Bruce Area’s males fell quick Saturday in opposition to Panama, however with a bit of luck the principally inexperienced gamers will study from their errors and be ready for the 2017 Gold Cup progresses.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
July 09, 2017
12:00 PM
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The USA opened its 2017 Gold Cup marketing campaign in disappointing style with a 1-1 draw in opposition to Panama on Saturday. After a second viewing of the sport, it was clear that Panama managed to up the depth of the sport for a 20-minute stretch—a tempo the U.S. was unable to match.
For many of the sport, the People have been most likely higher however Panama was capable of participant significantly better for a stretch and had the USA firmly on is heels. That interval began instantly after Dom Dwyer gave the USA a 1-0 lead within the fiftieth minute. As a substitute of getting into for the kill, Panama fully turned the tide and the Yanks appeared fully misplaced.
An early draw isn’t the tip of the world on the Gold Cup however Bruce Area should hope that his principally inexperienced crew discovered from the sport. The USA had the sting in expertise however in aggressive worldwide video games, motivation and depth could be an equalizer. Now he should hope his gamers will know methods to deal with an upstart opponent that is ready to achieve the momentum in a sport.
To be able to win Group B, the U.S. should keep away from slip-ups whereas producing offense to surpass Panama within the goal-differential tiebreaker. Listed here are my ideas on the sport.
1. Lichaj, Hedges, Miazga have to play
Area made two modifications from the Ghana sport, placing Omar Gonzalez in for Matt Hedges and Alejandro Bedoya in for Paul Arriola. Neither transfer helped the crew as Bedoya didn’t contribute offensively and Arriola’s pace was missed. In the meantime, Gonzalez misplaced his focus twice when Panama started taking management of the sport—and was considered one of a number of gamers at fault for the equalizer.
Hedges and Matt Miazga are each greater than able to filling in and really boast two of one of the best resumes of American central defenders over the previous 18 months (outdoors of Geoff Cameron and John Brooks). Miazga is coming off a season the place he gained the Dutch Cup after preventing to win the beginning job. Hedges has been possibly one of the best central defender in MLS the previous two years.
It’s additionally secure to say that the Graham Zusi proper again experiment isn’t going effectively. After a barely higher than common sport in opposition to Ghana, Zusi appeared misplaced ceaselessly in opposition to Panama. It is not likely his fault as a result of he isn’t a proper again. He can cross effectively however there are different proper again choices. Sure, DeAndre Yedlin is the primary selection proper again and Area is looking for a backup however it will make sense to see what Eric Lichaj can do proper now.
When Area sits again to look at tape and make changes, he may see the identical factor.
2. Matching the tempo
It was significantly fascinating after a second viewing to see how Panama responded after Dwyer’s aim. Many groups would have crumbled enjoying on the highway in entrance of 40,000 folks after conceding the primary aim. However Panama used it as motivation and upped the tempo of the sport. The U.S. could not sustain. That stretch, from the fiftieth minute to across the 70-minute, was all Panama wanted to seize some extent.
That’s the distinction between a pleasant and an official competitors. Even gamers who’ve spectacular membership success like Joe Corona and Omar Gonzalez—who each have Liga MX titles—have been significantly misplaced.
After all not all of those gamers might be within the combine for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers or the World Cup crew subsequent yr, however Area is hoping a number of gamers emerge. Regardless of Saturday’s disappointing sport, everyone on the roster has an opportunity to vary the narrative. Hopefully this was a lesson in studying methods to carry depth, or a minimum of to take care of an opponent who’s enjoying at a better stage.
3. Winners: Rowe, Villafana, Guzan, Dwyer
Brad Guzan and Kelyn Rowe stood out Saturday—Rowe, specifically, is trying just like the breakout performer up to now in July.
The New England Revolution common nonetheless must work on his protection as he missed a sort out within the build-up to the equalizer and twice didn’t shut down on Panama’s midfielders who have been making an attempt photographs from distance. However the professionals far outweigh the cons at this second. He’s comfy out vast and brings a welcome dose of creativity.
Villafana, in the meantime, additionally performed an necessary function getting ahead. The chemistry between Rowe and Villafana is noticeable as the 2 have a way in methods to get ahead collectively.
Dwyer had stretches of invisibility however he did effectively to complete his one probability and his quickness and aggressive play within the field nonetheless has him in sturdy standing with the crew for the Gold Cup and past.
4). The place it went unsuitable tactically
Panama did its homework heading into the sport. The USA’ issues began on the best facet, as Zusi and Bedoya contributed little. That made it simpler for Panama to close down the central space of the sector with Dax McCarty, Kellyn Acosta, and Joe Corona trying to play the ball to the dominant left facet of Rowe and Villafana.
Within the one-striker setup, Corona has an enormous duty within the No. 10 function and Panama pissed off him early within the first half. Worse, Corona didn’t make changes within the second stanza. Acosta and McCarty weren’t nice, however with the best facet struggling and a No. 10 not creating performs, there have been just too many holes throughout the sector. The one actual avenue the U.S. had was the left facet, and that’s the place the aim and each different alternative got here from.
On prime of that, set items have yielded little or no—each when it comes to supply and targets within the field.
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