ASN: Dynamic Colombian Squad Overruns U.S., Wins 2-0

In entrance of a sellout crowd of 67,439 in Levi’s Stadium, Colombia defeated the US on first-half objectives from Cristian Zapata and James Rodriquez to say the primary victory of Copa America Centenario.

BY

John Godfrey

Posted
June 03, 2016
11:40 PM

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SANTA CLARA, Calif.—Jurgen Klinsmann’s U.S. males’s nationwide staff proved that it may win back-to-back friendlies in opposition to South American groups up to now week, however on Friday evening the Individuals confirmed that they weren’t fairly prepared for a dynamic Colombian staff in a full worldwide contest.

The guests scored two first-half objectives and fought off a hard-working however tactically unimaginative U.S. facet to win the Copa America Centenario opener, 2-0.

“We were absolutely OK with the team performance,” Klinsmann stated within the post-game press convention. “Clearly we acquired punished with two set items within the first half after which in opposition to a high quality staff it’s very troublesome to get again into the sport.

“The message overall is positive to the players even if they are obviously disappointed that we didn’t get any points. We had a totally even game here.”

Klinsmann despatched his males out in a 4-3-3 formation, with Michael Bradley positioned within the middle of midfield and in entrance of the again 4. Jermaine Jones and Alejandro Bedoya flanked the U.S. captain, and the entrance line featured Bobby Wooden, Clint Dempsey, and Gyasi Zardes.

Colombia’s beginning lineup included 4 gamers from Italy’s Serie A, most notably AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca, and the famous person of the staff, captain James Rodriguez, who performs his membership soccer for Actual Madrid. 

On paper, Colombia had the clear benefit: The South Individuals are ranked third on the earth, and at Thursday’s press convention U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann listed Los Cafeteros as one of many favorites to win Copa America Centenario.

The 2 groups have performed 17 occasions in all, with Colombia successful 10 and shedding simply three. Of their final assembly, a 2014 pleasant performed at Craven Cottage in London, the Individuals jumped out to an early lead however finally fell 2-1. The U.S. final beat Colombia 12 years in the past, a 3-0 win at Titan Stadium in Fullerton, Calif. 

The sport was chippy early, and it was the Individuals doling out a lot of the punishment. Bacca, particularly, appeared to have a bullseye on his again, as U.S. defenders Geoff Cameron and John Brooks laid into the striker at each flip. Mexican referee Roberto Garcia swallowed his whistle within the early going, and each groups ramped up the rugged play.

Whereas the US was attempting to set the tone with physicality, Colombia appeared extra intent on scoring. And within the eighth minute, it did. After successful a nook kick, Colombia’s Edwin Cordona delivered a harmful ball into the middle of the penalty space. Cristian Zapata broke free from his marker, Cameron, and despatched a low screamer previous Guzan to present the guests an early lead. The sizeable contingent of yellow-clad Colombia followers—they appeared to outnumber U.S. followers—erupted in cheers.

Each groups demonstrated the flexibility to own the ball by way of the midfield, string collectively a dozen or extra passes, and steadily push into the opponents’ third of the sector. When the U.S. closed in on David Ospina’s purpose, nonetheless, it ran out of concepts and finally turned the ball over.

Dempsey drew a collection of fouls a couple of yards outdoors the Colombian penalty space however not one of the ensuing free kicks got here shut. The Yanks’ greatest probability of the half additionally got here from Dempsey, as he mixed properly with Gyasi Zardes and blasted a left-footed shot from 25 yards out that flew simply huge of the upright. The Individuals completed the primary half with out a single shot on purpose. 

Colombia, then again, turned its possessions into scoring alternatives—a number of, professional, gasp-worthy scoring probabilities. It was solely by way of some determined defending that the Individuals remained inside placing distance on the 40-minute mark. 

After which, within the forty first minute, the sport tilted on a questionable referee resolution.

Working down the proper flank, Colombian midfielder Carlos Sanchez tried a relatively innocuous cross. His marker, DeAndre Yedlin, stood simply contained in the penalty space and turned his again as Sanchez’ struck the ball. The ball hit Yedlin within the hand and Garcia instantly blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot.

To the shock of completely nobody, Rodriguez claimed the penalty kick and delivered a magnificence—a left-footed rocket into the facet netting that despatched Brad Guzan sprawling in the other way.

The primary half ended with Colombia forward 2-0, and the U.S. determined to generate some creativity in offense.

“Obviously the penalty decision was a major point in this game,” Klinsmann stated. “But it is what it is. You cannot change it anymore. He gave the penalty. He didn’t give any in the second half on Clint. But that’s the referee’s decision.”

The coach didn’t make any modifications throughout intermission, and for the primary dozen or so minutes of the second interval the Individuals performed with out a lot power or ambition. Nevertheless, a near-miss on a 59th-minute nook kick appeared to rejuvenate the Individuals. 

With Michael Bradley delivering from the nook flag, Dempsey broke free and headed the cross to the bottom-left nook of Ospina’s purpose. Sadly for the U.S., defender Sebastian Perez cleared the ball off the road with a sliding block. 

The Yanks ramped up the stress and maintained possession within the Colombian half, securing one other nook and a number of other spot kicks and, at the very least for a couple of moments, taking the got here to the South Individuals. Within the sixty fourth minute, Dempsey blasted a picture-perfect free kick across the Colombian wall and towards the higher nook of the purpose. Bobby Wooden raised his arms in exaltation, anticipating the ball to go in. However Ospina denied the Seattle Sounders striker with a leaping save.

This might not be the Yanks’ day.

Maybe resigned to the truth that his Beginning XI was not going to place one previous Colombia, Klinsmann introduced on Darlington Nagbe and Christian Pulisic within the sixty fourth minute. The 2 offense-first midfielders changed Jermaine Jones, who gave a ragged efficiency, and Bobby Wooden, who was ineffectual at greatest. 

In friendlies in opposition to Ecuador and Bolivia, Nagbe and Pulisic made a direct impression. In an official worldwide competitors in opposition to the third-best staff on the earth, they didn’t.

Colombia got here inside a whisker of including to its lead within the 77th minute when Bacca slid previous John Brooks’ offside lure and closed in on Guzan’s purpose, however his right-footed shot slammed off the crossbar.

Regardless of quite a few late makes an attempt at purpose, the Individuals couldn’t remedy the Colombian protection and dropped the Copa America Centenario opener by a 2-0 rating.

The Individuals will now fly to Chicago to face Costa Rica on Tuesday (8pm ET; FS1, UniMas, UDN) at Soldier Discipline. Colombia will play Paraguay on the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., additionally on Tuesday.

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John Godfrey is the founder and editor in chief of American Soccer Now.