A goal from San Jose Earthquakes rookie Fatai Alashe highlighted an offensive barrage from the US U-23 national team in a 5-2 friendly win Friday over Bosnia & Herzegovina at Stadion Tusanj in Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Goals from Seattle Sounders academy product Jordan Morris, Mario Rodriguez, former Chicago Fire midfielder Benji Joya and Alonso Hernandez rounded out the scoring for the US. It’s the first win in the first match of 2015 for the prospective Olympic team as they prepare for CONCACAF qualifying in October.
It did not take long for the US to get off on the right foot.
In the eighth minute, Morris scored the opener on an assist from Real Salt Lake midfielder Luis Gil. Rodriguez made it 2-0 in the 14th minute, with the assist going to Morris.
After halftime, after Bosnia pulled one back in the 64th minute, Joya converted a penalty kick two minutes later for a 3-1 lead.
Bosnia picked up their second goal via a penalty kick late in the game. But the US pulled away with a Hernandez goal in the 78th minute and the Alashe tally off a corner kick to close out the scoring in the 86th minute.
Several MLSers started the game. In addition to Alashe and Gil, Real Salt Lake defender Boyd Okwuonu and Colorado Rapids defender Shane O'Neill got the nod from the opening whistle.
The US will next face Denmark in Copenhagen on Tuesday to complete the March camp.
