The USMNT completed January Camp with a convincing 2-0 win over Costa Rica with Sebastian Lletget successful MOTM honors. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta is right here together with his participant rankings
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
February 02, 2019
2:00 PM
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THE UNITED STATES nationwide group accomplished January camp with a convincing and cozy 2-0 win over Costa Rica. The consequence was by no means doubtful as a result of whereas the U.S. group couldn’t discover a harmful remaining ball within the first half, it all the time performed like the higher group.
The competitors might be a lot better within the months and years forward, however these had been good first steps to construct up some confidence and enthusiasm for this system. Past that, there additionally appeared to be the workings of a sport plan and the gamers had been embracing it
January camp is all the time a possibility for home and typically missed gamers to show they belong within the group. Previously, it has served as an vital launchpad for a number of key gamers. Primarily based on these two video games, a number of gamers will seemingly proceed to get call-ups.
Right here is how the gamers and the coach did at the moment.
The Beginning Lineup
Zack Steffen: fairly simple task for Steffen who wasn’t actually examined because the U.S. managed possession. He did effectively on the crosses into the field and distribution. Ranking: 6.0
Daniel Lovitz: After a good efficiency in opposition to Panama, Lovitz wasn’t significantly efficient in opposition to Costa Rica. He was not often harmful transferring ahead however didn’t make any main defensive gaffs. Ranking: 5.0
Walker Zimmerman: The towering central defender was in comparable type together with his associate Aaron Lengthy. Each had been high-quality defensively and grew into the sport within the second half when it comes to taking part in successfully out of the again. Ranking: 6.0
Aaron Lengthy: Like Zimmerman, Lengthy improved as the sport went alongside and helped preserve Costa Rica off the board because the U.S. group managed the sport. Ranking: 6.0
Nick Lima: Lima backed up his MOTM efficiency with one other sturdy outing. Defensively he was a disruptive drive. Offensively he was efficient in combining with Arriola – who moved to proper wing within the second half. Ranking: 7.0
Wil Trapp: The central midfielder wasn’t nice within the first half as he wasn’t the disruptive drive that Berhalter wants from his No. 6. Passing was sometimes stable however within the second half, he was nice together with his passing going 23/23. His go to Jonathan Lewis was first-rate on the buildup to the opening purpose. Ranking: 6.5
Cristian Roldan: After an uneven first half, Roldan was much more in-synch with the assault within the second half – particularly after Lleget entered the sport. He hit the submit twice and his second one off the iron would have been a beautiful profession spotlight. Whereas stable, Roldan appears to be like to be one of many gamers who might actually assist the group as soon as he’s in midseason type. On condition that this was solely his second sport in three months, it was an excellent outing. Ranking: 7.0
Djordje Mihailovic: The younger Chicago playmaker got here again to earth somewhat bit after his sturdy debut in opposition to Panama. Mihailovic struggled to mix within the attacking third with Zardes and general his remaining ball was missing within the first 45 minutes. He regarded loads sharper initially of the second half as the sport tilted in favor of the Individuals. General, it appears to be like seemingly that he’ll head to the U.S. U-23 group this 12 months – the place he ought to do high-quality. Ranking: 5.5
Corey Baird: Whereas Baird can go effectively and might be an excellent finisher every time taking part in middle ahead, he’s restricted as a winger given his capacity to beat defenders off a dribble. His incapacity to beat defenders actually made it troublesome for the U.S. group to get into harmful positions for a remaining ball. Ranking: 5.0
Gyasi Zardes: The Crew ahead didn’t mix effectively together with his attacking midfielders and having that understanding together with his teammates is how he’s his efficient with Columbus. His first contact let him down a couple of instances in harmful positions. He had some good passes in transition however wasn’t as harmful as he must be for the U.S. group to fireside on all cylinders. Ranking: 5.0
Paul Arriola: It was an excellent sport from Arriola who needed to do loads on this sport. As is typical, he performed stable protection from the wing place. Within the first half, he was the one American participant who confirmed the power to beat defenders with a dribble. Then within the second half, he switched to his extra pure proper aspect and was a nightmare for Costa Rica. When Lletget and Lewis got here into the sport, he was capable of exploit extra holes within the protection and was rewarded with a purpose. Ranking: 7.5
The Substitutes
Sebastian Lletget: The LA Galaxy midfielder was the MOTM with a incredible efficiency off the bench. The sport was starting to tilt in favor of the U.S. group when he got here on however Lletget merely overwhelmed Costa Rica. His passing lower by means of the Costa Rica protection with ease and the sport was utterly opened up because of this. He completed with a purpose and an help – and most significantly a powerful assertion to the brand new coach for future call-ups. Ranking: 8.0 and Man of the Match
Jonathan Lewis: In his first two U.S. caps, Lewis has been a distinction maker off the bench when he was in a position to make use of his talent on the ball to beat defenders and create probabilities. He assisted on the opening purpose and completed January camp with two assists. Ranking: 7.5
Christian Ramirez: Ramirez appeared like an improve from Zardes at ahead together with his passing and talent and higher understanding together with his teammates. His flick-on header arrange Lletget for his help to Arriola on the second purpose. Ranking: 6.5
The Coach
Gregg Berhalter: The New Jersey native had a pleasant sport plan on this sport. With most of his gamers rusty from the offseason, it was robust to seek out gamers who might reliably hit a harmful remaining ball. His beginning lineup was very restricted with solely one among his entrance 5 (Paul Arriola) being harmful on the dribble in 1v1 conditions. However his substitutes mounted this weak spot and the U.S. group was dominant within the second half. However general, the group purchased into his sport plan – which bodes effectively when most of the first group gamers be part of the roster. Ranking: 7.0
