Wednesday night’s U.S. national team friendly against El Salvador was an odd one, occurring as it did following an ad hoc camp scheduled outside a FIFA window, during December (the USA hasn’t played a December game since 2001) and just a few days before the MLS Cup final.
Adding to the strange occasion before a smattering of fans at Inter Miami CF Stadium in Fort Lauderdale was the fact that the Salvadorans seemed to have no interest in competing. The visitors essentially stood still as coach Gregg Berhalter’s young, MLS-based starters ran riot in the first half, scoring an astonishing five goals in 11 minutes.