Dispatch from San Francisco
Halftime Report: Dempsey Out, Diamond In, No Rating
American Soccer Now’s Jon Arnold is within the press field at Candlestick Park, and he has a number of ideas on the halfway level of at the moment’s Ship-Off Sequence opener. Word: Click on on the slideshow under.
ASN Slideshow
BY
Jon Arnold
Posted
Could 27, 2014
7:57 PM
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SAN FRANCISCO — Jurgen Klinsmann elected to deploy a 4-4-2 formation with a diamond midfield for the second consecutive pleasant however was pressured to take action with out one of many forwards he was planning to make the most of.
Clint Dempsey was a late scratch from the beginning lineup with groin soreness. A U.S. Soccer spokesman mentioned his omission was merely precautionary.
The diamond formation did not result in the identical sort of runaway success the U.S. skilled within the first half in opposition to Mexico when Klinsmann used it for the primary time. Bradley nonetheless arrange numerous alternatives and confirmed his expertise however a aim wasn’t forthcoming and the groups enter the break nonetheless knotted at 0-0.
Dempsey was changed within the beginning XI by Chris Wondolowski, who had a golden alternative to attain early when Graham Zusi’s fourth-minute free kick discovered the San Jose Earthquakes ahead on their lonesome, however the header was saved by goalkeeper Kamran Aghayev.
Bradley was the beneficiary of a possibility in his superior function within the fifteenth minute when Fabian Johnson may Jozy Altidore who laid the ball off for Bradley. Bradley went broad and the finally earned a nook.
The U.S. took the ensuing nook quick and have been capable of get Wondo one other free header from an Alejandro Bedoya, however his try was denied by a spectacular cease from Aghayev.
The twenty eighth minute supplied a very good likelihood for the U.S. as Altidore bought free on the left-hand aspect of the assault however when Altidore tried to place in a cross it deflected off defender Rasim Ramaldanov, drawing appeals for handball from the forwards.
The remainder of the half performed out with Berti Vogts’ aspect content material to sit down again and defend, however the Individuals couldn’t break via the Milli protection for a tally. Although the Stars and Stripes managed possession for a lot of the half, they have been pressured to defend a few lat nook kicks from the guests.
