ASN: Evaluation: USMNT begins Gold Cup with lackluster 1-0 win vs. Haiti

It wasn’t fairly – and it hardly ever ever is within the group levels of the Gold Cup – however the U.S. crew opened the 2021 event with a 1-0 win over Haiti on Sunday evening. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta appears the lackluster win together with his ideas on who performed effectively, who did not, why the crew struggled, and what are the teachings shifting ahead. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
July 12, 2021
5:05 AM

SHARE THIS STORY

THE UNITED STATES MEN’S nationwide crew opened the 2021 Gold Cup with a 1-0 victory over Haiti in what was finally a disappointing efficiency, regardless of incomes three factors. There win was most likely a really helpful studying expertise for Gregg Berhalter and it’ll now however as much as him, his employees, and the gamers to discover a answer.

The sport opened in frantic tempo with each groups having loads of open house. However after the primary 5 minutes, the U.S. crew started to take management and took the lead within the eighth minute when Shaq Moore hit a brief cross into the field, Gyazi Zardes clipped the low cross up and it was headed dwelling simply by Sam Vines.

Within the 14th minute, the U.S. crew suffered a troublesome setback when Paul Arriola was compelled out of the sport with a hamstring concern on a play down the fitting facet. He was changed by Niko Gioacchini.

After the twentieth minute, nevertheless, Haiti started to search out its manner into the sport and the U.S. crew merely allowed an excessive amount of house within the midfield. This allowed Haiti to sometimes get into the assault dangerously – both lacking the web with a shot forcing Matt Turner right into a save.

The second half was much like the primary. The U.S. crew improved within the sixtieth minute when Gianluca Busio changed Jackson Yueill and Daryl Dike changed Jonathan Lewis. Minutes after these subs, Gioacchini hit the publish and Busio compelled an enormous save from Haiti’s goalkeeper Bryan Sylvestre.

Whereas the U.S. crew was extra harmful on the day it nonetheless didn’t capitalize on its probability and take Haiti out of the sport. This allowed Haiti to develop into the sport at occasions and have extra probabilities than it ought to have.

Listed here are some ideas on the sport.

Midfield passing okay, protection a difficulty

The U.S. crew’s midfield was really good with passing and in possession – notably as soon as Busio got here on. Sebastian Lletget was an ideal 69/69 with passing, was not dispossessed, and had 4 key passes (passes which arrange a teammate’s shot). Kellyn Acosta was 53/57 in passing and was most likely the U.S. crew’s greatest participant on the day. Jackson Yueill struggled together with his protection and allowed to a lot house. As soon as Busio got here on, he was additionally very sturdy together with his passing – and was 28/31.

It made a very good case that the highest beginning midfield trio on the crew needs to be Acosta, Lleget, and Busio who had been a mixed 150/157 in passing.

The issue for the U.S. crew, notably with Yueill, was the shortcoming to shut down on the opposition and win the ball again rapidly. Haiti’s midfield had an excessive amount of time and house to select passes to play the ball into harmful positions.

Lack of wing presence

A giant purpose for the U.S. crew solely scoring one purpose on this sport was the dearth of wing play. Jonathan Lewis had a very robust first half and was not an efficient outlet and attacking performs down his facet usually went missing. Arriola’s harm actually damage the U.S. crew’s trigger as he is likely one of the few pure wingers.

Nicholas Gioacchini had some good moments however was put in a troublesome place as a first-half substitute. He ought to have scored within the second half, however hit the publish as an alternative. Haiti did effectively to restrict his touches after the left facet was contained.

With Cannon additionally coping with hamstring points, Dike not at 100%, and now Arriola with hamstring points – accidents are already a priority

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) July 12, 2021

This sport mirrored the U.S. crew’s lack of depth on the wings for this event. Arriola is comfy as a winger however he’s damage. Jonathan Lewis nonetheless isn’t a daily starter for Colorado whereas Nicholas Gioacchini and Matthew Hoppe are extra comfy within the No. 9 place.

So when the U.S. midfield was capable of cross and possess effectively, why weren’t extra probabilities generated? Plenty of that’s because of the wingers failing to step up and never being the wanted outlet. Haiti’s protection wasn’t stretched and was capable of stay compact.

Central protection fairly good

A optimistic to remove from this sport is that the central protection pairing of Walker Zimmerman and Miles Robinson was fairly good. It wasn’t a simple job both when the midfield usually yielded an excessive amount of house and the fullbacks had been generally caught up discipline, however Zimmerman is a distinctive within the air and his distribution was stable. Robinson, in the meantime, has distinctive athleticism that may cowl up his errors and the errors of others.

If Robinson and Zimmerman can get protection assist, the U.S. crew might be robust to attain on.

Studying Classes/shifting forward

It was a troublesome sport however one which, at the least, provided some clear studying classes for Gregg Berhalter – largely concerning the two greatest weaknesses within the sport for the U.S. crew: 1) Insufficient winger participant and a pair of) protection within the midfield.

A giant query Berhalter will wish to ask himself is tips on how to alter to wingers being a weak spot on this crew. Will he wish to proceed to insert wingers right into a 4-3-3 even via the wingers out there aren’t essentially wingers? Or will he wish to alter to a unique formation?

He may strive the 3-5-2 formation with wingbacks and two middle forwards or he may strive a variation of the 4-4-2 (probably a slender diamond) that will try to have the crew transfer up the center.

To this point in his teaching tenure, Berhalter has been reluctant to make use of a formation with two middle forwards – however on this event, this roster appears greatest for that. It appears extra possible that the wingback formation would have a greater probability of getting used since he’s tried it now within the Nations League ultimate in opposition to Mexico (efficiently) and in opposition to Northern Eire in a March pleasant win. This is able to permit Sam Vines and Shaq Moore (or Reggie Cannon) to push ahead into the assault whereas having defensive cowl.

As for defensive midfield, that’s an issue for the total U.S. crew every time Tyler Adams isn’t wholesome. It’s a full crew effort and it may possibly’t simply be Kellyn Acosta, both. Cristian Roldan hasn’t at all times been nice for the U.S. crew however he sometimes works actually onerous on the defensive facet and its having a robust season. A four-player midfield (which is unusual for Behalter) with Busio, Roldan, Acosta, and Lletget would stability offense and protection however can be with out wingers.

There isn’t an excellent answer. The crew clearly has some particular person expertise however there are some clear holes.

Participant Scores

The Beginning Lineup

Matt Turner: The New Jersey native was a very good shot stopper however was very nervy with the ball at his ft. Score: 6.0

Sam Vines: The Colorado left again took his purpose effectively however was caught up discipline on multiple event. He didn’t mix successfully with Jonathan Lewis – which was unusual on condition that they’re membership teammates. He accomplished his passes effectively, however extra was wanted defensively. Score: 6.0

Walker Zimmerman: efficiency from Zimmerman in central protection who anchored his backline effectively. He was dominant within the air, was 80/85 passing, 3/6 with lengthy balls, and 4/5 in duels gained. He needed to cowl up for the dearth of defensive presence within the midfield. Score: 7.0

Miles Robinson: The Atlanta United central defender wasn’t as polished as Zimmerman within the backline however his athleticism within the backline helped. Score: 6.0

Shaq Moore: In a sport that cap-tied him to the USMNT, the Tenerife proper again had a really stable sport at proper again – shifting into the assault successfully, combining with teammates, and monitoring again. Recognized for his crosses, he must be slightly higher there however general it was a very good outing. Score: 6.5

Jackson Yueill: Just a few good moments weren’t capable of cover-up with what was a poor outing defensively from Yueill who allowed an excessive amount of house, put an excessive amount of stress on the U.S. backline, and allowed Haiti with an excessive amount of time on the ball. Score: 4.0

Kellyn Acosta: One of many few shiny spots for the U.S. crew. Acosta was very lively within the midfield, his passing appeared to open up the U.S. crew’s most harmful probabilities. He had a nasty turnover within the second half, which compelled him into selecting up a yellow card. However general, was stable. Score: 7.0

Sebastian Lletget: The LA Galaxy midfielder didn’t make any errors, however he wasn’t as dynamic as wanted. He was an ideal 69/69 passing, was dispossessed 0 occasions, and had 4 key passes. He actually wasn’t dangerous however he didn’t have any moments that broke the sport open both. Whereas he may have had an help with higher ending, he didn’t dominate both – and a part of that was made lots tougher with out wing choices. Score: 6.5

Jonathan Lewis: A really robust sport for Lewis who was unable to make something harmful occur. He made tougher for the midfield to get entangled. Score: 4.0

Paul Arriola: The DC United winger began off decently however was subbed out within the 14th minute with a hamstring harm. Score: NR

Gyasi Zardes: The veteran ahead was efficient in hold-up play for the U.S. crew and compelled a save within the first half. He was a bit on an island with wingers struggling. Score: 6.0

The Substitutes

Nicholas Gioacchini: It was a troublesome place for Gioacchini to return into the sport early within the first half. He labored onerous and did some good issues in his 62 minutes. He musted 4 photographs, hit the body as soon as, drew three fouls, and gained 5 out of eight duels. Alternatively, he solely had about 31 touches. Score: 6.0

Gianluca Busio: A really promising nationwide crew debut for the Sporting Kansas Metropolis teenager who was an improve from Yueill. He introduced some offensive chunk that was missing and picked the tempo of the sport again up. A little bit extra is required defensively, however he had a optimistic affect on the sport and compelled a giant save early. Score: 6.5

Daryl Dike: The Orlando Metropolis ahead wasn’t concerned a lot in his 28 minutes on the sphere with simply seven touches and a pair of/3 passing. Score: 5.0

James Sands: The NYCFC defender was quietly competent to assist see out the win in his 14 minutes on the sphere. He was good in his distribution out of the again following the formation change. Score: 6.0

Eryk Williamson: It was a restricted outing for Williamson and the U.S. crew was merely attempting to see out the win for many of Williamson’s 14 minutes. Nonetheless he helped win and keep possession in his good 5/5 duel profitable, 5/5 in passing, and two drawn fouls. He didn’t have lots to do, however he did all of it effectively. Score: 6.0