Hot Goalkeeping Condemns USMNT to Defeat

March 29, 2011 – Despite playing better than they had three days earlier in their draw with Argentina, the US Men’s National Team lost 1-0 to Paraguay in Nashville, TN. The main reason for the setback was the outstanding play of Paraguayan goalkeeper, Justo Villar. He pulled off a series of outstanding saves to deny the hosts, who outplayed their guests for most of the game.

Coach Bob Bradley made five changes to the team that faced the Argentineans at the new Meadowlands Stadium on Saturday. Marcus Hahnemann replaced Tim Howard in goal. Jonathan Bornstein came in for Carlos Bocanegra at left fullback while youngsters Tim Ream, Timmy Chandler and Juan Agudelo took the places of their more experienced counterparts; Oguchi Onyewu, Jonathan Spector and Jermaine Jones.

After a slow, choppy start to the match, the US started to impose themselves on the visitors. In the 12th minute, Bornstein failed to make meaningful contact with the ball in the penalty area after some good work by Landon Donovan. Three minutes later Agudelo’s shot was blocked following another pass from Donovan.

In the 18th minute Paraguay took the lead against the run of play. A corner kick, taken from the right side, was allowed to land in the center of the area after two US defenders collided trying to clear the danger. The ball bounced around in the box for a moment before Oscar Cardozo banged it into the corner of the net.

The hosts responded immediately to the setback creating a series of half-chances from shots, corners and free kicks. However, none of them really troubled Villar in Paraguay’s net. The visitors seemed content to soak up the US pressure and break up play with a series of fouls. As the half wound down, Bocanegra was forced to come on for the injured Jay DeMerit. Paraguay tried to steal another goal before halftime, forcing Hahnemann to make a couple of decent saves. However, the veteran US keeper was equal to the challenge and the two teams went to their dressing rooms with just the single goal separating them.

The US made two substitutions at the beginning of the second half. Jones replaced Maurice Edu in midfield while David Yelldell made his National Team debut in goal in place of Hahnemann. The game resumed with the hosts heaping pressure on their guests. The Americans earned several more corners but were unable to convert any of them into goals.

Just past the hour mark, Coach Bradley replace striker Jozy Altidore with young fullback Eric Lichaj, allowing Chandler to push forward. In the 75th minute, Donovan’s shot hit the outside of the post from Lichaj’s long throw. Two minutes later, the US replaced fullback Bornstein with midfielder Sacha Kljestan as the one-goal deficit was forcing them to gamble. The hosts were nearly punished immediately as Paraguay hit the post with a shot from distance.

In the 80th minute Spector came on for Chandler. Six minutes later the Americans had their best chance of the match as Michael Bradley’s shot from 30 yards out was beaten away by a miraculous save from Villar. The US continued to pass the ball around but couldn’t break down the composed Paraguayan defense. Late in injury time Jones got off one more good shot but it too was stopped by Villar and the match came to an end.

After playing two competitive friendlies against strong, South American competition, the US appear to be in a similar situation to the one they found themselves in a year ago. They have a core group of experience players but are still struggling to score goals. The hope must be for Agudelo to develop into a strike partner for Altidore, whose ineffectiveness in front of goal is becoming a real concern. With a friendly against Spain and the Gold Cup coming up later this summer, there will be opportunities to address this problem with the current squad or perhaps find new players who can put the ball in the net.

Player ratings for the US Team (scored 1-10):

Marcus Hahnemann, goalkeeper (6): Solid enough between the sticks in the opening 45 minutes. There wasn’t much he could have done to prevent the goal as the corner fell too far out for him to reach and the resulting shot came from too close for him to react.

Jay DeMerit, central defender (5): Failed to clear the corner which led to the goal in the center of the penalty area where he should be dominant. Forced off before halftime with an injury.

Tim Ream, central defender (6): Like DeMerit he was unable to successfully defend the corner which led to Paraguay’s goal but looked pretty solid otherwise.

Timmy Chandler, right fullback (7): Another impressive outing for the youngster. Did well going forward and even pushed up to right midfield before being substituted late on.

Jonathan Bornstein, left fullback (6): Put in a solid shift without doing anything spectacular. Substituted late for an attacking player as the US searched for an equalizer.

Maurice Edu, central midfielder (7): In what seems to be the best central midfield partnership for the Yanks, he and Bradley pretty much controlled the center of the park in the first half. Edu was strong in the tackle and also passed the ball pretty well.

Michael Bradley central midfielder (7): Got through a lot of running and his long-distance shot in the 86th minute was the best chance the US had all night(man of the match).

Clint Dempsey, right midfielder (7): Paraguay seemed to target him as the greatest threat and he spent much of the first half picking himself up off the ground after being fouled. Clint made some good runs and caused some problems but faded after the break.

Landon Donovan, left midfielder (7): While his free kicks aren’t what they were last year, the defensive side of his game has improved. He did a good piece of defending just before halftime to ensure that the US didn’t go two goals down. He had a couple of chances to score, the best being a shot off the outside of the post in the 75th minute.

Jozy Altidore, striker (5): Still no goals from our most recognizable striker. Jozy was substituted after an hour. Perhaps more than any other player, he needs to step up his game for the US to be successful.

Juan Agudelo, striker (6): Pretty good performance in his first start with the senior players. He looked more likely to score than his more experienced strike partner.

Substitutes:

Carlos Bocanegra, central defender (6): Did a good job of keeping the visitors fairly quiet in the second half on what was suppose to be a night off for the US captain.

David Yelldell, goalkeeper (6): Perhaps looked a little shaky in his debut for the National Team but didn’t allow any goals.

Jermaine Jones, central midfielder (7): Looked much better than in his start against Argentina. Jones had a good shot on goal late in injury time but like everything else the US sent his way, it was dealt with by Villar.

Eric Lichaj, right fullback (6): Replaced Altidore on the hour and slotted in at right back, allowing Chandler and Dempsey to push forward. Lichaj did a solid job defensively and also managed to get forward to support the attack.

Sacha Kljestan, midfield (6): Managed to get in a decent cross that Donovan headed wide in his 15 minutes on the field.

Jonathan Spector, midfield (6): Came on for the fading Chandler in the 80th minute but wasn’t able to do a whole lot in his short time on the field.

USMNT Do Themselves Proud, Drawing Argentina 1-1

March 26, 2011 – The US Men’s National Team came from behind to earn an impressive 1-1 draw against a rampant Argentinean team in front of a sellout crowd at the New Meadowlands Stadium. Although just a friendly, both managers approached the game seriously, putting out strong sides. While the visitors dominated the first half, taking a deserved lead in the 42nd minute, the Americans matched the two-time World Champions in the second interval, drawing even through a goal from teenage substitute Juan Agudelo.

Coach Bob Bradley deployed a line up that closely resembled his World Cup team from last summer. The only notable changes were Jonathan Spector, who filled in for the injured Steve Cherundolo at right back, and Jermaine Jones, who took up a holding, central, midfield position as the US decided to play a 4-5-1 formation against the formidable Argentine attack.

Early possession was dominated by the visitors but Clint Dempsey managed to intercept a pass in the forth minute. The Fulham midfielder then drove into the area and got off a shot that forced a decent save from Mariano Andujar. After that it was all Argentina for the next half hour as the US defense was stretched to its limit.

US goalkeeper Tim Howard had to be in top form to keep the visitors off the scoreboard. In the 23rd minute, he sprang off his line to smother the ball at the feet of the dangerous Lionel Messi. The Barcelona star blazed a shot across the face of goal five minutes later. More Argentine possession followed and Maurice Edu went into the referee’s notebook in the 35th minute for a hard foul on Messi.

A couple of minutes later, the US managed just their second shot on target as Landon Donovan drove toward goal before setting up Dempsey. Clint’s first effort was blocked but he collected the rebound and sent a curling effort toward the far post that was well saved by Andujar. Dempsey wasn’t done as he raced all the way back to snuff out a dangerous run by Messi at the top of the US penalty area.

A minute later it was Messi again who dribbled right down the heart of the host’s defense before unleashing a high, hard shot. Howard knocked the ball down and was able to collect at the second time of asking.

Three minutes before halftime Argentina’s pressure finally paid off. Again it was Messi driving into the box on the left before setting up a teammate with a cutback pass. Howard was able to block the first shot with his legs but Esteban Cambiasso followed up and blasted the ball into the roof of the net. The US was on the ropes at this point but they managed to make it to halftime without conceding another goal.

Coach Bradley made two changes at halftime, bringing on Agudelo for Jones and Timmy Chandler for Spector. The visitors picked up where they’d left off as Angel Di Maria curled a shot over the bar in the 47th minute. Not long after, Howard bravely came off his line to again claim the ball at Messi’s feet.

Chandler got down the right wing and put in a decent cross before fouling Javier Mascherano as he retreated to his defensive position. The Mexican referee saw fit to book the young fullback for the foul even though it was his first of the match. Four minutes later Chandler got forward again to cross the ball to Jozy Altidore, who headed on to Maurice Edu. The Rangers midfielder pulled his shot wide of the far post when he really should have hit the target.

Just before the hour mark the US was level. Altidore was fouled by Mascherano 40 yards out. Donovan put in a lovely free kick that was headed on goal by team captain Carlos Bocanegra. Andujar was able to parry the ball but not hold it. Agudelo, who was making the far post run, lifted his shot over the fallen keeper to even the match and send the crowd into a frenzy.

Argentina responded to the setback and again it was Messi who orchestrated their attack. The mercurial midfielder earned a free kick after being brought down by Michael Bradley 25 yards from goal. Messi took it himself but curled the ball just over the bar. In the 65th minute the visitors won a corner that Bradley initially headed clear before Howard was able to collect.

Unlike the first half, it was not on-way traffic and the US created a chance of their own two minutes later. Altidore sent in an excellent cross that Agudelo shot on goal. The ball was deflected out for a corner that was taken by Donovan. Bocanegra again got a head to it but Agudelo failed to connect with the flick on.

The game was getting chippy at this point and Altidore was the unlucky recipient of a particularly hard foul. Jay DeMerit nearly gifted a goal to the South Americans with a bad giveaway but he did well to race back and make a vital tackle on Di Maria. Moments later Chandler put in another good cross that Agudelo headed over.

The action was end to end at this point and the tackles were flying in all over the pitch. Donovan was booked in the 79th minute for a foul on Javier Mascherano. Bocanegra was also cautioned during stoppage time. In the dying seconds of the game, Oguchi Onyewu gave away a free kick 40 yards out but neither that set piece nor the resulting corner produced a goal and the match came to an end.

So despite being on the back foot throughout the first half, the US recovered to take something from the game in the second half. The field conditions were poor and this helped the hosts to cope with Argentina’s pace. However, I think it’s fair to say that the Yanks demonstrated again that they now have the ability to compete with the best teams in the world on a fairly consistent basis.

Player Ratings for the US players (scored 1-10):

Tim Howard, goalkeeper (9): Playing Argentina in his home state seems to bring out the best in Howard. This is the second time he’s had an outstanding match at the Meadowlands against the South American giants. While there was nothing he could do about the goal, Tim was courageous coming off his line to smother the ball at the feet of the Argentine attackers. He made numerous fine saves and kept the US in the game when under siege in the first half (man of the match).

Oguchi Onyewu, central defender (7): He’s getting back to his best after recovering from a serious knee injury. Surely playing regularly at FC Twente has helped a lot. He coped well with the pace and skill of the Argentine attack despite being under tremendous pressure, especially in the first half.

Jay DeMerit, central defender (7): The old campaigner showed that he can still do a job, even against a team as quick and skillful as Argentina. He cleaned up his own mess on the give away in the second half and provided hard-nosed defending throughout. I’ll be interested to see what will happen with Jay’s roll in the National Team now that he’s entering the twilight of his career.

Carlos Bocanegra, left fullback (8): Not only did the captain keep Argentina pretty much in check on the left but he got forward on set pieces to get his head on the ball. The 30-something defender looks like he wants to play in one more World Cup.

Jonathan Spector, right fullback (6): While the visitor’s goal did develop in his area and he had a torrid time with Messi and company, I thought he defended as well as I’ve ever seen. I felt he was a bit unlucky to be substituted at halftime. Perhaps the fact that he never got forward was the rationale for the change.

Maurice Edu, central midfielder (7): Worked hard and got in several important tackles. He should have hit the target when he had a shooting opportunity in the area but overall he gave a solid performance. Playing regularly in the SPL has done wonders for him.

Jermaine Jones, central midfielder (5): There was a lot of hype around this player when he became a US citizen but I’m still not sure what all the fuss was about. I still haven’t seen him do anything spectacular for club or country and I’m not sure how well he fits in with the National Team. After a rather lackluster first half, he was the sensible choice to be sacrificed for another striker.

Michael Bradley, central midfielder (7): A true box to box performance. Bradley was involved at both ends of the field throughout the evening.

Landon Donovan, left midfielder (6): I only remember him getting forward on a few occasions and his free kicks were generally below par. However, he did work hard on the defensive end. He looked like what he is; a player getting back into the swing of things after a lengthy off-season.

Clint Dempsey, right midfielder (7): Although he faded during the second interval, Clint was pretty much the only offensive threat for the US in the first half. He usually plays well against strong competition and tonight was no exception. I was especially pleased to see him race back from one penalty area to the other to snuff out a counterattack by Messi.

Jozy Altidore, striker (6): Isolated in the first half, Jozy came to life when Agudelo partnered with him during the second 45 minutes. His passing was good and he won several free kicks but he never really looked like scoring and that’s a concern.

Substitutes:

Timmy Chandler, right fullback (8): While I might argue that Spector played well enough to stay on for the second half, I can’t deny that Chandler was a big improvement. He got forward early and often with good crosses and did well enough defensively.

Juan Agudelo, striker (8): He was brought on to score and that’s what he did. Coach Bradley couldn’t have asked for more from the 18-year-old striker, who played with great poise and confidence. Although still very young, there’s hope that Juan could be the attacking partner that Altidore has been missing since Charlie Davis was injured in a car crash back in 2009.