Brenden Aaronson scores first USMNT goal in 6-0 rout of El Salvador

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Chris Mueller scored twice in his international debut, Ayo Akinola got a goal in his first game and the United States overwhelmed El Salvador 6-0 on Wednesday night in its fourth and final exhibition of the pandemic-shortened year.

Paul Arriola scored in his first start for club or country since tearing his right Achilles tendon in D.C. United’s preseason match on Feb. 15. Brenden Aaronson, playing his second international game following his debut against Costa Rica in February, got his first goal to cap off the scoring.

Both Aaronson and his former Union teammate, centerback Mark McKenzie, played every minute of the game.

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Before a crowd of about 2,500 in the Americans’ first match before fans since the pandemic began, Bill Hamid got the shutout in his first international start since a 2-1 loss at Ireland in June 2018.

Using a lineup of players mostly from eliminated Major League Soccer teams, the No. 22 U.S. had wide stretches of free space against 70th-ranked El Salvador in a match played outside the FIFA calendar and without top stars. Coming off a 6-2 win over Panama, the Americans scored a half-dozen goals in consecutive games for the first time since 2013 against Guatemala and Belize.

The U.S. was unbeaten with three wins and one draw in 2020, its fewest games in a year since playing three in 1987.

A busy 2021 is ahead that includes a pair of March friendlies, the CONCACAF Nations League final four in June, the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July, the start of World Cup qualifying in September and possibly the first Olympics for the U.S. under-23 team since 2008. This match was used to expand the player pool.

Right back Julian Araujo also started in his debut, and defenders Marco Farfan and Kyle Duncan debuted as second-half substitutes. Fifty-seven players have debuted since the October 2017 loss at Trinidad and Tobago that prevented the Americans from playing in the 2018 World Cup, including 34 since Gregg Berhalter became coach ahead of 2019.

The U.S. lineup averaged 24 years and nine international appearances.

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Arriola put the U.S. ahead 17 minutes in with his sixth international goal, a 12-yard left-foot shot off a pass from Mueller, who blew past a defender on the left side, then cut back the ball.

Mueller doubled the lead in the 20th with a 15-yard right-foot shot following a pass from Jackson Yueill, and Sebastian Lletget got his fourth goal with an 18-yard chip in the 23rd that deflected off Roberto Dominguez. Mueller scored again in the 25th with a 6-yard diving header off Akinola’s cross.

Akinola, also eligible to play for Canada and Nigeria, made it 5-0 in the 27th with a sliding shot from near the penalty spot off a pass from Mueller.

Aaronson got the lone goal of the second half in the 50th with a 12-yard right-foot shot from a Lletget pass.

Inquirer staff writer Jonathan Tannenwald contributed to this report.