USA vs Ghana live score, result, updates, highlights from USMNT October friendly in Nashville

October 17, 2023 Admin

The USMNT looks to rebound from a humbling loss to Germany as they meet World Cup rivals Ghana in Nashville on Tuesday.

Saturday’s 3-1 defeat saw the U.S. put in their place by a European power, leaving them reminded of the gap that remains between themselves and those at the top of the international food chain. Gregg Berhalter’s side managed to keep the score level through the first 45 minutes, but they were stretched in the second half and conceded a wave of chances that ultimately decided the match.

They now turn their focus to a new opponent, one who they developed a small rivalry with thanks to meetings in three straight World Cup tournaments in 2006, 2010, and 2014 that all resulted in tight and exciting games.

Ghana does not present the same world-class threat that Germany presented the U.S. with over the weekend, but this match does provide the opportunity to salvage the October international window and therefore relegate the weekend’s loss to its rightful place as a learning opportunity rather than a harbinger of wider issues.

The Sporting News is following the USA vs Ghana match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.

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

USA vs Ghana live score

	Score	Goal scorers
USA	–	–
Ghana	–	–

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): Turner (GK) — Dest, M. Robinson, Richards, Lund — Johnny, Musah, Reyna — Weah, Balogun, Pulisic.

Ghana (4-3-1-2, right to left): Nurudeen (GK) — Seidu, Aidoo, Opoku, Mensah — Addo, Partey, Paintsil — Kudus — I. Williams, J. Ayew.

USA vs Ghana live updates, highlights, commentary

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.

Unser Mittelfeldspieler Lennard Maloney ist erstmals für die US-amerikanische Nationalmannschaft nominiert! ????????

???????? #NurDerFCH

— 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 (@FCH1846) October 5, 2023

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.

Our XI in Nashville ???????? pic.twitter.com/uL9ACWSCVV

— U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) October 17, 2023

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

Ghana broke American hearts in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.

The USMNT exacted their revenge to open the 2014 World Cup.

Watch USA vs. Ghana at 8:30 p.m. ET tonight on TNT or Max ???? pic.twitter.com/GmxRXEPFXS

— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 17, 2023

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.

“They’re not a million miles away” – @warrenbarton2 @JohnStrong, @warrenbarton2, and @alexilalas recap the previous meeting of the USMNT and Germany ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/cP5PGelKHP

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 17, 2023

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.

I do wish Michael Bradley would get some sort of USMNT sendoff friendly. Probably won’t because he’s retiring from club play after this weekend as well.

The program needs to do more of that for guys who had 100+ caps. The USWNT is much better at sendoffs for long-serving vets. pic.twitter.com/3xCL4Gx5gd

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) October 17, 2023

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, Aidoo, Opoku, Mensah — Addo, Partey, Paintsil — Kudus — I. Williams, J. Ayew.

Ghana subs (12): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)

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.