd go on to beat Honduras and Mexico in the finals to lift the trophy, and have reached this point in this year's competition with two wins and a draw from three group stage games so far.

108 mins to kick: The international watch for Folarin Balogun continues to march on, as England head coach Gareth Southgate had some critical words for the youngster when asked prior to England's win over Ukraine yesterday. Southgate said, in essence, that they couldn't call up young players just because they want it, and he had some critical comments regarding the level of competition in France, hinting that Balogun's accomplishments don't meet those of, say, Ivan Toney, since he's not playing in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to court the Arsenal striker, with fellow youngster Yunus Musah telling the media that he's always available should Balogun come with questions about the U.S.

MORE: Latest on Folarin Balogun's international recruitment, and if he'll play for the USMNT

120 mins to kick: U.S. interim head coach Anthony Hudson has slowly gained support of the USMNT fanbase with his positive attitude and ability to manage the squad during a time of significant flux. In particular, his supreme support of captain Christian Pulisic and heavy lean on European-based players have gone down especially well.

With that, come questions of Hudson's desire to stick around more long-term. The search for permanent USMNT head coach is expected to drag into the summer, as U.S. Soccer made it clear they are first hoping to hire a Sporting Director who will then choose the on-field staff. While many other candidates, such as incumbent Gregg Berhalter, former Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch, Philadelphia Union's Jim Curtin, and former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry all come with more name recognition, Hudson is clearly familiar with the squad and has navigated the awkward post-World Cup months as well as expected.

While Hudson has been overtly honest and glowingly positive in his press conferences, when asked about his viability as a candidate for the permanent job, he would not be drawn. There's a lot of time to go in this story, and it could change, but for now it sounds like the interim boss is happy the way things are, at least for the time being.

Interim head coach Anthony Hudson promised significant squad rotation in this home match which comes just three days after the previous game on the road. Most of the shuffling happens at the back, where Hudson deployed a significantly weakened defensive unit in Grenada.

This time around, Miles Robinson and Tim Ream see the field, as do Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest out wide in the first-choice defensive unit. Matt Turner started in goal against Grenada, and he is called upon again, harsh on Zack Steffen but sensible as Turner is not getting significant minutes at Arsenal.

In midfield, Weston McKennie was thought to be a candidate for rest, but he gets another start, alongside regular Yunus Musah. Gio Reyna gets another run-out as his club minutes have not been a huge load. Up front, Ricardo Pepi got the start in Grenada, so Daryl Dike swaps in. Hudson has been loyal to Christian Pulisic and captains the side again.

MORE: All you need to know about interim head coach Anthony Hudson and the USMNT search

MLS fans know the danger that Alex Roldan, brother of Cristian Roldan, presents out wide at the full-back spot. Mainstays Narisco Orellana, Bryan Tamacas, and Roberto Dominguez all hold over 50 international caps under the age of 30 and are likely to be deployed.

While a number of those deployed in the friendly against Honduras last week should get run back out, a few spots could be swapped. In goal, 22-year-old Tomas Romero is be replaced by the more experienced Mario Gonzalez, while 22-year-old Enrico Hernandez comes into midfield, currently playing for the youth team of Segunda Division side Cartagena.

The one place El Salvador lack experience is in front of goal, where wide midfielder Jairo Henriquez has the most international goals of any member of the squad with three, while Cristian Gil is the only attacker with any goals to his name at all.

How to watch USA vs El Salvador

As part of the new broadcast rights deal between U.S. Soccer and Turner Sports, this match will be shown in English on TNT in the United States. There will also be a Spanish-language broadcast available on Universo.

Both broadcasts are available to stream on Fubo.

The TNT broadcast will be streamed on Turner's streaming platform Watch TNT, while the Spanish-language broadcast can be found on NBC's platform Peacock.

MORE: All you need to know about interim head coach Anthony Hudson and the USMNT search

The United States are massive favorites, likely further inflated by the promise of rotation to more senior players in the lineup, and the recent dismantling of Grenada.

Still, it's a bit of a surprise that the USMNT are such huge home favorites, given the fact these two teams drew last time out in El Salvador. In that game, the U.S. barely salvaged a point in horrible conditions on the road, so while this is a home return fixture, there's still a clear chance for the visitors to glean something from the match.

MORE: Recap the 7-1 win in Grenada as Pulisic, Pepi, and McKennie lead a comprehensive victory