Pulisic Scores Twice as United States Rout Haiti 6-0

The United States beat Haiti 6-0 in the first leg of their Concacaf Nations League quarter-final. In the match played in Miami, the US won big in front of a crowd with strong Haitian support. After the first leg of the two-leg tie, the United States lead 6-0.

Because of ongoing political unrest and gang violence in the capital Port-au-Prince, Concacaf allowed Haiti to host the match in Miami under an 'exceptional hosting arrangement'. Haiti therefore played their home match on US soil.

The match was part of US coach Mauricio Pochettino's farewell period. From Wednesday his new job will be at Manchester United. US Soccer is not expected to appoint his successor until the new year; Olympic team coach Steve Cherundolo could take interim charge for December's friendly window.

Tyler Adams captained the United States in this match, having been named permanent skipper in September. Auston Trusty partnered Chris Richards in defence, with Antonee Robinson and Alex Freeman as the full-backs. Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie made their first international appearances since the World Cup. Diego Kochen started in goal and Julian Hall started in attack.

The first goal came in the ninth minute. Freeman drew a free kick on the right flank roughly 30 yards from goal. Sebastian Berhalter's delivery curled beyond the crowd in the penalty area and past the far post. Trusty arrived unmarked and steered the ball back toward the right post. It was his second international goal. VAR confirmed he had stayed onside.

The goal carried special significance for Trusty. He had not played since 15 October following the death of his father, Walt; this was his first match in nearly a month.

Haiti also created chances in the first half. In the 16th minute, Danley Jean Jacques fashioned a powerful effort after a quick break, but Kochen parried it away. Shortly after the half-hour mark, Lenny Joseph found another opening, only for Richards to block it with a sliding challenge.

Around the 40th minute, tension rose after an exchange between Adams and Haiti's Josue Casimir. Casimir appeared to attempt to slap Berhalter. Guatemalan referee Walter Lopez showed yellow cards to both Casimir and Berhalter.

Hall extended the lead in the 52nd minute. Haiti felt they had earned a free kick after Malik Tillman brought down Casimir from behind, but the US broke forward. Pulisic carried the ball and slipped it to Robinson, whose cross was finished by 18-year-old Hall. It was his fourth goal in five appearances since his debut in September. Apart from Pulisic and Gio Reyna, only two other American men have scored four international goals before turning 20. The appearance also officially cap-tied Hall to the United States, ending any possibility of a switch to Poland.

Five minutes later, Hall's backheel put Pulisic through and Carlens Arcus tripped him. The referee gave a penalty. Pulisic drove his effort straight down the middle while goalkeeper Alexandre Pierre dived away. It was his 34th international goal, drawing him level with Eric Wynalda for fourth on the programme's all-time scoring chart.

That shared position lasted just 32 seconds. Haiti lost possession from the ensuing kickoff inside their own half. Freeman swept a pass into the middle and Pulisic fashioned a shot from more than 20 yards out to score his second goal.

In the 68th minute, McKennie headed home from a free kick. It was his 13th international goal and his first since 28 March.

Haiti then had a goal ruled out by VAR. Casimir set up Joseph to finish, but VAR determined Casimir had strayed offside by the narrowest of margins, by a big toe.

Folarin Balogun's first effort was also controversially ruled out by VAR. Five minutes later he glided between two opponents, entered the box and nutmegged Pierre to score. It was his first US goal since his last-16 appearance against Belgium. He celebrated with a pantomime tap of his watch.

The second leg will be played on Tuesday in Cincinnati. Pochettino's team will go into that match holding a 6-0 advantage, after which his time with the United States will end.