Regardless of a 2-0 win, america put in a less-than-stellar effort towards Jamaica in Kansas Metropolis. ASN tactician Liviu Chicken seems at what transpired with an eye fixed towards Tuesday’s Hex finale in Panama Metropolis.
BY
Liviu Chicken
Posted
October 14, 2013
2:46 PM
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WELL, THAT WAS BORING. Till the second half of america’ 2-0 win over Jamaica on Friday, neither workforce confirmed a lot promise in any space of the sphere.
The U.S. put what ought to have been an attack-minded lineup on the sphere, nevertheless it didn’t look as if the gamers had a lot urgency to get ahead. And why ought to they? With qualification already within the bag, the danger of a boring match towards Jamaica was all the time a risk.
Jamaica regarded way more harmful within the opening phases, however because it has all through the Hexagonal, the Reggae Boyz’ relative lack of capability shone by means of. It was a battle between a workforce that had already certified for the World Cup and one other that simply wasn’t adequate to be in Brazil.
The brightest spots for the U.S. have been substitutes Edgar Castillo, Graham Zusi, and Sacha Kljestan. Behind these three, the Individuals acquired into the ultimate third extra usually within the second half and regarded harmful in assault a number of occasions.
Story of Two Halves
Within the first 45 minutes, the U.S. regarded like a workforce that didn’t want any form of consequence. Greater than as soon as, the Individuals have been content material to knock the ball across the again earlier than taking part in hopeful lengthy balls ahead. It accomplished a sequence of one-touch passes within the forty second minute on the left facet of the penalty space that regarded extra like a keep-away circle than a workforce taking part in in a aggressive match. The ball always went again into strain as a substitute of fixing the purpose of assault, and the top consequence was a protracted clearance.
Lots of gamers walked across the area, disinterested.
After the breaks, issues modified with the substitutions. The U.S. went from 174-for-226 passing within the first half (9 of 20 within the closing third) to 261-for-295 within the second half, with 40 of fifty completions within the closing third.
Icelandic-American ahead Aron Johannsson offered some spark to the assault, however he regarded nervous on the ball. He accomplished 17 of 19 passes, however solely six makes an attempt went ahead. He appears to choose working within the area between opponents’ strains, making him a complementary pairing for goal man Jozy Altidore.
Ultimately, Johannsson noticed all three of his photographs go off track, and he misplaced possession seven occasions. Nevertheless, he a technical and tidy participant with a number of high quality. It was a meaningless recreation, however it will be attention-grabbing to see him towards some “real” competitors.
Reggae Boyz Sputter in Assault
On the defensive facet, the U.S. held sturdy. As regular, head coach Jurgen Klinsmann chosen two holding midfielders with accountability to comb up in entrance of the again line. That’s precisely what Combine Diskerud and Jermaine Jones did. Between the 2 of them, they made 20 loose-ball recoveries and 4 interceptions, solely one in every of which was within the attacking half.
Within the broad areas, DaMarcus Beasley and Brad Evans held sturdy towards speedy younger wingers Darren Mattocks and Deshorn Brown. The Jamaican assault ought to have performed by means of them, however they discovered isolation only a few occasions towards the U.S. defenders, and so they have been one for 11 on the dribble, dropping the ball 26 occasions whole.
Sparks off the Bench
Landon Donovan’s halftime substitution got here as a little bit of a shock, not as a result of he wasn’t taking part in poorly, however as a result of he was removed from the one American who had a subpar efficiency within the first half. He was very energetic, checking inside to seek out the ball and on the lookout for open areas, however he as additionally very withdrawn.
Maybe the early sub sends the mistaken message to a participant who has been a stalwart since his reintroduction to the workforce. It’s unfair to say Donovan was the worst American participant on the pitch, however he positively wasn’t in high type. Donovan’s lack of success—and Graham Zusi’s subsequent sturdy displaying—stated extra concerning the general U.S. play in each halves than it did about both particular person.
Nonetheless, Zusi offered an ideal spark when he got here in, as did Edgar Castillo and Sacha Kljestan. Castillo was 19 of 20 in passing, Zusi went 21 for twenty-four, and Kljestan accomplished 14 of his 17 makes an attempt.
Nearly all of Kljestan’s passes have been within the attacking half, choosing up the place Diskerud left off. Each of them superior properly from deeper positions in central midfield with out actually placing a stamp on the sport.
Castillo and Zusi, then again, had a direct influence on the ultimate consequence. Each went two-for-two on crosses, Castillo offered an help on one. Zusi had three key passes (passes that instantly end in a shot) and a objective. The competitors for Man of the Match comes right down to the 2 of them, despite the fact that Zusi performed simply half the sport and Castillo solely noticed the sphere for twenty-four minutes.
The U.S. Received, However Not Actually
By advantage of its victory and Costa Rica’s loss to Honduras, the U.S. received the Hexagonal on Friday night time. In addition to rendering Tuesday’s match at Panama much more meaningless and staying excellent at dwelling within the closing spherical, little was completed in Kansas Metropolis.
Not one of the regular suspects received or misplaced their jobs in that stroll within the park. Maybe that’s why these video games ought to be stocked with fringe gamers, hungry to show they belong within the pink, white, and blue come subsequent June—corresponding to Castillo, Zusi, and Kljestan.
A win is a win, and the U.S. acquired one other victory over Jamaica. However when it comes to progress towards some greater objective, unlocking extra keys to a brand new American type of play beneath Klinsmann, or simply giving the workforce extra confidence that it’s going to play properly towards top-class opposition in Brazil and elsewhere, the match towards Jamaica completed little.
Liviu Chicken is ASN’s tactical analyst. He’s additionally a contributor to NBC ProSoccerTalk and Cascadia regional editor for SoccerWire.com.
