ASN: Eric Lichaj in Philly:

The 28-year-old Illinois native scored an enormous purpose towards El Salvador final night time however he additionally struggled at occasions together with a poor back-pass within the opening minutes of the match that just about led to a purpose.

BY

Franco Panizo

Posted
July 20, 2017
7:00 AM

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PHILADELPHIA—Scoring a purpose is normally one of many greatest and greatest takeaways gamers can have when analyzing and reflecting on their particular person performances.

Such was not the case for Eric Lichaj, nevertheless.

The U.S. nationwide staff topped El Salvador by a 2-0 mark in a CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals encounter at Century Hyperlink Discipline on Wednesday, however Lichaj was not overly enthused about his efficiency within the match regardless of opening his worldwide account.

The veteran proper again was as an alternative dissatisfied along with his total displaying, dwelling on the errors he made all through his shift moderately than celebrating and cherishing the well-taken purpose he scored in first-half stoppage time to offer the U.S. some respiratory room.

“The first 45 was really bad,” mentioned Lichaj. “I just tried to keep it simple, but the first pass back to Tim [Howard] was not very good at all. I told him, ‘Thank you,’ at the end of the game because that was a big save and he got me out of the dirt there.”

The play Lichaj was speaking about got here a mere three minutes into the match when the 28-year-old defender did not make good contact on a backpass towards his personal purpose. El Salvador ahead Rodolfo Zelaya pounced on the lazy ball and seemed able to have a transparent 1-on-1 alternative, however an astute Tim Howard darted off his line to thwart the hazard.

Lichaj mentioned after the match that he might need taken the opponent without any consideration. It confirmed if that was the case, as he seemed shaky and considerably out of types for a lot of the opening stanza. Lichaj’s passing was not significantly sharp, and his defending was not nice both.

“Still needs a little more experience at this level, but he fits in well with the team and that’s a position we need help,” mentioned U.S. head coach Bruce Enviornment of Lichaj. “DeAndre Yedlin was injured for a fair amount last year. We didn’t have him for all of our games and it’s nice to know that Eric is a player that perhaps we can depend on and can help us in that position.”

Lichaj finally salvaged his first-half outing with a pleasant run into the field and subsequent strong end for the Individuals’ insurance coverage purpose. Nonetheless, Lichaj made some errors after the intermission. One of many extra notable ones got here within the 52nd minute when Lichaj—maybe as a result of lack of expertise on the worldwide stage that Enviornment talked about—allowed a route-one ball to bounce by him.

The choice almost proved pricey, as Denis Pineda bought within Lichaj and raced ahead unbothered earlier than hitting a low shot that didn’t miss the mark by a lot. Lichaj bought away with one on that play, however took it as a lesson discovered.

“I thought he was going to take a big touch and tap it around me, but he’d done really well and went inside and I couldn’t stay with him,” mentioned Lichaj. “I knew I used to be beat so I attempted to seize him and pull him down, however I couldn’t come up with him correctly and fortunately he scuffed the shot and it went vast.

“That’s another moment I had in my head. I was hoping [no media members] would’ve brought up, but I don’t look at the good stuff. I just remember the bad stuff I do in games because I always need to improve and I try not to let myself get too comfortable. That’s another moment that I need to look at and assess and just need to make myself get better.”

Enhancements should be made shortly if Lichaj is to cement a spot in Enviornment’s plans forward of the autumn’s World Cup Qualifiers. Lichaj is at present battling with Graham Zusi for the reserve proper again spot behind Yedlin, and each likelihood to make an impression counts.

Lichaj is aware of and understands that full properly, which is why he was in no temper to rejoice on Wednesday night time.

“The way I played in the first 45 Bruce will be saying, ‘Should we go with Eric?’” mentioned Lichaj. “That’s what I’m thinking. I need to sort that out, because I know in my head that’s not good enough and I know I can play a lot better.”