ASN’s Brian Sciaretta writes up his ideas on the U.S. crew’s 1-0 win over El Salvador in Orlando to conclude the Nations League group stage and safe a spot in June’s semifinal.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
March 28, 2023
2:10 AM
SHARE THIS STORY
THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL crew certified for the semifinals of the 2023 Nations League this summer time with a 1-0 win over El Salvador on Monday night time in Orlando, Florida. The efficiency was forgettable because the U.S. crew was unable to generate a major variety of harmful possibilities and for many of the recreation, was unable to transform on the occasions it was in a position to create.
Loads of credit score, nonetheless, goes to El Salvador supervisor and former U.S. nationwide crew attacker Hugo Perez who was in a position to have his crew combat laborious and maximize its potential. His crew was organized defensively and even pressured the U.S. into a couple of events of emergency defending. El Salvador had the possibilities to attain and alter the narrative, however fell inches brief.
The sport changer was within the 62nd minute when Weston McKennie had the ball inside his personal half. He noticed Ricardo Pepi making a run into his personal third. McKennie hit an ideal, low-driving through-ball to separate the protection. Pepi managed it together with his first contact and chipped El Salvador’s goalkeeper and captain Mario Gonzalez for a 1-0 lead.
Weston with the help, Pepi with the aim, and The FC Dallas Agenda continues on. pic.twitter.com/ao8AhkvFnZ
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) March 28, 2023
From there, the U.S. crew was in a position to see out the win and the U.S. crew moved to 2 wins and two attracts in its final 4 video games in opposition to Perez’s El Salvador. Each wins have been by 1-0 scores.
Listed here are some ideas in regards to the recreation.
U.S. crew struggled out extensive
El Salvador got here into the sport with a tricky defensive recreation plan of containing the U.S. crew out extensive. Usually, that’s the place many of the U.S. crew’s possibilities originate. The U.S. crew sometimes doesn’t get many possibilities from the run of play by the midfield – sometimes Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams however on this case it was Gio Reyna rather than Adams.
The usteam sometimes will get its possibilities from wingers Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah (on this recreation it was Alejandro Zendejas enjoying rather than the injured Weah) and fullbacks Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest.
The important thing to stopping the U.S. assault is to cease the crew out extensive. It’s simpler mentioned than achieved because of the expertise stage of the gamers, however El Salvador did an important job – notably within the first half. Pulisic was off within the first half, Zendejas was poor, Dest was noticeable rusty, and Robinson’s remaining ball was missing.
That alone stored El Salvador on this recreation. It took a one lengthy and excellent move from McKennie up the center to bypass the midfield for the U.S. crew to crack El Salvador’s protection
The usteam improved within the second half, for certain. They’d higher possibilities however El Salvador was on this recreation for longer than anticipated as a result of they contained the guts of the U.S. crew.
Ream & Robinson labored nicely
The central protection tandem of Tim Ream and Miles Robinson have been glorious. Their job turned extra pressure-filled as the sport continued to be scoreless. However each gamers have been skilled and calm within the again, each in possession and in protection.
It was an important story for each gamers. Ream, at age 35, continues to age like tremendous wine. It’s one of many extra outstanding tales in American soccer and within the Premier League. He’s main Fulham to a prime 10 end and is having probably the greatest seasons ever for an American in Europe. How lengthy can he go at this stage? Nobody is aware of, but it surely’s nice to look at whereas it lasts and possibly he stays on by the Copa America.
For Robinson, he’s nonetheless recovering from his Achilles tendon rupture and the early returns this season in Atlanta have been spectacular. On this recreation, he performed very nicely and will proceed to be within the combine transferring ahead.
Subs modified the sport
The U.S. crew received this recreation on depth. Pepi scored lower than a minute after coming into the sport. Luca de la Torre and Brenden Aaronson have been necessary to maintaining the assault. As El Salvador drained and suffered a downgrade going to their bench, the U.S. was in a position to sub a La Liga and a Premier League starter into the fold to make it tougher.
Each gamers have been efficient successful the ball in harmful positions to proceed to pin El Salvador again.
Between Pepi, de la Torre, and Aaronson, the U.S. crew was in a position to rating and maintain El Salvador from getting on the entrance foot offensively.
Participant Scores
The Starters
Matt Turner: the Backyard State goalkeeper managed his backline nicely and had a couple of good tosses into the assault that ought to have resulted into extra harmful alternatives: Ranking: 6.5
Sergino Dest: A number of good dribbles apart, he was noticeably rusty and was contained by El Salvador: Ranking: 5.0
Antonee Robinson: The Fulham left again usually has a giant accountability to attach with Pulisic to open up the left facet – which is essential to the U.S. crew’s assault. It didn’t occur tonight. Robinson’s remaining ball was missing and he did work as nicely with Pulisic as he usually does. Ranking: 4.5
Tim Ream: A wonderful veteran presence on the backline. He stored the crew calm whereas it struggled to create possibilities for the primary hour: Ranking: 7.5
Miles Robinson: Just like Ream however solely substitute expertise with prime athleticism. Having athleticism within the again is necessary and it is going to be attention-grabbing to see if Robinson can proceed to get again to his 2021 stage. Ranking: 7.5
Weston McKennie: He was sloppy within the first half however higher within the second half. His move to Pepi on the aim was a recreation changer. It’s robust to include him for a full recreation. He’ll at all times discover a couple of moments to be harmful. Ranking: 6.0
Yunus Musah: He was easy on the ball and provides the U.S. a presence up the center. In a recreation like this when the crew is struggling out extensive, Musah turns into extra necessary. He nonetheless wants extra objectives and extra assists however his talent on the ball may be very helpful t. General, he helped maintain El Salvador off the ball and pin them again defensively. Ranking: 6.5
Gio Reyna: The Borussia Dortmund playmaker was moved into the attacking midfield place versus out extensive. He was harmful on two large events – forcing a giant save within the twenty third minute from Gonzalez after which hitting the publish within the forty seventh minute. It wasn’t a dominant efficiency and he’s able to extra, but it surely was nonetheless efficient. Ranking: 6.5
Christian Pulisic: The engine to the U.S. crew was principally contained. Within the first half, he was clearly off. Within the second half, he was higher however El Salvador resorted to fouling him. That may be okay if he was then simpler together with his set piece deliveries. Ranking: 5.5
Alejandro Zendejas: Enjoying on the fitting wing, Zendejas was ineffective. Was he nervous? Was he making an attempt to do an excessive amount of? He was fully out of synch and was eliminated on the hour mark. Ranking: 4.5
Daryl Dike: The massive West Brom ahead drew some fouls and El Salvador was clearly targeted on stopping him. However general, he didn’t make the affect he wished. Ranking: 5.0
The Substitutes
Ricardo Pepi: Instantaneous affect from the minute he got here on. His pretty end on the aim appeared to present him confidence the final half-hour. However that is precisely what you need from a substitute ahead in an in depth recreation: Ranking: 8.0
Brenden Aaronson: Changed Zendejas within the sixtieth minute and was an improve on either side of the ball. Ranking: 6.0
Luca de la Torre: The Celta Vigo midfielder changed Musah within the 71st and was sharp together with his passing – which helped hyperlink the midfield and the assault higher. Ranking: 7.0
Taylor Sales space: Additionally got here into the sport within the 71st minute. He had a couple of moments the place he moved into the assault nicely however was usually quiet. His finest second got here on a looping move contained in the field that arrange Pepi for a very good probability. Ranking: 5.5
Johnny Cardoso: The Brazilian-American from New Jersey made his sixth look for the nationwide crew as a late cameo in stoppage time. Ranking: NR
