ASN: Participant Rankings: Feilhaber and Zimmerman Present Nicely

The scoreline was shut however the recreation was not. The U.S. ought to have put just a few extra balls into the again of the web, however even with out a number of objectives the People confirmed good progress from the Serbia recreation.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
February 03, 2017
7:05 PM

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IT WAS NOT A GREAT PERFORMANCE by any means, as ending and creativity ought to have produced extra objectives. However there was power, enthusiasm, and first rate moments for Bruce Area’s facet—and loads of room for enchancment.

This is how the person gamers fared.

Beginning lineup

Luis Robles: There was not so much for Robles to do because the U.S. had virtually all the ball. He dealt with just a few crosses properly. Ranking: 5.5

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Graham Zusi: For the second straight recreation Zusi performed proper again. At instances he seemed first rate however his lack of tempo was uncovered within the first half by Cory Burke, who gave Jamaica its finest likelihood of the sport. General, not dangerous. Ranking: 5.5

Walker Zimmerman: The FC Dallas central defender loved a really sturdy first worldwide look. Jamaica didn’t have many alternatives however Zimmerman was there to deal with them when referred to as upon. His aerial recreation was spectacular and he pushed into the midfield every now and then. He may enter the combo on the depth chart. Ranking: 7

Steve Birnbaum: Whereas not fairly nearly as good as Zimmerman, it nonetheless was a serviceable outing for Birnbaum who helped hold the clear sheet. Ranking: 6

Jorge Villafana: The Santos Laguna left again has some very optimistic moments moving into the assault—significantly within the first half, when his link-up play with Sebastian Lletget was noticeably sturdy. Ranking: 6.5

Dax McCarty: The Chicago Hearth midfielder was a gradual presence within the midfield. He actually moved the ball properly and helped the U.S. dominate possession. He was essential to the build-up of the sport’s lone objective. Ranking: 6.5

Chris Pontius: The Philadelphia Union midfielder received the beginning over Alejandro Bedoya however struggled within the last third to attach with the strikers or create harmful alternatives. Ranking: 5

Benny Feilhaber: The Sporting Kansas Metropolis playmaker created the sport’s solely objective and was one of many strongest gamers within the recreation earlier than coming off for Darlington Nagbe. His power was obvious and he clearly has a chip on his shoulder after being ignored of Jurgen Klinsmann’s plans for years. Ranking: 7

Sebastian Lletget: The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder had a really sturdy first half. His last ball may have been higher at instances however his concepts had been normally right. He linked up properly together with his teammates and will have a future on this staff shifting ahead. He drew quite a lot of fouls as properly. Ranking: 6.5

Juan Agudelo: The New England Revolution ahead helped together with his hold-up play however he ought to have been a dominant presence towards a staff as weak as Jamaica. Ranking: 5.5

Jordan Morris: His displaying within the first half was a little bit of a disappointment as his contact let him down just a few instances, and plenty of of his passes within the last third didn’t join. Within the second half he improved fairly a bit and was rewarded with making a pleasant run that produced a objective. Ranking: 6

Substitutes

David Bingham: Much like Robles, Bingham didn’t have a lot to do except for efficiently dealing with crosses and distributing the ball successfully to his teammates. Ranking: 5.5

Michael Bradley: It is odd to see Bradley coming off the bench for the U.S. males’s nationwide staff however total he didn’t go away a lot of an affect within the recreation. Ranking: 5.5

Darlington Nagbe: After changing Feilhaber, Nagbe as soon as once more performed properly and was the most effective gamers on the sphere. On Sunday he performed on the left wing; tonight he was in the midst of the sphere. He is likely one of the finest American gamers at holding the ball within the last third. Ranking: 6.5

Brad Evans: The Seattle Sounders defender had a second the place he struggled to maintain tempo with Jamaica’s attackers; he made some good passes. Ranking: 5

Alejandro Bedoya: The Philadelphia Union midfielder struggled to get entangled within the recreation. Ranking: 4.5

DaMarcus Beasley: The four-time World Cup veteran didn’t play sufficient to earn a score. No score

The Coach

Bruce Area: Tonight’s beginning lineup made much more sense than the one Area used final Sunday, when the staff lacked velocity and utilized only one ahead, Jozy Altidore. In opposition to Jamaica Area had his gamers in a lot better positions to succeed and regardless that the Yanks ought to have produced extra objectives, it was a a lot better efficiency and one thing on which to construct.

Not every thing labored and the Zusi-to-right-back experiment is a living proof. Nonetheless, the most important winners had been gamers who did not get consideration underneath Klinsmann: Zimmerman, McCarty, Feilhaber, Nagbe, Villafana, and Lletget. Area deserves quite a lot of credit score for giving possibilities to gamers who would possibly really make a distinction in World Cup qualifying. Ranking: 6

These are Brian’s scores—now share yours with our patented Participant Rankings instrument.