After a gradual begin, Andi Herzog’s U-23 U.S. males’s nationwide staff scored 4 second-half objectives to defeat Panama and arrange a date in opposition to both Mexico or Honduras with a visit to Rio on the road.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
October 07, 2015
7:45 AM
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THE UNITED STATES U-23 males’s nationwide staff completed off Group A with a convincing 4-0 victory over Panama on Tuesday evening at Dick’s Sporting Items Park in Colorado. With the win, the Individuals completed group play with an ideal 9 factors, outscored their opponents 13-2.
Earlier than the beginning of the sport, the USA knew it had received the group no matter its outcome due to Canada’s disappointing 2-2 draw with lowly Cuba. Panama, then again, had every part to play for: a three-goal win in opposition to the U.S. would maintain Panama’s semifinal—and Olympic—hopes alive.
Head coach Andi Herzog rested a number of regulars and utilized a 4-2-1-3 formation. Ethan Horvath began in aim in his return to his dwelling state, with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Will Packwood (quite than Matt Miazga) in central protection. Boyd Okwuonu began at proper again whereas Dillon Serna, a Colorado Fast taking part in in his dwelling stadium, bought the nod at left again.
In central midfield, Matt Polster and Luis Gil performed behind Gedion Zelalem, who was arrange within the playmaking position. Up high, Alonso Hernandez and Gboly Ariyibi began out huge, with Maki Tall within the center.
The sport began off gradual and torpid, and Panama did have some stretches the place it took the sport to the USA.
The Individuals’ finest likelihood of the half got here by Zelalem within the tenth minute, however his shot couldn’t beat Panama’s goalkeeper. Sadly for the Arsenal product, on mortgage for the yr with Rangers in Scotland, he once more didn’t make sufficient of an impression and was taken off at halftime.
Initially of the second half, Herzog made two modifications, changing Tall and Zelalem with Jordan Morris and Jerome Kiesewetter. With that newfound tempo within the U.S. combine, it took simply 5 minutes for the Individuals to get on the board. The scoring started when Ariyibi moved into the field on the left aspect and had his cross redirected into the online by Panama’s Fidel Escobar for an personal aim and a 1-0 U.S. lead.
Two minutes later, the lead was doubled on a really good mixture between Ariyibi, Morris, Gil and, in the long run, Kiesewetter, who was despatched right into a harmful place on the appropriate aspect and fired a low shot contained in the far put up. The US then made it three objectives in 5 minutes within the fifty fifth, when Kiesewetter made a run down the appropriate aspect and despatched a low cross in to a sure-footed Morris for an insurmountable 3-0 benefit.
A fourth aim got here within the seventieth minute after Kiesewetter was introduced down within the field on a harmful run. Actual Salt Lake’s Gil—carrying the captain’s armband instead of the Crew’s Wil Trapp (suspended as a result of yellow card accumulation)—stepped up and transformed the penalty regardless of the keeper getting a hand to it.
The dominant exhibiting in Tuesday’s ultimate match was a becoming finish to Group A, which the Individuals stormed by from the get-go. They are going to subsequent head to Sandy, Utah, for Saturday’s first semifinal in opposition to the second-place finisher of Group B.
Heading into that all-important semifinal matchup, Herzog appears to be like prone to lean on the chemistry between Morris and Kiesewetter, each of whom have performed unbelievable attacking soccer to date. Kiesewetter completed group play with three objectives, two assists, and two drawn penalties; Morris with 4 objectives and one help.
The U.S. staff received’t know its foe for sure till Wednesday’s Group B decider between Mexico and Honduras. Honduras wants all three factors to assert the group and keep away from the U.S., whereas Mexico will take the highest spot — and a date with Canada — with both a win or a draw.
