The US under-23 group’s lopsided victory over Panama Tuesday evening little question helped coach Andi Herzog put together for Saturday’s all-important semifinal showdown.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
October 07, 2015
9:00 PM
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ANDI HERZOG’S U.S. U-23 TEAM accomplished the group stage in robust vogue with a 4-0 win over Panama in Colorado, ending Group A with 9 factors, 13 targets scored, and solely two conceded. The younger group performed effectively, and now we’ll see the way it responds to a pressure-filled semifinal sport Saturday in opposition to both Mexico or Honduras.
Thankfully for Herzog, the Panama sport laid the framework for a way his group can win that essential matchup—and clinch a 2016 Olympic berth within the course of.
Kiesewetter and Morris mix effectively
There have been some questions on how the U.S. group was going to attain targets exterior of Morris, however Herzog has discovered a balanced attacking system that clearly works, with the group’s 13 targets coming from seven completely different gamers.
The mixture of Morris and Kiesewetter, nonetheless, stays an thrilling one. Males’s nationwide group followers haven’t seen as potent a duo at any stage in a very long time. For a lot of the previous decade, U.S. groups have been slower, however Morris and Kiesewetter are utilizing their velocity and making sensible runs to open up holes everywhere in the discipline.
The complementary chemistry between the 2 is exceptional, and mixed with the truth that the U.S. group has aggressive-passing midfielders who actively look to play through-balls, it’s a sport plan that’s discovered great success. The numbers converse for themselves: Morris has three targets and an help thus far, whereas Kiesewetter has three targets, two assists, and two drawn penalties.
Luis Gil must be on the sector
This group is skinny on huge midfielders however loaded within the center, resulting in troublesome decisions for Herzog as to which formation to play, who to play out of place, and who to sit down.
One factor that’s clear, nonetheless, is that Luis Gil must be on the sector because the central attacking midfielder. Gedion Zelalem, 17, began twice in that position, and regardless of the hype surrounding him—fueled by Jurgen Klinsmann’s statements that he was prepared for the senior group—he has but to impress at this age stage.
After beginning Tuesday’s match in a extra withdrawn midfield place, Gil moved into an attacking one as soon as Zelalem got here off at halftime. He linked up effectively with second-half additions Morris and Kiesewetter, and he was a giant a part of the four-goal outburst within the last 45 minutes.
Gboly Ariyibi gives width
Coming into into the match, Gboly Ariyibi was an unknown. He was born in West Virginia, however neither of his dad and mom are Americans. He by no means spent a lot time in the US. His household left the nation shortly after he was born. He solely returned to the US as soon as rising up—and that was together with his membership group to play on the Dallas Cup.
However Ariyibi, 20, has executed effectively this yr as a daily starter on the wing for League One aspect Chesterfield FC, and he’s executed the identical thus far in the identical spot for the U23s.
Ariyibi made his U.S. debut in opposition to Cuba and picked up an help on Alonso Hernandez’s objective. When the sport in opposition to Panama opened up within the second half, Ariyibi got here to life once more. He was the participant most accountable for the opening objective, when he obtained right into a harmful place and despatched in a wise cross that was redirected into the web for an personal objective. He additionally sprung Kiesewetter twice into threatening positions and was a part of the build-up for 3 of the U.S. group’s 4 targets.
Moreover, the truth that he performs a place of specific want means Ariyibi is changing into indispensable.
Lineup for semifinal seems to be clear
The U.S. group did what it needed to do within the group stage, however there’s nonetheless another sport to win. The very last thing the U.S. group desires to do, in any case, is lose the semifinal after which must win a third-place sport only for the correct to a playoff match in opposition to Colombia.
Herzog’s lineup alternative, then, will probably be crucial determination he’s made all yr with this group. Fortunately, sure gamers have stepped as much as the purpose that they’ve made a number of positional questions straightforward.
Right here’s my prediction for the semifinal sport in opposition to both Mexico or Honduras.
Goalkeeper: Zack SteffenRight again: Boyd OkwuonuRight central defender: Cameron Carter-VickersLeft central defender: Matt MiazgaLeft again: Dillon SernaDefensive midfield: Wil TrappRight midfield: Gboly AriyibiLeft midfield: Emerson HyndmanCentral attacking midfield: Luis GilForward: Jordan MorrisForward: Jerome Kiesewetter
On this predicted lineup, six gamers are locks to start out the sport: Miazga, Carter-Vickers, Trapp, Gil, Morris, and Kiesewetter.
There are alternatives for the opposite 5.
At goalkeeper, Herzog might go both means between Ethan Horvath and Steffen and be ok with his determination. The latter netminder, nonetheless, has been with the group longer and has very robust rapport with this group’s beginning middle backs—whom he’d performed with all yr for the U-20s.
Proper again can be unclear, as Matt Polster began the opener to deliver a defensive presence, whereas the extra pure fullback Boyd Okwuonu has performed the final two video games. It relies upon, ultimately, on what Herzog desires within the semifinal. If he values protection, Polster might get the nod, but when he desires the flexibility to get ahead, search for Okwuonu to start out once more.
Left again may be very a lot a query mark as effectively, as Dillon Serna began the video games in opposition to Canada and Panama and Marc Pelosi began and carried out effectively in opposition to Cuba.
The huge positions within the midfield are additionally up for grabs. Emerson Hyndman has displayed clean passing on the left aspect, and Ariyibi has been efficient in creating possibilities, but when Herzog desires so as to add a extra defensive-minded presence within the midfield, that’d maybe require the insertion of Fatai Alashe, Polster, or Pelosi.
So, sure, powerful selections stay for Herzog. However with the U.S. taking part in in addition to it’s been taking part in, having too many good potentialities is an efficient downside to have.
