USA vs Wales World Cup highlights: USMNT’s Tim Weah scores, but Gareth Bale responds

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A youthful United States men’s national team is off to a roaring start at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with one of its young stars producing a signature moment in the Group B opener against Wales. 

The USMNT dominated possession throughout the first half of a game most believe is critical to their chances of advancing to the knockout stage, looking unafraid from the start and taking the game to a more experienced Wales side making its World Cup return after a decades-long drought. 

It was exactly the type of confidence U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter was hoping to see as a new generation of USA stars sought to write their own history after the nation’s disappointment in missing out on Russia 2018. 

Here are some of the highlights from the USMNT’s opening game in Qatar: 

MORE: Can USA make it out of Group B at FIFA World Cup?

Tim Weah goal highlights

The USA controlled the run of play throughout the opening half, attacking up both wings via Antonee Robinson (left) and Sergino Dest (right), but the Americans ultimately broke through going up the center of the pitch. 

In the 36th minute, USA star Christian Pulisic sliced up the middle, surrounded by five Wales players, before laying it off to an unmarked Tim Weah cutting into the middle of the penalty area. 

The youngster’s first touch was golden, as he coolly redirected the pass off the outside of his right foot and drove it past sliding Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey to send USA fans at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium into hysterics. 

That strike was enough to give the U.S. momentum at the midway point, as they took a 1-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. 

MORE: Who is Tim Weah’s father? USMNT star follows footsteps of a soccer icon

Wales target Pulisic

The Welsh side recognized that Pulisic would be a threat and the American proved it on the goal.

That also made Pulisic a steady target of the Welsh players:

Matt Turner’s big save for the USA

In the second half, Wales came out with intensity and the Americans were on their heels for large stretches. They needed this big save by starting goalkeeper Matt Turner to maintain the 1-0 lead.

USA yellow cards

The burst of creativity from Pulisic and Weah was a welcome show of confidence from the USMNT after early frustrations with the officiating. 

Twice in a three-minute span early in the game, Qatari referee Abdulrahman Al-Jassim went to his pocket to hand out yellow cards to U.S. players for challenges he deemed rash. Sergino Dest was booked in the 11th minute and Weston McKennie in the 13th, with both players vigorously protesting the calls. 

MORE: Yellow card rules at the 2022 World Cup — when does suspension kick in?

The bookings balanced out later in the half as Gareth Bale and Chris Mepham were cautioned for Wales, but U.S. defender Tim Ream joined those sitting on a yellow card in the 51st minute. 

Players receiving two yellow cards during the World Cup must sit out their team’s next game, so any caution can have a long-lasting impact on a nation’s hopes. 

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