The US nationwide staff defeated Panama 1-0 to win Group D of the Gold Cup and arrange a date with Curacao within the quarterfinals. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta watched the sport and is right here along with his ideas.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
June 26, 2019
7:35 PM
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THE UNITED STATES nationwide staff clinched first place of Group D on the 2019 Gold Cup with a 1-0 win over Panama in Kansas Metropolis. The win was moderately pedestrian and much from the gorgeous sport, however the U.S. staff completed the group levels with 9 factors, 11 objectives scored, and nil objectives conceded.
Supervisor Gregg Berhalter elected to make 11 substitutions from the lineup that began the primary two video games and it took awhile for the staff to realize any sense of rhythm.
Offensively, the staff appeared disjointed and missing concepts however a giant portion of that was poor ending within the first half. Jozy Altidore had a pair of high quality probabilities within the first half that he was unable to complete and Jonathan Lewis additionally may have completed higher from shut vary that he waited too lengthy to get off the shot.
The result’s that Panama was getting extra snug defending and hoping to catch a U.S. staff with a slower backline on a counterattack. That almost occurred twice with Omar Gonzalez practically seeing his lack of footspeed reward Panama golden probabilities. Fortuitously for the U.S. staff, that by no means got here to fruition and the U.S. staff was typically excellent defensively.
Regardless of the torpid sport, the U.S. nonetheless held a wholesome edge with possession and touches within the last third. It wasn’t till the 66th minute when the U.S. staff lastly discovered the breakthrough. The play started with a Djordje Mihailovic nook was pushed successfully into the field. It discovered the top of Matt Miazga who headed it again in the direction of the objective. Panama was not capable of successfully clear Miazga’s ball which as an alternative discovered its solution to Jozy Altidore who was capable of hit an overhead kick into the web from shut vary. For Altidore it was his forty second objective of his worldwide profession.
Jozy Altidore’s bicycle objective #USMNT pic.twitter.com/JOOSkBFSgY
— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) June 27, 2019
After Christian Pulisic got here into the sport simply previous to the objective, Gregg Berhalter continued to make offensive-oriented substitutes with Tyler Boyd and Gyasi Zardes additionally coming into the sport. Panama by no means actually threatened the remainder of the best way and finally the whistle sounded.
The U.S. staff will now head to Philadelphia the place it should face Curacao on Sunday within the quarterfinal (7:30pm ET, FS1). If the U.S. staff is profitable, it should face the winner of Panama and Jamaica within the semifinal on July 3 in Nashville.
Listed here are some ideas on the sport.
Midfield lacked dynamic play
The U.S. staff’s midfield didn’t work effectively collectively. Wil Trapp wasn’t in a position to make use of his passing vary to interrupt down the sport and his off the ball motion wasn’t nice. Christian Roldan struggled make efficient performs. Panama felt snug sitting again after some time.
Djordje Mihailovic was the perfect of the bunch within the midfield and he rebounded from a poor displaying within the pre-Gold Cup friendlies. Mihailovic continues to be younger at 20 and is way from being an influence participant on this staff however it’s definitely attainable for him become a pleasant participant over time.
Of the participant on the roster, Bradley, McKennie and Pulisic are clearly the primary alternative but when McKennie have been to get suspended (as he’s carrying a yellow card), Mihailovic can be the higher alternative possibility at this level.
The shortage of depth proper now on this roster is alarming and transferring ahead it is going to be fascinating to see which gamers Berhalter works into the staff. Fortuitously for him there are alternatives in Jackson Yueill, Duane Holmes, and Paxton Pomykal all seeking to take a job with Sebastian Lletget now additionally wholesome after his current harm.
Gonzalez’s footspeed is a serious legal responsibility
Panama didn’t have a lot by the use of assault however no matter probabilities it did have appeared to come back from getting right into a foot race with Omar Gonzalez and exploiting his lack of velocity. It was one of many principal the explanation why Panama sat again so far as it did – it gave them their greatest probability on offense when it comes to more room to get after Gonzalez.
Fortuitously for the U.S. staff, Matt Miazga had a pointy sport and the Walker Zimmerman/Aaron Lengthy tandem was helpful earlier within the event. Gonzalez clearly seems just like the fourth again on this roster and will fall additional again when John Brooks is wholesome. It’s not clear how Gonzalez although is forward of different choices like Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, Miles Robinson, or Erik Palmer-Brown who’re all having excellent seasons.
What have been the positives?
Total, Matt Miazga was simply a optimistic for the U.S. staff. Panama wasn’t creating many probabilities however Maizga was competent in dealing with every thing that got here his method. He was additionally useful in masking for Gonzalez on a number of probabilities.
Loads of the higher performances from the U.S. staff on the day got here from gamers who have been helpful in some areas however missing in others. Nonetheless, nevertheless, it ended up being a internet optimistic.
Reggie Cannon, 21, is an effective instance. The younger proper again was defensively sound and was each athletic and powerful to deal with Panama’s attackers. Getting ahead, he was good sufficient to make good runs and keep away from dangerous turnovers. However the FC Dallas product lacked a last cross that would have opened up the sport.
Searching for extra alternatives like this within the 2nd half??????pic.twitter.com/09yInVRT3X
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) June 27, 2019
Winger Jonathan Lewis was additionally very energetic along with his velocity and dribbling to get touches behind the protection and within the last third. Like Cannon, his last ball was missing in a number of areas though generally his teammates weren’t making the perfect runs both.
Till his well-taken objective, Jozy Altidore was enjoying effectively in his motion within the field however his shot let him down twice within the first half from harmful areas.
Jozy Altidore in #USAvPAN:
-Bicycle kick for profitable objective -4 pictures (most)-2 pictures on course (most)-3 fouls received (most)-10/12 passes-Good maintain up play-Robust in bodily duels-Battled arduous vs Machado
Second of brilliance. Stable efficiency. Man of the Match.#USMNT ???????????? pic.twitter.com/yl3i8YHy3W
— Joga Bonito (@Jasoninho10) June 27, 2019
Looking forward to Curacao
Curacao is the Cinderella story of the Gold Cup however when their roster, they’ve gamers who’ve performed for respectable golf equipment. The staff shouldn’t be taken evenly and it’s enjoying assured soccer.
Anticipate Berhalter to roll with an identical lineup to the primary two video games though he has a number of questions to contemplate. Weston McKennie is carrying a yellow card and a yellow towards Curacao would see him suspended for the semifinal. A yellow within the semifinal, nevertheless, wouldn’t have him suspended for the ultimate.
One other query for Berhalter is up prime. Did Jozy Altidore do sufficient to interchange Gyasi Zardes? Lastly, Matt Miazga performed effectively towards Curacao, however did he do sufficient to interchange both Aaron Lengthy or Walker Zimmerman from the primary two video games.
However regardless, the win over Panama on Wednesday wasn’t fairly but it surely obtained the job completed and the U.S. staff was in management, regardless of not producing practically sufficient probabilities at it might. Now with lots of its prime gamers rested, it’s in good condition heading into the knockouts.
