World Cup 2022 top plays: Tim Weah puts USA ahead vs. Wales
The 2022 FIFA World Cup continues with the United States vs. Wales closing out Monday’s group stage action, and we’ve got you covered with every must-see moment from start to finish!
Earlier, England opened the day with a dominating 6-2 victory over Iran to earn three points in Group B, followed by the Netherlands picking up a 2-0 win over Senegal to get three points in Group A.
You can watch this game and every match of the tournament on the FOX Sports family of networks — the tournament’s official English-language broadcast partner in the U.S. — and the FOX Sports app and FOXSports.com. You can also stream full-match replays for free on Tubi.
Here are the top plays.
In it to win it
Coach Gregg Berhalter’s team has almost no experience of playing at a World Cup, but this team — led by captain Tyler Adams — is young and hungry for a win. The USMNT is tied with Ecuador for the second-youngest team in this World Cup with an average age of 24, behind only Ghana (23.5).
The particularly youthful squad features six players who are 22 or younger — attacking midfielder/winger Gio Reyna (19), fullback Joe Scally (19), strikers Jesús Ferreira and Josh Sargent (22), central midfielder Yunus Musah (19) and right back Sergiño Dest (22) — five of which are forward players on the attacking line.
What’s more, Musah made history as the first teenager to start a World Cup match for the USMNT.
Here we go!
The USMNT, which is on a revenge tour after failing to qualify for the 2018 competition for the first time since 1986, was greeted by a lively crowd at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium ahead of all the action.
The last World Cup appearance for the U.S. was in 2014, when they made it to the Round of 16. The USMNT’s best World Cup result came in the inaugural event in 1930, finishing in third place of the 13-team field.
Off to the races
Christian Pulisic won a free kick on his first touch of the match after a foul by Wales defender Joe Rodon, bringing USA fans to their feet. The USMNT was this close to taking the lead right out of the gate.
Seeing yellow
Misfortune struck when USA’s Dest and Weston McKennie were shown back-to-back yellow cards early on.
In the hunt
Things remained scoreless at the half-hour mark, but not for lack of effort on either side.
Americans are back!
Pulisic won another free kick after getting fouled by Wales defender Chris Mepham, who didn’t draw a yellow card, much to the dismay of USA fans.
Karma was on the Americans’ side though, as Tim Weah quickly punched one into the back of the net, giving the USA their first World Cup goal in eight years. He is the 23rd man to score for the U.S. in a World Cup.
Related: A father’s dream fulfilled: Tim Weah carries family legacy into World Cup
Related: Who is Tim Weah? Inside the USMNT World Cup roster
Stay tuned for updates!
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