DENVER — These are optimistic times for the U.S. men’s national soccer team, a welcome ray of sunshine after years of soul-searching and reconstruction in the wake of missing a World Cup. But the promise of better days ahead bring heightened expectations and the pressure to perform at a high level, even with a young, untested squad.
The first step on this uncertain path came Thursday in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals, and while the display was underwhelming, it was good enough to eke out a 1-0 victory over Honduras on substitute Jordan Siebatcheu’s 89th-minute goal.
The Americans advanced to Sunday’s final against Mexico or Costa Rica in the new regional tournament, which falls three months before qualifying for the 2022 World Cup begins.