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Still awake? The USMNT and Honduras did battle in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals for a grueling 90 minutes on Thursday with the U.S. claiming a 1-0 victory. The game featured at least five Honduras players being taken out on a stretcher (they magically healed and were quick to get back on the field). The fact that four Concacaf stretcher girls produced the most noise from the crowd is a testament to the overall performance.
Jordan Siebatcheu broke the 0-0 deadlock in the 89th minute to save the U.S. from further embarrassment. This was the first international goal for the Young Boys striker.
Jordan Siebatcheu comes up clutch for the @USMNT pic.twitter.com/VgqLA58Bz7
— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 4, 2021
Honduras played the game exactly as planned for 99% of the game. They frustrated the USMNT all game long, had a litany of antics up their sleeve to waste time and produced some dangerous chances. Only the scalp of Josh Sargent prevented Los Catrachos from taking the lead in the first half.
Josh Sargent saves the day for the @USMNT with this goal-line clearance pic.twitter.com/brZmwigqUv
— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 4, 2021
Gio Reyna nearly found the back of the net in the opening ten minutes but skewed his shot just wide.
So close, Gio Reyna pic.twitter.com/drub6AW2u4
— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 3, 2021
The USMNT looked like they were suffering from some severe jetlag and couldn’t wake up. Honduras had another shot across the American bow in the second half that Zack Steffen expertly dealt with.
ZACK STEFFEN pic.twitter.com/bW6wRh4EaO
— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) June 4, 2021
The jetlag feeling seemed contagious as the thousands of fans packed into Empower Field searched for almost any reason to cheer. You can imagine the reaction from a majority drunk crowd when four young, blonde girls in shorts trotted out onto the field with a stretcher.
The Honduran players must have had their hearts taken by the Concacaf stretcher girls as these dudes spent more time on the ground than on their feet. I lost count, but I believe Honduras requested the stretcher a minimum of five times.
Weston McKennie was even kind enough to help the Concacaf stretcher girls strap up one of the injured players.
LMAO Weston McKinnie helping the stretcher girls secure a Honduran player to the backboard pic.twitter.com/WLxuid60IG
— Josh ADHD (@Josh_ADHD) June 4, 2021
The “Concacaf stretcher girls” memes were lively on Twitter.
Stretcher girl heatmap. Electric performance @usmntonly #ConcacafNationsLeague pic.twitter.com/GwhReIKhjF
— Nate Sundermeier (@bigNSUNDY) June 4, 2021
Anyone else confused as to why this girl in her underwear is carrying this player off on a stretcher? #HONvUSA
— Amie Switzer (@amie_elle) June 4, 2021
When I grow up I want to be a concacaf stretcher girl.
— Stacey Hegs (@StaceyHegs) June 4, 2021
Is Honduras just flopping so they can see those stretcher girls?
— Robert Cox (@RobertSauce5000) June 4, 2021
Whoever oversaw the stretcher operations caught on to the Honduras team being in cahoots with the stretcher girls and put a stop to it in the second half. As you would expect the crowd reacted with disgust when four dudes holding a stretcher came out.
Magically, when the stretcher crew made the switch to guys (who wore shorts five times as long) the Honduran players quit requesting the stretcher.
USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter said that Honduras’ time-wasting antics was something his players needed to see and experience.
USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter says that Honduras' time wasting antics were a great preview for what his team can expect down the road in World Cup Qualifying. pic.twitter.com/sWPGLVbkNo
— David Moore (@RunDavidMoore) June 4, 2021
The USMNT will need to play sharper in the Nations League Final if the team hopes to win the first ever iteration of the tournament. The U.S. will play the winner of Costa Rica and Mexico on Sunday at 9:00 p.m. EST
