A brand new era of nationwide teamers made a superb impression in opposition to third-ranked Portugal, leaping out to an early lead on Weston McKennie’s objective and holding on for a formidable 1-1 highway draw.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
November 15, 2017
4:00 PM
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THE UNITED STATES males’s nationwide staff started its rebuilding course of on Tuesday evening with a 1-1 draw in opposition to Portugal in Leiria. All issues thought of, it was a much-needed step in the proper course as many newcomers confirmed nicely.
It was attention-grabbing to see how particular person gamers responded in gentle of the negativity after failing to qualify for the World Cup. For probably the most half, that was optimistic. Weston McKennie appears to be like nearly as good as marketed. Tyler Adams, Matt Miazga, and Cameron Carter-Vickers additionally shall be getting plenty of caps shifting ahead. Whereas not younger, C.J. Sapong could be helpful for a couple of extra years.
The underside line is that the participant pool expanded after this recreation on account of good efforts. There’s a very lengthy strategy to go, nevertheless it was a pleasant first step and good strategy to meet some gamers who will play quite a bit in 2018.
The Beginning Lineup
Ethan Horvath: The Membership Brugge keeper entered the sport in tough kind having misplaced his beginning job at his membership. Sadly for the Colorado native, he had a poor outing and let in an absolute howler on Portugal’s lone objective. Minutes later, he hit a poor go up the center that just about resulted in a second objective. General, he was utterly off. Score: 3.5
DeAndre Yedlin: The Newcastle United proper again was fairly sturdy defensively however struggled offensively. His remaining go wasn’t there and he wasn’t in a position to beat many defenders off the dribble. He learn the sport proper however didn’t execute in addition to he may. Score: 5.5
Matt Miazga: An excellent recreation for the New Jersey native who didn’t put in a nasty foot defensively and had good chemistry with John Brooks. The worst that might be mentioned for him is that he dedicated a foolish foul that resulted in Brooks’ set piece header being known as again. Score: 6.5
John Brooks: It was good to have Brooks again after a long-term damage and the Berlin native delivered with a really robust efficiency. He held the backline collectively and made a number of vital stops to halt harmful Portuguese possibilities earlier than they materialized. Score: 7
Eric Lichaj: The Nottingham Forest fullback received the beginning on the left facet regardless of being largely a proper again. He was regular though unspectacular, which is about as a lot as you’ll be able to hope for in an American left again. Within the second half he unleashed a difficult shot that pressured a pleasant save. Score: 5.5
Danny Williams: After being on the surface of the U.S. staff, Williams not solely made it again for this recreation but additionally wore the captain’s armband. Taking part in within the defensive midfield spot in a 4-1-4-1 formation, he was a gentle presence and coated numerous floor. Score: 6
Tyler Adams: Incomes his first nationwide staff cap, the New York Purple Bull teenager hustled and labored extraordinarily laborious on either side of the ball. Within the first half, he missed some passes however he grew into the sport within the second half. His pace and work charge was robust for Portugal to defend. Regardless of some flaws, he was efficient and it was a efficiency he can construct off. Score: 6.5
Weston McKennie: The Man of the Match for the U.S., and by a wholesome margin, he scored his first senior-team objective and hitt a header off the bar. He gained ball after ball and displayed nice imaginative and prescient for hitting harmful passes. He shall be an enormous a part of the longer term. Score: 7.5
Kellyn Acosta: The FC Dallas midfielder had a pleasant recreation doing numerous the soiled work within the recreation. He didn’t have many enormous key passes from the run of play however he did have a optimistic affect on the sport to assist the U.S. earn a draw. Score: 6
Juan Agudelo: The New England Revolution attacker performed out extensive the place he hardly ever performs for his membership. General he struggled and didn’t win many 1v1 dibbles in opposition to defenders, nor did he hyperlink up nicely together with his teammates. Just a few optimistic moments however not an important recreation. Score: 5
C.J. Sapong: Whereas being considerably of a shock within the beginning lineup, Sapong had a superb outing and was very efficient within the first half—particularly holding up the ball. He confirmed good mobility and assisted on McKennie’s objective. It was a efficiency that ought to preserve him within the image for January camp. Score: 7
Substitutes
Invoice Hamid: An enormous enchancment over Horvath and he supplied a gentle hand. Score: 6
Cameron Carter-Vickers: A 3rd teenager to make his nationwide staff debut on this contest, Carter-Vickers performed very nicely. He was regular within the again and helped include Portugal’s greatest possibilities. Confirmed a superb vary of mobility to assist defend some agile attackers who broke free on the flanks. Score: 6.5
Jorge Villafana: Villafana changed Lichaj within the second half and didn’t make any main errors but additionally didn’t have a huge effect on the sport: Score: 5.5
Lynden Gooch: Changing Agudelo within the 59th minute, Gooch had a couple of excellent moments that ought to have been extra harmful. He was robust on Portugal’s fullbacks. Score: 6
Dom Dwyer: Dwyer changed Sapong within the 79th minute however was not in a position to get himself concerned. Score: 5.5
Alejandro Bedoya: A late recreation substitute for McKennie within the 84th minute. Score: NR
The Coach
Dave Sarachan: The caretaker supervisor did a tremendous job for what might be the one recreation he’ll coach the staff. For this recreation alone, he deserves some credit score. All of the gamers appeared to come back in motivated and he gave three youngsters debuts. Just a few gamers, like Agudelo, weren’t in the proper positions however he made some good calls too. Beginning Sapong was sensible and giving Williams the armband additionally made sense. If not for Horvath’s howler, the U.S. ought to have gained this recreation. Score: 6