A brilliant 45 minutes against Honduras failed to mask US World Cup problems

An erratic start in the journey towards Qatar 2022 leaves room for improvement for manager Gregg Berhalter and his talented but inexperienced squad

In isolation, Wednesday night's 4-1 away win for the US against Honduras was a brilliant result.

Down 1-0 after 45 minutes, the US responded with four goals in the second half. The match played out like a Hollywood movie for 18-year-old striker Ricardo Pepi, as he revived the US on his international debut with a goal and two assists.

So, yes, the victory was a good one for a young US team and their coach Gregg Berhalter. But, with a bit more distance, it also remains the one bright spot in an otherwise worrying start to World Cup qualifying.

Following a summer that included a 2021 Gold Cup championship and an inaugural Concacaf Nations League title, a promising generation of talent appeared set to avoid the same problems that cost the US a place at the 2018 World Cup.