SAN SALVADOR – Jordan Morris scored in the 90+2’ to rescue a dramatic 1-1 draw for the United States against El Salvador in Group D of League A of the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League on Tuesday night at the Estadio Cuscatlan in San Salvador, El Salvador.
Going into the affair, the lone El Salvador win versus the U.S. was a 2-0 friendly victory back in February 1992, a span of 19 games, and Alexander Larin’s first half goal looked like it would hold up, but Morris scored his fifth career CNL goal, tops among all U.S. players, to give his side a point.
With the result, however, El Salvador are assured of at least a second-place finish in the group and have qualified for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup.
The conditions made play difficult for both sides and it was not until Yunus Musah hit a stinging right-footed shot in the 24’ that was saved by El Salvador GK Mario Gonzalez that the first real scoring chance happened.
El Salvador were also bringing pressure and were richly rewarded for their efforts in the 36’ when Alexander Larin caught U.S. GK Ethan Horvath slightly off his line and fired into the near post from the left wing for a 1-0 El Salvador lead.
The second half saw the U.S. surge forward in search of an equalizer and a clearance right in front of goal from Roberto Dominguez prevented Jesus Ferreira from his fifth CNL goal in the 51’. Later Musah and Timothy Weah connected on a one-two combination, but Gonzalez stood tall to block the former’s shot.
The comeback task for the U.S. became much more difficult in the 70’ when Paul Arriola was sent off for a challenge on Larin, reducing the reigning CNL champions to 10 men for the final 20 minutes.
The man advantage only lasted nine minutes though, as El Salvador’s Ronald Rodriguez was also sent off in the 79’, making it 10 versus 10 for the final minutes.
Just when it looked like El Salvador would secure a first ever Concacaf win against the U.S., a pair of second half substitutes for the U.S. would hook up for the equalizer, as Luca De La Torre floated in a cross and Morris rose up to head home to complete the 1-1 scoreline.
