ASN: Matt Miazga and Mates Are Proving Powerful to Beat

When Zack Steffen, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Matt Miazga line up for the U.S. under-20 males’s nationwide crew, opponents wrestle to attain. The trio will face a stern check Sunday in opposition to Serbia.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
June 12, 2015
10:05 AM

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RUBIO RUBIN IS A FEARLESS and relentless striker. Midfielders Gedion Zelalem and Emerson Hyndman are nice with the ball at their ft and possess loads of offensive aptitude.

However the largest asset on america under-20 males’s nationwide crew could be the three males tasked with preserving opponents off the scoreboard.

Goalkeeper Zack Steffen and central defenders Matt Miazga and Cameron Carter-Vickers have logged a complete of 720 minutes collectively between U-20 World Cup qualifying and the World Cup. When all three are on the sphere, Tab Ramos’ squad has conceded simply three targets—that is one each 240 minutes.

The crew will face a stiff problem in opposition to Serbia Sunday night time (12:30AM ET, Fox Sports activities 1) however Miazga believes your complete crew is up for the problem.

“The mood is very good on the team,” Miazga advised American Soccer Now from New Zealand. “We’re all assured. We’re a really gifted crew. I believe the spirit is actually excessive and we’re all excited for the quarterfinals. We’re very proud.

“It’s been an ideal, nice week for U.S. Soccer and we wish to proceed that within the quarterfinals.”

Miazga, 19, has loved a really spectacular event to date. The six-foot-four Clifton, N.J., native has performed 270 minutes to date in New Zealand and the crew has conceded only one objective with him on the sphere.

The New York Crimson Bulls product delivered his finest efficiency Wednesday because the Individuals stymied a rugged Colombia crew, 1-0. In that spherical of 16 matchup america needed to take care of an early harm to a beginning ahead Bradford Jamieson, a pink card, and a really bodily and decided opponent.

Colombia had extra probabilities and extra possession, however the U.S. backline absorbed the strain and the offense took benefit of its one actual probability.

“The Colombians were just like the other South American teams we played—very feisty, going into every 50-50 challenge like it was their last, and very big and strong as well,” Miazga mentioned. “It doesn’t actually matter. I undoubtedly embrace it and I just like the problem.

“I like when large forwards come at me and are sturdy. It’s good if you’re a centerback and also you cease play after play. I prefer it after I play in opposition to anybody good and also you problem your self. It’s the world stage now and everybody you go in opposition to goes to be a very good participant.”

Each in qualifying and in New Zealand, Ramos’ groups have discovered a approach to win shut video games—even in opposition to high quality opponents who create a lot of the alternatives. Having a rock-solid defensive core is a key a part of that.

“My partnership with Cameron is really flourishing,” Miazga mentioned. “Our games complement each other. It showed in qualifying and now we’ve gotten some big wins in New Zealand.”

The defining second of Wednesday’s match got here within the 81st minute when referee Antonio Ivan Bebek known as a penalty on U.S. defender Kellyn Acosta. Colombia’s Jarlan Barrera stepped as much as the penalty spot with an opportunity to even the rating, however Steffen dove to his proper and stopped the low, left-footed shot.

Miazga, who has a protracted historical past with Steffen, had a sense his pal was going to provide you with the massive save. The goalkeeper had produced an enormous penalty save in opposition to El Salvador throughout World Cup qualifying.

“I’ve known Zack since I was 14 and we’ve been playing consistently for the U-18 and U-20 national teams,” Miazga mentioned. “He’s been an ideal chief and a tremendous teammate. With that penalty, I used to be actually having deja vu. I believed proper again to that El Salvador sport as a result of it was the identical scenario.

“I had religion in him. We’ve been practising PKs in coaching and we all know Zach is a superb shot stopper. You had that intestine feeling that he was going to put it aside.”

Subsequent up will likely be a gifted Serbian crew that defeated Mexico and Mali within the group phases after which posted a 2-1 extra-time win over Hungary within the spherical of 16. It can mark the third straight sport by which the U-20s will likely be face a big dimension drawback.

Miazga like his crew’s probabilities even supposing the Yanks will likely be with out two injured forwards, Bradford Jamieson and Maki Tall, and suspended gamers Jordan Allen and Kellyn Acosta. Earlier than the event the U.S. confronted off in opposition to Serbia in a closed-door pleasant and whereas overseas studies mentioned Serbia received 1-0, Miazga mentioned it was an “even” sport.

Serbia is probably going favored however the U.S. U-20s’ crew effort within the win over Colombia has satisfied gamers they will succeed in opposition to any opponent.

“Tab told us before the [Colombia] game, ‘It was the World Cup, what more do you want? You’re playing for your country and your families. It’s a huge opportunity for us and everyone will be watching,’” Miazga recalled. “We went on the market and performed with our hearts. We performed effectively.

“We bought the win, which is crucial factor.”