ASN: USMNT falls to Panama away in a disjointed and confused effort

The USMNT suffered its worst outing underneath Gregg Berhalter after dropping a 1-0 loss to Panama on Sunday night time. The group will now should rebound in opposition to a Costa Rican group that has 4 factors from its final two video games however has additionally began 8 gamers in each video games this window. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta breaks all of it down.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
October 09, 2021
5:10 AM

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THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL group suffered a major setback in World Cup qualifying on Sunday night time went it dropped a 1-0 choice to Panama away in Panama Metropolis. The efficiency was poor – throughout the board and it was a systematically subpar efficiency the place the group performed far worse that the sum of its components.

U.S. supervisor Gregg Berhalter made seven adjustments to the beginning line-up from the one which impressed within the 2-0 win over Jamaica. The U.S. group struggled from the onset – particularly within the midfield the place performs typically went to die with turnovers and a lack of information with one another to get the ball ahead.

The U.S. group managed simply 5 pictures with none of them on aim.

The decisive second of the sport was within the 54th minute when a Eric Davis delivered nook kick to the close to publish the place it discovered Gyasi Zardes and Anibal Godoy going for the ball on the similar time, it hit the top of Zardes and went in previous Turner.

This wasn’t the primary time the U.S. group has fallen behind on the street in World Cup qualifying. Final month, the group trailed Honduras on the half however confirmed great struggle and character in rallying for a shocking 4-1 win.

In opposition to Panama, the U.S. group had no reply. For any query concerning the beginning lineup, the subs supplied little to no enchancment. There was no connection into the assault, the fullbacks had been utterly ineffective getting ahead. 

Central protection for the U.S. group was nonetheless fairly first rate however it must function a studying lesson for the remainder of the group – and a lesson to study rapidly.

“We were poor,” Berhalter mentioned afterward. “We had been actually poor with our passing and a few of our motion.”

Listed here are some ideas, a look forward to Wednesday, and participant scores for the sport.

Credit score to Panama

Panama deserved this win for quite a few causes – and Danish supervisor Thomas Christiansen deserves a ton of credit score. Whereas the U.S. group may need had an edge in expertise, Panama countered it with expertise and chemistry. Eight of Panama’s beginning XI had over 40 caps with the group (the cap totals of Panama’s beginning XI: 35, 46, 47, 76, 63, 114, 7, 54, 109, 1, 44. The cap whole of their subs: 21, 17, 118, 16, 4).

So far as age goes, Panama didn’t begin a participant underneath the age of 25 and used only one sub on a participant underneath 25 (the ages of Panama’s XI: 30, 25, 26, 29, 30, 33, 25, 27, 31, 26, 31. The ages of Panama’s subs: 25, 29, 33, 26, 21).

This was a group that has performed collectively via thick and skinny. The gamers know one another in and out and the group has quite a lot of methods they will play. On this case, they did their homework. They knew from the U.S. group’s press conferences that the U.S. was preaching verticality and width. In opposition to Jamaica, the U.S. confirmed that it wants the fullbacks and the wings to press ahead out broad to make this occur.

Panama utterly shutdown the U.S. group’s direct strategy on the wings and dared the U.S. group to go up the center. The U.S. group had no response.

Panama received this sport tactically with its defensive strategy – and age and expertise helped, massive time.

On the assault, Panama knew set items could possibly be the distinction. After a number of makes an attempt of driving corners into the again publish gave the U.S. issues, it went to the close to publish to combine issues up – and that’s what resulted within the aim.

Defensively, Panama uncovered the shortage of a defensive presence in the midst of the sphere. Whereas that didn’t end in any targets, it put the U.S. group again on its heels – creating extra space between the midfield and the entrance line. The U.S. group needed to depend on longer passes and it made constructing an assault more durable. 

On high of all of it, Panama’s expertise actually confirmed of their skill to rebound from a poor loss to El Salvador on Tuesday night time. That loss had the potential of setting the group again mentally – however that didn’t occur, and Panama was capable of play its greatest sport three days after its worse loss. That displays effectively on each the gamers and the coaches.

U.S. midfield struggles with no Plan B

The U.S. group was set as much as attempt to play the identical means it did in opposition to Jamaica. The issue or repliating that effort, nonetheless, was two-fold.

First, Panama was sensible and put numerous emphasis in shutting down the U.S. assault from out broad. Panama’s two fullbacks, Michael Murillo and Eric Davis, had been the 2 greatest gamers on the sphere for the sport. They’d improbable two-way performances they usually had been each supported defensively from the wingers.

The U.S. group was compelled to go up the center versus out broad, and it had little success. The sphere was by no means stretched. Dribbling, playmaking, and capturing from distance weren’t there. Even good attacking gamers like Musah and Weah could not get something going.

In different phrases, there was no efficient “Plan B” from the U.S. group.

“We didn’t have control in midfield, and that really hurt us in that game,” Berhalter mentioned. “I’m going to look at the touches that our midfielders had individually, but it was nowhere near what we expect. The distances were too big, the connections were too spread out.”

Set items

Within the loss in opposition to Panama, the U.S. group continued to be poor in attacking set items. That made it tougher and irritating for the group to concede a aim from a nook kick (the U.S. group has been good defending set items this complete 12 months).

However on set items, the U.S. group must be a lot, significantly better within the assault. Via 5 video games of World Cup qualifying, nothing has come from nook kicks or free kicks.

Duels misplaced

Duel-winning was one of many greatest contrasts between the win over Jamaica and the loss to Panama.

In opposition to Jamaica, the U.S. group received 63/92 duels (68.4%). In opposition to Panama, nonetheless, the U.S. group received 38/84 (45%) duels. That is a gigantic drop-off.

As Berhalter has pressured, successful duels is about power and need. It reflective of the mindset of a group. It additionally has advantages on the sphere – it wins possession, and it might begin fast assaults when the protection isn’t but set.

Panama knew learn how to win free ballas or 50-50 possibilities and the group willed itself to a lopsided benefit to maintain the U.S. group on its heels.

“We weren’t nice in duels,” said Berhalter. “Panama, we talked about being a really bodily group, very troublesome group to interrupt down and that is precisely what they had been.”

Alternative misplaced

This was a foul loss for the US and was its first loss in 13 official video games in 2021 between Nations League, the Gold Cup, and World Cup qualifying.

It wasn’t a devastating blow. If the U.S. group defeats Costa Rica on Wednesday, this complete window retains the group on monitor to qualify for Qatar. This sport units up a possible critical blow, however this loss was not that.

This loss was merely a massively blown alternative. A win would have put the group in cruise management for qualifying. A 0-0 draw (or any draw) would have had led to grumbling among the many fanbase however it could have gotten the job carried out by way of not simply incomes some extent, but additionally taking two extra factors off the board by not permitting Panama to climb.

“We know we’re playing in extreme heat, extreme humidity, and we know we traveled four and a half hours, and we know we have another game on Wednesday, and we wanted to rotate players,” Berhalter mentioned of the huge squad rotations. “If it didn’t work, then it’s on me, and it’s my responsibility.”

The query now turns into how rapidly the U.S. group can compartmentalize this efficiency, put it apart and refocus for Costa Rica. Good groups not often get mired in a loss. The U.S. must be like Panama and put the dangerous loss within the rearview mirror instantly.

Looking forward to Costa Rica

The U.S. group will make numerous massive adjustments in opposition to Costa Rica on Wednesday.

Virtually definitely Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie will return to the No. 6 and No. 8 positions, respectively – McKennie’s return relies on the quad tightness he suffered in opposition to Jamaica subsiding (his MRI was destructive).

Sergino Dest at proper again and Antonee Robinson at left again must be able to return and that can present extra width to the assault.

Brenden Aaronson also needs to return to the beginning lineup though it stays to be seen at what place. He might begin out broad however he may also shift to the No. 10 instead of Yunus Musah who began the primary two video games.

Ricardo Pepi, in the meantime, ought to as soon as once more return to the No. 9.

There are nonetheless numerous query marks within the XI that Berhalter will want to consider. The most important query being on the wings. Paul Arriola has began the primary two video games and may not begin a 3rd. Tim Weah could be in a greater place to succeed with extra in-form fullbacks. It may be potential that Matthew Hoppe or Cristian Roldan begin out broad.

Central protection stays a query mark as effectively. Walker Zimmerman has carried out effectively to date this window and Berhalter would possibly choose to proceed to journey the recent hand. Sooner or later, he’ll wish to give Chris Richards are look as effectively. In the meantime, Miles Robinson must be rested. It might not be shocking to see a Robinson – Richards mixture in opposition to Costa Rica.

As for Costa Rica, massive questions shall be requested. They are going to be coming into this sport with a really respectable draw and win from the final two video games – however the lack of squad rotation might pay a worth on the Ticos.

Eight completely different gamers have began the final two video games for Costa Rica: Keylor Navas, Oscar Duarte, Francico Calvo, Ronald Matarrita, Celso Borges, Yeltsin Tejeda, Joel Campbell, Johan Venegas. The age vary of those eight gamers is 29 via 34. It is going to be a giant ask to have these gamers begin in opposition to the US – in the event that they do, they might fade within the 2nd half.

Participant Rankings

The Beginning Lineup

Matt Turner: Distribution was just a little shaky, he made just a few first rate saves as effectively. He couldn’t get out of crowd to discipline the nook kick on the aim: Ranking: 5.5

George Bello: Wasn’t capable of present any assault down his facet of the sphere: Ranking: 4.5

Walker Zimmerman: The Georgia native was most likely one of the best participant on the day for the U.S. group – which isn’t saying a lot. Other than just a few aimless lengthy balls, he defended effectively to assist preserve Panama from scoring from the run of play: Ranking: 6.0

Mark McKenzie: The Delaware-raised McKenzie made good clearance to stop a aim within the first half and did effectively in some areas however his 1/9 duel successful was not useful: Ranking: 5.5

Shaq Moore: The Tenerife-based proper again supplied little to nothing getting ahead to provide assault from the fitting facet: Ranking: 4.5

Kellyn Acosta: His set piece deliveries had been surprisingly sub-par and he had no chemistry with Yunus Musah in central midfield. Because the veteran of this space of the sphere, he ought to have been capable of assist increase the sport of others: Ranking: 4.5

Yunus Musah: The Valencia midfielder struggled on each side of the ball. Offensively, he misplaced the ball too many instances and defensively he allowed an excessive amount of house. It was laborious to argue together with his halftime hook: Ranking: 4.0

Sebastian Lletget: In all probability the higher of the midfielders, which isn’t saying something. He drew three fouls and accomplished extra attacking-half passes than every other starter. He additionally was one of many few gamers to win over 50% of his duels (3/4). Nonetheless, he didn’t provide something to interrupt the sport open or generate first rate possibilities: Ranking: 5.0

Paul Arriola: Appeared utterly spent after the Jamaica sport the place he pressed and ran relentlessly for 90 minutes. Arriola couldn’t dribble by anybody, register a shot, or create something harmful: Ranking: 4.0

Tim Weah: 17 touches in 68 minutes left Weah struggling to make an influence. Like Arriola, he didn’t full a dribble, or have a shot, or have a key cross: Ranking: 4.0

Gyasi Zardes: Zardes was merely by no means capable of get going offensively. A part of that’s on him, a part of that’s on wingers and attacking midfielders. He was a bit unfortunate to be a part of the aim however that’s the best way this sport can go when the group can’t create. Each play turns into price that rather more. Sooner or later, he wanted to supply one thing extra: Ranking: 3.5

The Substitutes

Tyler Adams: Had 48 touches within the second half and was 36/38 in passing – however the midfield cohesion was nonetheless off: Ranking: 5.5

Brenden Aaronson: The New Jersey native changed Paul Arriola on the half and performed the best way Arriola sometimes performs. He introduced power though his ultimate ball was missing on the night time. He was simply 8/12 in passing: Ranking: 5.0

Ricardo Pepi: The FC Dallas product is in nice kind however managed only one shot on this sport – which was an enchancment from different attackers: Ranking: 5.0

Cristian Roldan: The Seattle Sounder put forth an effort that was missing – successful all six of his duels. He tried to be feisty however the ultimate ball was missing: Ranking: 5.0

DeAndre Yedlin: The Galatasaray fullback wasn’t an enchancment for Moore when he got here into the sport within the 68th minute. Yedlin wasn’t capable of get ahead or swing in something harmful: Ranking: 4.5