Weston McKennie, Kellyn Acosta lead U.S. men’s soccer team to 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Honduras

After all the rancor of the last few days, the knives brought out for U.S. men’s soccer team manager Gregg Berhalter were beaten by a wizard’s wand.

Weston McKennie scored 7½ minutes after kickoff, delivered his favorite Harry Potter-style celebration, and sent the Americans on their way to a 3-0 win over Honduras in a Concacaf World Cup qualifier Wednesday night.

The win took Berhalter off the hot seat after his insistence on playing the game at subfreezing Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minn. The temperature was 2 degrees at kickoff, with a wind chill that made it feel like minus-12.

Even with the U.S. in second place in the World Cup qualifying standings and facing a last-place team that was already eliminated, Berhalter was pounded in the lead-up to kickoff. Not even the NFL plays in conditions that cold very often, as the Minnesota Vikings could attest from their indoor stadium nearby. The players and officials were allowed to wear extra layers with their uniforms, including head and neck gaiters.

But as cold as everyone was, the U.S. players got the job done. McKennie’s header of Kellyn Acosta’s long-range free kick was another big play by the U.S. team’s most in-form player, and a much-needed release of fans’ angst.

It was also the Americans’ first set-piece goal of qualifying, restoring a traditional strength in the tournament’s 11th game.

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As farcical as the frigid circumstances at times were — Ricardo Pepi with blood frozen on his chin after suffering what he later said was a broken nose, Matt Turner wrapped in a giant fleece blanket during a Honduran injury stoppage — the home team played some good soccer at times.

This was especially true of Acosta and Luca de la Torre, central midfielders who stood in for stars Tyler Adams (injured) and Yunus Musah (rested). Acosta proved his worth as Adams’ backup, a crucial element since Adams is the U.S.’ most pivotal player. De la Torre, making his first U.S. start in his fifth appearance, completed 41 of 46 passes, won 6 of 12 duels, and made 11 recoveries.

“I’d like to single out Luca de la Torre for just an excellent, exceptional effort tonight,” Berhalter said, picking the 23-year-old as his player of the game. “That’s the beauty, when you give a guy an opportunity, he takes advantage of it.”

Acosta put another set piece on target in the 37th minute for the Americans’ second goal. He served it up, Jordan Morris knocked it down, and big centerback Walker Zimmerman showed some deft footwork with a close-range turn and shot.

When the halftime whistle blew, the critics on social media were still going at it. But while they continued to bash Berhalter for playing in this weather, they had dropped their other big complaint: his not starting Christian Pulisic.

That was quite a call. While there’s no question Pulisic struggled in the team’s first two games of this winter set, it was still surprising to see Berhalter pick Morris to start instead.

Pulisic replaced Morris in the 64th minute. Honduras had made four substitutions by then, including three at halftime. The team’s official Twitter account said two of the changes were “due to the extreme weather conditions prevailing in the stadium,” but didn’t give names.

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Various media reports said starting goalkeeper Luis López and striker Romell Quioto were treated for hypothermia. Honduras’ Tigo Sports said López received an IV injection.

Four minutes after Pulisic entered, he delivered the team’s third set-piece goal of the night. Acosta set it up once again, with a corner kick that went to Pepi’s head, then Zimmerman’s right foot, then Pulisic for the finish.

The Hershey native’s relief was as clear to see as his breath as the temperature reached zero degrees.

“It was a very difficult decision, but I felt it was a decision that was made to put him in the best possible position to make the impact that we know he can make,” Berhalter said of not starting Pulisic. “That’s the impact that he made for the group, and really helped seal victory for the team. It’s never easy when you’re a high-profile player and you’re not in the form of your life … but he’s a guy that means a heck of a lot to this team.”

There was relief for Berhalter, too. Even with a big win on the scoreboard, the postgame questions were much more pointed than usual. So were some of his answers.

“I think when you talk about pressure, I think you’re referring to external pressure, and that could be media pressure,” Berhalter said when asked about being on the hot seat. “But what I’d say is that there’s no amount of pressure the media can put on me that I’m not putting on myself. We have very high demands for this program, and desperately want to get this right and qualify for the World Cup — for the players, for the fans, and for our country.”

Mexico needed an 80th-minute penalty kick goal from Raúl Jiménez to edge Panama, 1-0, at home. Diego Lainez won the foul, a reminder that he’s one of El Tri’s most dangerous players even though manager Gerardo Martino rarely plays him.

While the result brought Mexico even with the U.S. on points, the U.S. remains in second place thanks to goal difference. And Mexico’s win benefits the U.S. overall, because now they’re both four points clear of fourth-place Panama.

Canada won 2-0 at El Salvador, cementing first place and putting the Canucks on the cusp of their first men’s World Cup since 1986. A win at Costa Rica on March 24, the first day of the final set of games, will finish the job. If not then, Canada hosts Jamaica on March 27.

Costa Rica beat Jamaica, 1-0, to pull within one point of Panama. The result eliminated Andre Blake and the Reggae Boyz from contention.

1. Canada, 7-0-4, 25 points

2. United States, 6-2-3, 21 points, +9 goal difference

3. Mexico, 6-2-3, 21 points, +6 goal difference

4. Panama, 5-4-2, 17 points

5. Costa Rica, 4-3-4, 16 points

6. El Salvador, 2-6-3, 9 points

7. Jamaica, 1-6-4, 7 points

8. Honduras, 0-8-3, 3 points