ASN: Brad and Bradley Lead the Manner for U.S. vs. Panama

The brand new No. 1 goalkeeper and the brand new captain helped the U.S. get a consequence towards Panama final night time. Timothy Chandler, nonetheless, gave a efficiency he shall be wanting to overlook. 

BY

Blake Thomsen

Posted
July 14, 2015
8:10 AM

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STARTERS

Brad Guzan: Guzan has usually impressed for the U.S., and this was a fair higher efficiency than common. There was nothing he might do on Blas Perez’s opener, and except for that, he was completely excellent towards Panama. It began with a pointy response save from Ventura Alvarado’s unintentional own-goal effort. After a collection of stable stops all through the primary half, he saved the sport for the People within the seventy fifth minute, denying a swift Panamanian counter with a giant left hand. The drop-off between Tim Howard and Guzan is nearly non-existent today. Ranking: 7

Timothy Chandler: Whew. As soon as upon a time—2013 towards Honduras, to be particular—on an oppressively scorching day in San Pedro Sula, Timmy Chandler turned in one of many worst performances the U.S. nationwide workforce has ever seen. This, on one other extremely popular day, was scarcely higher. Some will name for Chandler’s head. They’ll say he ought to by no means play for the U.S. once more. I’m not a kind of folks. What I’m, although, is a person with a easy sufficient message for Jurgen Klinsmann: by no means, ever play Timmy “Frosty the Snowman” Chandler on a scorching day. Simply don’t do it. There are many serviceable proper backs. The U.S. doesn’t want a puddle in that place anytime the thermometer strikes above 85 levels. Ranking: 2.5

Ventura Alvarado: The younger Mexican-American bought off to a shaky begin, almost scoring an personal purpose through a deflected nook. Minutes later, his night time bought far worse, the place he did his greatest Statue of Liberty impression whereas marking a Panamanian ahead, who then squared for Perez to attain. After that, Alvarado seemed significantly better, delivering a collection of vital challenges, highlighted by a crisp slide sort out within the 89th minute after Frosty Chandler misplaced his man down the suitable flank. In sum, he’s bought potential, however he wants to remain sharp for 90 minutes, which sounds lots like the man teen who performed subsequent to him within the center. Ranking: 5

John Brooks: As hinted within the earlier part, Brooks was fairly up and down in a efficiency that felt lots like most of his video games in a U.S. shirt. There was the great (a collection of sturdy clearing headers), the unhealthy (dodgy marking on Panama’s purpose), and the good, an outrageous restoration slide sort out that seemed like a sure crimson card when he left his toes and ended with a squeaky clear dispossession. Brooks wants a number of lengthy classes on the Matt Besler Faculty of Sound Defending, however goodness does he have potential. Ranking: 5.5

Fabian Johnson: Johnson has the sort of easy “cool” issue that all of us attempt for in our each day lives, and he introduced that swagger with him into this relentlessly bodily encounter. Want an enormous block on the road to maintain Panama from leaping out to an early lead? Johnson’s there. How about some stylish dribbling and passes to get out of hassle? Johnson has that, too. It wasn’t his most dynamic sport in assault, but it surely was a really stable exhibiting from begin to end. Ranking: 6

Kyle Beckerman: Beckerman is often glorious in a U.S. shirt, however he didn’t fairly have it tonight. Just a few too many passes went astray, and he wasn’t his sometimes dependable display in entrance of the again 4. A late left-footed blast from distance went shut, however the higher possibility was most likely a move to a streaking Michael Bradley. Ranking: 5

Alejandro Bedoya: Time and time once more, the U.S. is simply higher with this man on the sphere. In his first sport in two months following a knee concern picked up at Nantes, Bedoya delivered a classic well-rounded efficiency, contributing everywhere in the subject earlier than he was withdrawn for Aron Johannsson. His sharp help to Bradley helped degree the rating, and his composed passing and hard defending was a boon to the U.S. all through. He additionally might have drawn a crimson card on the finish of his surging run late within the first half. Welcome again, Mr. Bedoya. Ranking: 7

Alfredo Morales: Morales didn’t do an entire lot that stood out, which, to be sincere, is a standard sufficient critique on his sport. Generally that’s a great factor, however on this encounter, the U.S. wanted extra from him in possession. The halftime hook for DeAndre Yedlin was a bit harsh, however not wholly undeserved. Ranking: 5

Michael Bradley: Bradley is enjoying at such a excessive degree today that it’s virtually jarring when he misplaces a move. He did that towards Panama a number of extra instances than common, however that ought to do little to overshadow his glorious purpose and common contributions to the U.S. assault. And to this observer, his health may be downright majestic. Watch the U.S. gamers because the clock ticks towards the final ten minutes. Depend what number of instances you see a participant make a real dash. Chances are high, MB90 makes greater than the remainder of workforce mixed, even the subs—sure, we’re taking a look at you and that brutal late trackback, Clint Dempsey. Ranking: 7.5

Gyasi Zardes: The L.A. Galaxy striker didn’t ship any decisive moments, however even with that stated, it’s not arduous to see why Klinsmann charges him so extremely. His athleticism and vitality are welcome additions to the U.S. facet, and on one other night time he might have drawn a penalty off his membership teammate Jaime Penedo. Ranking: 5.5

Chris Wondolowski: Wondo didn’t provide a ton by way of hold-up play—he not often does—however there have been sufficient high quality touches to warrant his staying on the sphere past halftime. The stunning dinked by means of ball to Bedoya stands out, and for that alone, he stands as an unfortunate sufferer of Klinsmann’s halftime adjustments. With that stated, it’s arduous to argue that the Dempsey substitute didn’t enhance the U.S.’s efficiency. Ranking: 5.5

SUBSTITUTES

Clint Dempsey: Nowadays, Dempsey is a participant outlined extra by shiny standalone moments than constant 90-minute influence, and we noticed extra of that towards Panama. He light out of the sport at instances, however his outrageous move to Bedoya was essential within the U.S. purpose, and his nifty again heel to set Bradley off on the counter within the sixty fourth minute offered one other reminder of simply how a lot talent he has. Ranking: 6

DeAndre Yedlin: Yedlin is a once-in-a-generation athlete, and he flew everywhere in the subject in his 45 minutes. He wasn’t in a position to contribute any moments of magic to the assault, however he was immense in slowing Panama down, particularly on a late restoration dash to bail out Chandler down the U.S. proper. Ranking: 6

Aron Johannsson: Johannsson made a number of harmful darting runs, however he wasn’t on the sphere for fairly lengthy sufficient to get himself a very harmful probability in entrance of purpose. Ranking: Incomplete

THE COACH

Jurgen Klinsmann: In entrance of a superb pro-U.S. crowd in Kansas Metropolis, the U.S. was not remotely ok… once more. The U.S. was closely outshot for the third straight sport. The Yanks bought away with it towards Honduras and Haiti, and escaped with a draw towards Panama. However play this manner towards Costa Rica or Mexico, and the U.S. can count on not only a loss, however a humiliation. Ranking: 4 

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