Kick-off: 1930 ET, 27/01/2022
Stadium: Lower.com Field
USA were held to a goalless draw by El Salvador in September’s opening round of World Cup qualifiers but should ease through the return fixture in Columbus.
The Stars and Stripes have won their last three home matches in this pool, while La Selecta have tasted defeat in a trio of away fixtures.
We like 2.05 for the hosts to prevail 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 in our initial USA vs El Salvador prediction.
United States Odds
With eight of the 14 rounds played, USA are second in the standings, a single point behind Canada and one in front of both Mexico and Panama.
With three teams automatically qualifying for Qatar 2022 and fourth place going into the inter-confederation play-offs, there isn’t too much margin for error from here on.
Head coach Gregg Berhalter has taken no chances by calling up 28 players for the three upcoming games, with Canada away and Honduras at home to follow this contest.
There is a slight concern that 13 MLS-based players may be a touch rusty ahead of next month’s new season, while Wolfsburg defender John Anthony Brooks and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Giovanni Reyna are absent.
However, a squad headlined by Chelsea playmaker Christian Pulisic and Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie should be comfortably strong enough to get the job done.
Ricardo Pepi is their top scorer in this group with three goals and was snapped up by Bundesliga side Augsburg after impressing for Dallas last season.
The promising 19-year-old is backed at 4.0 to grab the final strike of this match in our USA vs El Salvador betting tips.
El Salvador Odds
El Salvador have picked up six points on home turf via a 1-0 win over Panama and draws with USA, Jamaica and Honduras.
However, they have drawn a blank on their travels, losing 3-0 in Canada and going down 2-1 away to Panama and Costa Rica.
A couple of December friendlies in America were reasonably encouraging, drawing 1-1 with Ecuador in Houston and only being shaded 1-0 by Chile in Los Angeles.
Six of Hugo Perez’s squad ply their trade in the MLS, including experienced midfielder Darwin Ceren and proven forward Joaquin Rivas.
Thailand-based striker Nelson Bonilla has netted 16 times in 46 internationals and young front man Enrico Hernandez is attached to Vitesse Arnhem in Holland.
Overall, though, this is a pretty ordinary-looking bunch who will almost certainly just adopt a damage-limitation approach.
It is worth noting that only two of America’s 12 goals so far have come before the half-time break.
We think they can add to that tally here, but 3.0 for just a 1-0 lead at the interval appeals from the USA vs El Salvador odds.
Additional stats
Last result:
Jamaica 1-1 USA – Timothy Weah
Panama 2-1 EL SALVADOR – Jairo Henriquez
Head-to-head: El Salvador 0-0 USA, USA 6-0 El Salvador, USA 2-0 El Salvador, USA 2-1 El Salvador
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