ASN: Ideas on the USMNT and its 7-0 win over T&T in Orlando

America nationwide staff opened 2021 with a 7-0 rout over Trinidad & Tobago. Whereas the opponent struggled, the U.S. staff performed confidently and a number of other gamers stepped as much as construct a case for his or her future on the staff or the U-23 staff. Essentially the most notable examples had been Jesus Ferreira, Sam Vines, Paul Arriola, and Jonathan Lewis. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta is right here together with his toughts. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
January 31, 2021
11:00 PM

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THE UNITED STATES nationwide staff coasted to a 7-0 pleasant win over a really weak Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday night time to open its busy 2021 schedule that can see the staff play within the Nations League, the Gold Cup, and World Cup qualifying whereas the U.S. U-23 staff prepares for Olympic qualifying.

It’s not a super sport to get a learn on gamers given the extent of the opponent however U.S. supervisor Gregg Berhalter was fast to emphasize that all the camp was a productive time and that he was impressed by the staff’s focus all through.

January camp video games usually are disappointing and rusty given the offseason kind. However now for the second straight month, the U.S. staff has performed an offseason pleasant the place it hasn’t stooped all the way down to the extent of the opponents. It did no matter it needed to do and performed like the higher staff. In that regard, it was clearly refreshing for U.S. followers.

Right here had been my ideas on the sport.

Ferreira simple MOTM

Jesus Ferreira, 20, was the straightforward MOTM for this sport with two targets and three assists to have a hand in 5 of the staff’s seven targets. Like final January camp in 2020, Ferreira seems to be very snug on this surroundings and taking part in underneath Berhalter.

His 2020 season, nonetheless, was not notably nice with FC Dallas and coach Luchi Gonzalez continuously moved Ferreira round to quite a few positions and quite a few completely different roles inside these positions. It appears as if Berhalter and Gonzalez have completely different views of Ferreira however the truth that he began in opposition to Trinidad and Tobago was an enormous signal of confidence from the nationwide staff entrance.

— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) February 1, 2021

For Ferreira, will probably be attention-grabbing to see how he can proceed to develop at Dallas and what the function for him can be. Can Gonzalez discover his place with out having to remodel all the staff? Ferreira is a tough participant in that regard as a result of not each staff makes use of a false 9 that Ferreira appears to be most snug with.

On this sport, Ferreira truly might have been much more productive as a result of his contact let him down on three different excellent possibilities to attain. However that is nonetheless a camp the place gamers are in preseason-form and errors occur. What was truly essentially the most spectacular facet from Ferreira was his motion. His timing together with his runs and his motion contained in the field helped open up all the things.

The following huge take a look at for Ferreira can be Olympic qualifying and will probably be the primary aggressive video games he has ever performed internationally. If the U.S. staff goes to qualify for Tokyo, Ferreira should play an enormous function. Primarily based on tonight, he ought to trust.

Arriola and Lewis had been sharp

The beginning wingers, Paul Arriola and Jonathan Lewis, each had excellent video games. Arriola carried himself in a really polished method and his veteran strategy was necessary to the staff on the sport. He scored two targets but additionally moved extraordinarily nicely.

His ACL tear now looks like a distant reminiscence and this marks the second straight sport which Arriola seems to be snug with the place he’s bodily. With many different wingers struggling to make instances in 2020 (Tyler Boyd, Uly Llanez, and others), Arriola can reclaim a spot contained in the 23 participant roster if he performs nicely in 2021.

— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) February 1, 2021

Berhalter was fast to level out that Jonathan Lewis had a great camp and he backed up that evaluation by giving Lewis a begin – regardless of that Lewis isn’t an computerized starter for Colorado. Lewis made Berhalter look good with a two-goal outing.

If Lewis can proceed to play nicely for the usat the U-23 ranges in March, it will be large. The U.S. staff is brief on wingers on the U-23 stage and if Lewis can produce, it makes the probabilities of qualifying a lot greater.

— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) February 1, 2021

Vines boosts his inventory

Sam Vines has now quietly impressed in all three of his U.S. nationwide staff caps over the previous 12 months. However this one was his greatest. His passing over his 64 minutes was close to flawless and his go to Ferreira on the Lewis opening purpose was the most effective go of the sport. Then on the second purpose, Vines was once more on the cash with an help on to Ferreira.

It wasn’t an important 2020 season for Jesus Ferreira, particularly in contrast with a load of different younger gamers who confirmed nicely within the league final 12 months. However he has expertise. It’s as much as him to get again on monitor on 2021. Good run and help on the opener pic.twitter.com/E3cDLxwp3Z

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) February 1, 2021

Sam Vines is dropping dimes tonight. The left again is passing phenomenally nicely. pic.twitter.com/fGUEcM2m2R

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) February 1, 2021

Whereas Antonee Robinson is an everyday starter for Fulham, nobody has claimed the left again spot. Vines will seemingly shift all the way down to the U-23 staff and if he does nicely there, and for Colorado is resume will look excellent – each for a transfer to Europe and for a spot on the U.S. nationwide staff in World Cup qualifying the place he may again up Robinson or he may begin.

Sam Vines: uncooked # for the #USMNT in 7-0 win vs T&T64 minutes50 touches0 shots1 key pass1 assist33/34 passing (97%)!!3/3 correct lengthy balls2 crosses4 duels gained (2 misplaced)3 dribbles (3 makes an attempt)2 interceptions0 aerials won1 deal with (1 try)- Some passing from Vines

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) February 1, 2021

Subs struggled

Whereas the U.S. staff was operating away with the sport, the subs typically didn’t hold the movement going. A few of the sub appearances had been quiet (Tanner Tessmann, George Bellow) others simply weren’t excellent. Daryl Dike struggled in his first cap and Andres Perea had a number of unhealthy passes and conceded a penalty.

Granted the U.S. staff was tuned out with its foot off the gasoline for the final 20 minutes, but it surely was a tricky time the place gamers didn’t have an important likelihood to point out what they may do.

Turner’s story

Matt Turner, 26, has an important story and tonight was an important chapter. He solely started to study the goalkeeping place in highschool and didn’t obtain formal coaching within the place till he was in faculty. However what he has been in a position to do in New England and develop into the place has been outstanding.

With New England, he has change into maybe the most effective American goalkeeper within the league and he was instrumental in his staff’s success. His penalty save in opposition to Nani was one of many defining moments of the 2020 playoffs.

In opposition to Trinidad & Tobago, Turner earned his first cap. Though he was not often examined, his second half penalty save on Alvin Jones was one of many sport’s greatest moments.

— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) February 1, 2021

The U.S. nationwide staff goalkeeping place isn’t as robust because it as soon as was and is totally up within the air. First selection starter Zack Steffen is a backup at Manchester Metropolis. Ethan Horvath can be a backup at Membership Brugge. Domestically, Brad Guzan is on the older aspect. If Turner continues to play nicely, he might rise as excessive because the quantity two goalkeeper within the depth chart.