May 25, 2010 – A US Men’s National Team, made up of several players trying to make the World Cup squad, were beaten 4-2 by a young, Czech Republic team in Hartford, CT. Poor defensive play along with Oguchi Onyewu’s apparent lack of fitness will be of particular concern for Coach Bradley as he prepares his team for next month’s tournament in South Africa. The home team started the match brightly with DaMarcus Beasley getting loose down the left to put in a dangerous cross that was cleared. The game developed at a leisurely pace with some nice midfield play from Maurice Edu, Jose Francisco Torres and Stuart Holden.
In the 17th minute, the US won a free kick on the left wing. Holden bent in a beautiful ball to the far post where Clarence Goodson courageously rose to get a head to it in front of the Czech keeper. The ball dribbled toward the net where Edu was on hand to bundle it in.
The goal seemed to be a wake up call for the visitors. They responded quickly by winning a free kick on the left side of the US penalty area. Fortunately for the home team, Edu was in the area to head away the resulting set piece.
The Czechs kept up the pressure and should have done better in the 26th minute when Jonathan Bornstein got caught out on the counter attack. The ball was crossed into the area but the Czech striker some how missed the net with his shot.
Five minutes later Bornstein was forced to foul deep on the left side of his penalty area. Goalkeeper Brad Guzan did well to palm the ensuing free kick out for a corner.
The visitors finally equalized in the 43rd minute from yet another free kick to the left of the US area. Onyewu was beaten far too easily in the air by Tomas Sivok, who headed the ball back across goal and in at the near post. The goal turned out to be the last meaningful action of the half.
The home team rang in the changes at the start of the second half bringing on five substitutes. Brian Ching replaced the ineffective Eddie Johnson. Herculez Gomez came on for Edson Buddle, who had been very active in his first appearance for the National Team since 2003. Sasha Kljestan replaced Torres. The disappointing Jonathan Bornstein made way for Heath Pearce and Robbie Rogers came on for Beasley.
The US came out pretty well and earned a corner in the 52nd minute. Four minutes later the Czechs signaled their intent by putting the ball in the net but the goal was ruled out on a close, off-sides decision. Shortly afterwards, the visitors scored on a counter attack. Pearce fell asleep and let Jan Polak run by him in the area before knocking the ball past a stranded Guzan.
The home side responded almost immediately to falling behind as Rogers struck a fierce drive from distance that Peter Cech did well to save. Then in the 64th minute, a clever lay off from Ching set up Gomez but his shot from the top of the box was too close to the Czech keeper. A minute later the US was level. Holden’s well-taken corner was headed back across goal by Goodson and Gomez was there to nod the ball in at the near post.
As the match wore on, the Americans appeared to tire. Alejandro Bedoya came on for Onyewu in the 67th minute. The US defense was ripped open ten minutes later as Pearce lunged unsuccessfully at Libor Sionko as he drove into the area. Goodson failed to clear the cross and the ball was blasted into the roof of the net by Martin Fenin.
Following the goal, the US appeared to be out of gas and out of ideas. They managed to win a couple of free kicks but Holden’s deliveries were no where near as good as some of his earlier efforts.
In the second minute of stoppage time, the visitors sealed their victory with another goal. Kljestan, who had faded badly after a decent start, lost possession in midfield as the Czechs quickly played the ball forward. Edu, who was playing in the unfamiliar role of central defender following the exit of Onyewu, was beaten in the air. The Czech substitute Tomas Necid calmly dribbled into the area and slotted the ball past Guzan, who could do nothing to stop it.
Despite the fact that it was an experimental line up, Bradley has to be very concerned about his defense. This was a young, Czech team and they were able to score four goals against the US on the road. Onyewu looked well off the pace and appears severely limited in the air. Both Bornstein and Pearce were awful at left back, leaving Carlos Bocanegra as the only real alternative. It was just revealed this week that he underwent hernia surgery on May 5th. Jay DeMerit and Chad Marshall both have fitness concerns, meaning that Goodson, with his 12 caps, is the only fully-fit central defender. Perhaps the most telling episode of the evening was the extended playing time Edu put in at central defense during the second half. That sight alone will have alarm bells ringing for US Soccer with just 17 days to go before the match against England in Rustenburg, South Africa.
Player ratings for the US team (scored “on the plane” or “staying home”)
Brad Guzan, goalkeeper (on the plane): Perhaps he should have kept out the first goal but had little to no chance with the following three. Received precious little help from his defense. He’ll be Tim Howard’s back up at the World Cup.
Clarence Goodson, central defender (on the plane): He was great in the attack, setting up both goals with headers. However, his foul led to the Czech’s opening tally and he failed to clear the ball for their third. That being said, with all the injuries, he could very well be starting in South Africa.
Oguchi Onyewu, central defender (on the plane): He looked pretty unsure of himself out there and barely got off the ground for the first goal but Coach Bradley knows how important he is. He’ll make the squad and be given every chance to regain his fitness as there just aren’t that many other options at central defense.
Jonathan Bornstein, left fullback (on the plane): Since the end of qualifying last year, he’s done just about everything he can to not make this squad. He will though due to the lack of viable alternatives and his ability to play central defense in an emergency. He was terrible again this evening, getting caught out of position on a counter attack, giving away a couple of dangerous free kicks and offering little going forward.
Steve Cherundolo, right fullback (on the plane): Perhaps the only bona fide starter out there tonight, he seemed to be playing at about three-quarters speed most of the game. He should have done better to cut out the cross for the second goal. However, he’ll be a key man at the World Cup.
Maurice Edu, central midfielder (on the plane): Got his first goal for the US and played pretty well until he was forced into central defense. He’ll probably be on the bench in South Africa but could push Ricardo Clark for a starting spot.
Jose Francisco Torres, central midfielder (on the plane): This was a guy who I thought was squarely on the bubble going into tonight’s game but I believe he did enough to make the team. He was quick, active and seemed to be on the same page with his teammates, which hasn’t always been the case.
DaMarcus Beasley, left midfielder (on the plane): After last summer’s Confederation Cup, I would have said there’s no way he’ll make it back to South Africa but the veteran winger has probably done just enough to make the squad. He didn’t do much tonight after his early cross but he’s one of Coach Bradley’s favorites.
Stuart Holden, right midfielder (on the plane): One of the few positive storylines coming out of tonight’s game for the Americans. Holden went the full 90 and generally played well despite only recently recovering from a broken fibula. Look for him to start for the US in South Africa.
Edson Buddle, striker (staying home): He tried hard but things didn’t quite come off for him and as a result, I think he’ll miss out. I feel for this guy because he’s been in great form for the Galaxy and at 29, this is probably his last chance to go to the World Cup. That being said, he’s rarely been in the National Team picture, picking up just his second cap on the night.
Eddie Johnson, striker (staying home): While Beasley probably just squeaked into the 23-man squad, Johnson is a National Team veteran who probably just missed out. He didn’t do nearly enough in the 45 minutes he was out there. It’s disappointing for a player who broke into the National Team as a teenager, scoring loads of goals. The scoring has since dried up but he’s still young enough to get another shot in 2014.
Substitutes:
Brian Ching, striker (on the plane): He provided a spark when he came on in the second half with his intelligent play. He didn’t get the service required for any clear-cut scoring chances but he’ll be a reliable substitute in South Africa.
Herculez Gomez, striker (on the plane): There’s almost always one surprise inclusion in a World Cup roster and I believe it will be Gomez this time around. He has a knack for the net at the moment and that’s a precious resource going into a major tournament. If the US needs a goal late, he’ll be the guy they call on.
Sasha Kljestan, central midfielder (staying home): When Benny Feilhaber didn’t dress tonight, I took that to indicate that he was guaranteed a spot on the roster. That meant, in my estimation, that the last midfield spot would come down to Torres or Kljestan and I believe Torres got it. Or Kljestan pissed it away with another lackluster performance, depending on your perspective. For a guy who was playing so well at the beginning of last year he’s really fallen apart. He’s young though and will have other chances in the future.
Heath Pearce, left fullback (staying home): As bad as Bornstein was on the night, Pearce was worse. He was directly responsible for the second and third Czech goals. With the central defensive crisis gripping the team, I believe Chad Marshall will get the last defensive roster spot over Heath.
Robbie Rogers, left midfielder (staying home): He’s another guy I feel bad for because he’s really come this year and actually outplayed Beasley on the night. However, Bradley will go with experience in this case and take DaMarcus to South Africa over the youngster.
Alejandro Bedoya, midfielder (staying home): He was probably only included in the 30-man squad to gain experience and serve as a back up in case Holden failed to recover from his injury. With Stuart’s strong performance, Bedoya, like Rogers, will have to wait for 2014.
