ASN: Breaking down the U.S. U-20’s 1-0 World Cup opening win over Ecuador & a glance in direction of Fiji

The US posted an exciting 1-0 win over Ecuador to open their 2023 U-20 World Cup marketing campaign. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta breaks down the sport along with his ideas plus he provides a glance forward in direction of the second recreation towards Fiji on Tuesday.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
Might 22, 2023
9:05 AM

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THE UNITED STATES U-20 nationwide crew delivered a dramatic 1-0 victory over Ecuador on Saturday within the crew’s 2023 U-20 World Cup opener. The ninetieth minute objective from Jonathan Gomez gave the U.S. crew three factors and within the driver’s seat to probably end first atop Group B.

Whereas the winner was not delivered till late, the U.S. crew deserved the victory primarily based on the steadiness of play. The U.S. crew total managed possession by a 56-44 edge. The crew had extra pictures (11-8) and extra pictures on the right track (5-0) than Ecuador.

However within the second minute of stoppage time, Gomez delivered this beautiful winner to formally give the U.S. crew all the factors.

Jonathan Gomez’s beautiful winner. Assisted by Owen Wolff. Helpful holdup play by Darren Yapi pic.twitter.com/fn3ofcp0Ob

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) Might 20, 2023

A victory over Ecuador is simply what the U.S. crew wanted because the crew is closely favored for its second recreation towards Fiji on Tuesday. Head coach Mikey Varas will now be capable to proceed to rotate his squad with a watch in direction of the knockouts.

Listed below are some ideas on the U.S. U-20 win.

Varas’ choices repay
 

In naming the roster for this event and in naming his first beginning lineup, Varas has taken plenty of possibilities, or calculated dangers. Almost all the things has paid off effectively.

For one, the choice to enter the group stage shorthanded (holding roster spots open for Rokas Pukstas and Kevin Paredes whereas understanding Cade Cowell was suspended for the opener) knowingly put the U.S. crew in a tricky place for the primary recreation. This was enhanced as a result of Michael Halliday’s late arrival on Thursday evening as a result of him being an harm alternative.

 But when the U.S. crew can deal with Fiji, it’s going to have six factors from two video games with the restricted roster. Varas can now put together for the reinforcements and rotate his squad accordingly. The dangers will certainly have paid off. Varas might have gone with second alternative gamers who would have been obtainable from the beginning. However in taking the chance, he will likely be rewarded with prime gamers quickly.

But it surely wasn’t simply electing to go along with a shorthanded roster. Varas made different key choices that labored.

For one, with Mauricio Cuevas injured and Halliday a late arrival, Varas might have gone with Che at proper again after which loaded the left aspect with Caleb Wiley and Gomez. However Varas elected to place Gomez at proper again – which is a place he very hardly ever performs. However this allowed Gomez to chop into the center of the sphere along with his stronger left foot. That’s precisely why Gomez was in a position to rating the objective – reducing into the center from the correct aspect for a left-footed volley.

There was additionally the choice to start out teenager Obed Vargas in defensive midfield over crew captain Daniel Edelman. Vargas, who’s taking part in up a cycle, had a superb recreation and even saved a objective within the second half when he intercepted a move close to the objective line that was prone to be simply tapped in.

Owen Wollf was additionally fading within the second half and appeared to be an choice to be subbed out. However Wolff remained within the recreation and assisted on Gomez’s winner with a well-hit cross area move.

The defensive formation with Joshua Wynder, Brandan Craig, and Justin Che was one thing that the U.S. crew has not used a lot this cycle however Varas rolled with it within the World Cup opener and it achieved its two important objectives – it received the fullbacks additional up the sphere, and it saved a clear sheet.

No main weaknesses
 

If there was one large takeaway from the U.S. crew’s opening recreation, it’s that nobody performed poorly. Some gamers did higher than others, however nobody had a foul recreation.

Gomez was the apparent man of the match. It wasn’t simply his objective, he had a stable and full recreation. Defensively, he tracked again. Offensively, he pushed the ball into the ultimate third.

Vargas was spectacular for his World Cup opener regardless of taking part in up a cycle and lacking the second half of 2022 with a again harm. That is the place a number of the large recreation expertise he has acquired in Seattle has helped him at such a younger age. Final Might, he performed significant minutes for Seattle in successful the CONCACAF Champions League at simply 16 years previous.

In an interview with ASN in March, Varas stated he believes Vargas has a future with the total nationwide crew. Who is aware of when he will likely be able to make that soar, however you possibly can see why it’s cheap to suppose that in some unspecified time in the future sooner or later, he’ll be capable to make that soar.

Caleb Wiley was higher within the second half. He is likely one of the most intriguing prospects on this crew and prone to be probably the most closely scouted U.S. gamers in Argentina. He didn’t have an important recreation towards Ecuador however he was ok to be efficient. Ecuador needed to pay plenty of consideration to him on the left aspect and a faster shot on his play within the second half the place he moved in alone on the keeper ought to have resulted in a objective.

Luna’s function
 

Probably the most fascinating gamers for the U.S. crew on the day was Diego Luna. The Actual Salt Lake playmaker was clearly a handful for Ecuador. He labored laborious to win balls, create hazard, and to simply be a menace to the South American opponents.

However Luna generally missed clear passes along with his head down, he overdribbled within the attacking third, and he ought to have been in a position to end not less than considered one of his three golden alternatives. He’s an “X-factor” kind of participant. It’s not at all times good, nevertheless it actually is beneficial when a participant can fluster the opponents like Luna. He was an enormous function of taking Ecuador out of their rhythm and away from their gameplan.

With Cade Cowell returning towards Fiji and Paredes returning after the group phases, it is perhaps powerful for Luna to start out. However he’s going to proceed to be a helpful possibility for Varas in Argentina.

Midfield confidence

One other large takeaway from this recreation is that the midfield was extraordinarily proactive on this recreation. From the opening whistle, the U.S. crew didn’t appear content material to merely have the ball and move it round. The midfield was at all times seeking to play it ahead and make attacking passes as shortly as doable. Ecuador appeared slightly shocked.

Vargas performed effectively. Jack McGlynn did at instances and Wolff was there on the finish. It was the kind of outing the place if you’re doing match rankings, none of them rating very excessive individually, however as a unit they have been efficient and managed the sport.

The Yapi impact

The ultimate level from this recreation is on Darren Yapi who entered the sport within the sixty fifth minute for the U.S. crew. What Yapi does is present the U.S. crew with a totally completely different look. All through a lot of the cycle, Varas has opted to not use a No. 9 as a result of he hasn’t been happy along with his choices. As a substitute, he has gone with a “false No. 9” method. Yapi emerged in 2023 with a robust preseason with Colorado and was a late inclusion into this roster.

He has an vital function. When he got here into this recreation, the texture of the U.S. crew’s assault modified. Having an enormous, athletic, and robust presence up prime threw Ecuador off. Yapi was removed from good. He had some heavy touches and a few unfastened passes, however he helped create openings for his teammates. His hold-up play on the objective was important.

It stays to be seen if Varas is comfy with Yapi beginning large video games. However Yapi might very effectively be an vital bench possibility each time Varas needs to alter the crew’s assault and throw the opponent’s protection off.

Fiji on Tuesday

The U.S. will return to the sphere on Tuesday to tackle Fiji. Fiji is taken into account one of many minnows of the event and misplaced its opener to Slovakia 4-0 (Fiji was fortunate the rating was not a lot worse).

Varas will most likely look to rotate the squad as a lot as doable and he could have two extra choices at his disposal with Cowell’s suspension over and Halliday now settled in Argentina.

In central protection, holding Wynder within the beginning lineup is sensible since he picked up a yellow card towards Ecuador and resting him (or having him suspended ought to he choose up a subsequent yellow towards Fiji) towards Slovakia is sensible to maintain him eligible for the spherical of 16. Markus Fekranus will most likely be helpful to rotate into the crew within the again. On the fullbacks, Varas should make decisions and it would contain holding one of many starters vs. Ecuador – though Halliday beginning on the correct is sensible.

Within the midfield, Tsakiris and Edelman ought to be rested and able to go though Varas should seemingly fill out the midfield with one of many starters towards Ecuador.

Up prime, Yapi may very well be helpful on this recreation and shouldn’t be too drained. Cowell looks as if a secure wager to start out whereas persevering with to maintain Luna within the crew might deliver a component Fiji can’t deal with.

The U.S. crew must press Fiji laborious and the strain might take them out of their gameplan. They don’t have the talent to play by means of a tricky press and can seemingly both flip it over or boot it lengthy. From there, the U.S. crew might want to win aerials and get the ball ahead to maintain Fiji on their again foot.

As at all times, the important thing towards a minnow is to attain early to crush any hope of an upset. If the U.S. does that, they need to be heading into the Slovakia recreation with six factors.