In the heavy Orlando heat, the United States opened its post-World Cup chapter with a 4-1 friendly win over Peru, giving Mauricio Pochettino a youthful and emphatic first marker for the new cycle. Four different American scorers found the net, although a disputed second-half penalty became the turning point of a contest Peru had kept level for more than an hour.
Key takeaways
- Nineteen-year-old debutant Justin Ellis put the United States ahead inside four minutes.
- Gianluca Lapadula equalised for Peru on his first international appearance in 18 months.
- Malik Tillman converted a contentious penalty in the 66th minute, with no VAR available to review the decision.
- Julian Hall, 18, and Sebastian Berhalter completed a four-goal American display.
- Peru will continue its North American tour against Mexico in Harrison, New Jersey, on 29 September.
A young United States side finds its way in Orlando
The hosts made an immediate impression when Ellis scored four minutes into his international debut. Peru responded around the quarter-hour mark through Lapadula, the Italian-Peruvian forward returning to the national team after a year and a half away.
Yoshimar Yotún supplied the pass for Lapadula’s finish, and Peru competed well through the opening half despite the demanding conditions. Temperatures rose above 28 degrees Celsius, with high humidity adding to the physical burden of an afternoon in central Florida.
Pochettino’s side eventually drew on its younger options to pull clear. Tillman was followed onto the scoresheet by Hall, whose goal came at the age of 18, before Berhalter sealed the result late on with a strike from outside the box.
Penalty dispute shifts the friendly
The decisive moment arrived in the 66th minute. Mathis Albert went down after contact with Jesús Pretell close to the penalty area, and the referee awarded a spot kick. Peru’s players protested, believing the challenge had taken place beyond the box, but there was no video review system in operation.
Tillman converted the penalty to restore the American lead at 2-1. Five minutes later, Hall added a third, leaving Peru unable to recover from the swing in momentum. In stoppage time, Berhalter’s long-range effort made the final score 4-1.
For the United States, the result offered an encouraging beginning to a fresh international period under Pochettino, built around emerging talent as well as established senior figures. Peru, meanwhile, leave Orlando with a defeat before their meeting with Mexico in New Jersey.
