ASN: Bunker Backfires Badly, U.S. Defeated by Ukraine, 3-0

Quite than construct on its spectacular 4-0 win over New Zealand, Tab Ramos’ U.S. U-20 performed it protected towards the Ukraine, and suffered a demoralizing loss within the course of. The Yanks completed second in Group A.

BY

John Godfrey

Posted
June 05, 2015
8:40 AM

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THE UNITED STATES MEN’S UNDER-20 TEAM did not must win Friday morning towards the Ukraine—Tab Ramos’ males had already punched their ticket to the knockout spherical of the World Cup and solely required a draw to complete atop Group A.

Nonetheless, after victories over Myanmar and New Zealand—neither group what you’d name a world energy—a constructive consequence towards a confirmed European facet would have validated the People’ efforts in New Zealand.

Um, nope.

Vicktor Kovalenko scored three second-half objectives and the Ukraine completely dismantled a surprisingly timid U.S. facet, 3-0.

Though the sport remained scoreless by the opening 45, you possibly can see hassle brewing for the People from the onset. Ramos, maybe searching for the draw he wanted to win the group, rested his greatest attacker, Rubio Rubin, and positioned Bradford Jamieson alone up prime in a 4-5-1 formation. (The lineup card might have mentioned “4-4-2”; it was not.) The slender Los Angeles Galaxy ahead struggled badly within the function. 

A Ben Spencer or Andrija Novakovich might have been capable of man the goal ahead place with some success however neither is with the U.S. U-20 group at this event. A feisty Maki Tall might need, too, however he’s injured and can miss the remainder of the World Cup. As an alternative, Jamieson was tasked to play a task he’s ill-suited for and the rugged Ukrainian defenders dispossessed him simply.

With no approach to alleviate the Ukraine’s midfield stress, the People spent the primary interval defending in their very own half. 

Why the U.S. elected to cede all possession to the Ukrainians is a thriller, however the Yanks didn’t play a high-pressure sport and their opponents walked the ball over the middle stripe repeatedly and with impunity. The bunker-and-counter gambit saved the sport scoreless by the primary half, nevertheless it additionally appeared to demoralize a gaggle of gamers who like to assault with the ball at their ft.

The sport tilted on its axis within the 56th minute when Cameron Carter-Vickers gently nudged Kovalenko 20 yards away from aim within the middle of the pitch. Shrewdly, or maybe cynically, the 19-year-old Shakhtar Donetsk attacker went to floor and referee Eric Otogo-Castane known as for a free kick. Kovalenko then lifted a stupendous strike over the US’ four-man wall and positioned it within the left nook of aim, simply past a diving-yet-helpless Zack Steffen.

In spite of everything of that passive play, the U.S. nonetheless trailed 1-0 and now needed to change gears to get again into the match. 

Two minutes later, it almost did.

U.S. midfielder Jordan Allen was dribbling down the left facet of the Ukraine penalty space when he appeared to slide and fall. Otogo-Castane inexplicably known as a penalty on the play, and it regarded as if the undeserving People have been going to be degree once more.

Solely it did not work out that means. Captain Emerson Hyndman stepped as much as take the penalty however his poorly positioned, waist-high shot didn’t hassle Ukrainian goalkeeper Bohdan Sarnavskyi, who batted it away simply.

If the U.S. was going to get a consequence and win the group, it was going to should earn it. And the group by no means got here near doing so.

Stunning completely nobody, Ramos’ males instantly started to push ahead in numbers, taking probabilities within the attacking half and opening up house within the again. The Ukrainians simply absorbed the stress, countered, and scored simple objectives within the 74th and 79th minutes.

With 5 objectives in three matches, Kovalenko leads all scorers within the event.

Hyndman and Gedion Zelalem, who regarded improbable towards New Zealand just a few days prior, couldn’t impose their will on the competition. The explosive Rubin, who got here in on the 67th minute mark, by no means received untracked. With Matt Miazga on the bench, the protection lacked the cohesiveness it had displayed beforehand.

Solely Paul Arriola managed to make a constructive impression, pushing ahead with tempo and vitality at each flip. 

It wasn’t almost sufficient, nonetheless, and the People should marvel if they need to have attacked the Ukrainians and performed for the win quite than attempting to eke out a draw.

With the Spherical of 16 up subsequent, the US will face the second seed from Group C, to be determined tomorrow: Colombia, Portugal, or Senegal. 

John Godfrey is the founder and editor in chief of American Soccer Now. He tweets about soccer right here.