It was a good performance for the domestic players against El Salvador as they won 2-1 thanks to Sacha Kljestan's goal one minute into stoppage time to win it. The US started hot in early in the 1st half getting out on the break in the first ten minutes. Conor Casey was caught offside twice spoiling clever through balls from the midfield, which was the strength of the team in the first half. Beckerman won nearly every ball, Kljestan delivered with a couple of good runs but failed to finish two good chances, and the wingers Robbie Rogers and Ben Davis had good pace and some good crosses.
Bob Bradley decided to go with the pair of Conor Casey and Robbie Findley up top, and half of the two showed up. Findley had tremendous pace and was able to get behind the El Salvador defense a couple of times. Casey however, was slow and drifted in attack being caught offside early in the half.
The first half didn't provide much of a test for the US defense and the backline went almost unnoticed, except for Heath Pearce. Who got up in the attack well, challenging the Salvadorian backline with some nifty footwork.
The US failed to finish a couple of good chances, most notably Sacha Kljestan received two open looks at goal, each time trying quick one timers that didn't really test the keeper.
The second half started with Brain Ching replacing Conor Casey, and they immediatley started testing the El Salvador defense. Ching came out very well and provided what the US wanted from Casey, someone who could win balls in the air.
Although the US was dominating early in the second half, El Salvador stole a goal in the 59th minute. As Brad Evans' header failed to reach Rimando in time and Rudy Corrales finished.
Eight minutes later Robbie Findley picked up an injury had to be replaced by Jeff Cunningham. It was disappointing for Findley as he was playing fairly well and should of scored just before getting hurt.
The US picked the pace right up again and were going desperately going for the equalizer. Brian Ching lead the charge and he unleashed a barrage of headers towards Miguel Montes goal, being denied each effort. Until the 74th minute, when a Heath Pearce ball found the head of Ching, and the Hawaiian placed it near post into the net.
The US appeared to not be satisfied with the 1-1 score and pushed for a second. This time it was Robbie Rogers who appeared as though he would score. He got behind the defense after his pass intended for Ching was deflected right back into his path to the goal. With Brian Ching square, Rogers decided to shoot, and his left footed shot missed wide left.
Minutes later Rogers had another attempt, doing much better this time, but his shot struck the post and went out of play. Roger's night was finished after that as he was subbed of for Geoff Cameron in the 86th minute.
It appeared the US was done, but El Salvador lost focus in their own half and Sacha Kljestan stole the ball from a Salvadorian defender. A quick one two with Brian Ching,put Sacha behind the defense and he finished it with class giving the US a 2-1 advantage.
Although the final score was close the US dominated possession, and appeared much more dangerous than El Salvador. Overall it was a good performance from the US, and the final score could of been 4-1. Several players stepped up and had good performances for the yanks, notably Heath Pearce and Brian Ching.
More to come tomorrow...
Showing posts with label Friendlies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friendlies. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
US vs El Salvador
Your standard 4-4-2
GK:Rimando
D(L-R): Pearce Goodson Bornstein Evans
M(L-R): Davis Beckerman Kljestan Rogers
F: (L-R): Casey Findley
GK:Rimando
D(L-R): Pearce Goodson Bornstein Evans
M(L-R): Davis Beckerman Kljestan Rogers
F: (L-R): Casey Findley
Preview: El Salvador Friendly
The United States will play El Salvador tonight at 7:00pm in Tampa. It's a big game for preparation for the World Cup in that it will be domestic based players' last time to impress Bob Bradley in hope to make the World Cup roster for SA. Their is maybe only one player who has a spot locked down, Jonathan Bornstein.
The Roster:
Goalkeepers: Troy Perkins (D.C. United) and Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Defenders: Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA); Clarence Goodson (IK Start, Norway); Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew); Heath Pearce (FC Dallas) and Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake); Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo); Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo); Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders); Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew); Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA); Dax McCarty (FC Dallas); Chris Pontius (D.C. United) and Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)
Attackers: Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids); Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo); Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas) and Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)
What to Watch for: Strikers
Bob Bradley and his coaching staff will probably take two of these four to join Altidore and Davies in SA. If the World Cup was today, I would think Casey and Ching would probably make the roster, but I want to see want Robbie Findley can do. Ching and Casey have virtually the same game as target men up top, but Findley brings a change of pace striker, kind of like Davies. Findley has been improving in the MLS and we don't really know what he can bring to the international game, but he will bring his blistering pace. Also, Ching is 31 and his tank has be dwindling, Findley is 24 and relatively new to the USMNT. Jeff Cunningham is a dark horse, he has always played well in the MLS, but has failed to impress on the international stage. He has terrific pace and is a quality finisher, but does not work well in combination with other strikers.
What to watch for: Midfielders
This part of the roster appears to be rather weak in that maybe only three players could make the roster, those three are Sacha Kljiestan, Eddie Gaven, and Kyle Beckerman. I see maybe one or two of this three make the actual roster as the US has too much quality in the midfield for these players to make the roster. Sacha Kljestan an attacking midfielder would probably be the first man to make the squad of this three, as he has the versatility to play wide and central midfield. Watch to see if Sacha is creating as the squad will direly need in the midfield. Look for Robbie Rogers for the next WC as he has great pace and is adept at putting balls into the box. This is the weakest part of the roster because most the US's midfielders play in Europe and we will see them later in friendlies against Turkey and Holland.
What to Watch for: Defense and Keepers
With Onyewu's recovery going to plan he has his spot back and there are probably two spots available in the WC squad. This game will be a try-out for Wynne, Bornstein, and Marshall. look for Bornstein to start and hopefully help out with the attack and the midfield will lack creativity and Bornstein could really help by making some runs up from his wide back position. Bornstein has a chance to steal a starting spot, as Spector has looked over-matched in the Premier League with West Ham United. Marshall, a center back plays for the Columbus Crew and has played well in the MLS, the question iscan he take his form to the international stage? I think he will, he played well in the last Gold Cup. Marvel Wynne has pace and power as a wide back, but he plays the same position as Bornstein so he will have to beat out Bornstein to get on the WC roster. Look for the wide backs Bornstein and Wynne to use the attacking prowess and help out a midfield that lacks quality. As for the goalies don't expect either Perkins or Rimando to either make the squad barring injuries to three of these four Howard, Friedal, Guzan, and Hahnemann.
The Game: I see the US coming out in 4-2-2-2,
DF(left to right)- Bornstein, Marshall, Goodson, Wynne
CDM- Beckerman, Gaven
AM-Kljiestan, Rogers
ST- Casey, Findley
Overview- Look for what the strikers do, these are guys fighting for a spot on the WC and have to show Bradley something. I see Findley starting over Ching, as Ching and Casey have too similar skill sets, but Bradley could very well give the nod to the Hawaiian, and choose to bring Findley off the bench in the second half to unleash his pace on what could be a tired back line for El Salvador. Also, look for Heath Pearce to come in during the second half if either wide back is struggling to get forward in the attack I predict a 2-1 game, advantage to the USA with goals by Kljiestan and Casey.
The Roster:
Goalkeepers: Troy Perkins (D.C. United) and Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Defenders: Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA); Clarence Goodson (IK Start, Norway); Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew); Heath Pearce (FC Dallas) and Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake); Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo); Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo); Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders); Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew); Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA); Dax McCarty (FC Dallas); Chris Pontius (D.C. United) and Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)
Attackers: Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids); Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo); Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas) and Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)
What to Watch for: Strikers
Bob Bradley and his coaching staff will probably take two of these four to join Altidore and Davies in SA. If the World Cup was today, I would think Casey and Ching would probably make the roster, but I want to see want Robbie Findley can do. Ching and Casey have virtually the same game as target men up top, but Findley brings a change of pace striker, kind of like Davies. Findley has been improving in the MLS and we don't really know what he can bring to the international game, but he will bring his blistering pace. Also, Ching is 31 and his tank has be dwindling, Findley is 24 and relatively new to the USMNT. Jeff Cunningham is a dark horse, he has always played well in the MLS, but has failed to impress on the international stage. He has terrific pace and is a quality finisher, but does not work well in combination with other strikers.
What to watch for: Midfielders
This part of the roster appears to be rather weak in that maybe only three players could make the roster, those three are Sacha Kljiestan, Eddie Gaven, and Kyle Beckerman. I see maybe one or two of this three make the actual roster as the US has too much quality in the midfield for these players to make the roster. Sacha Kljestan an attacking midfielder would probably be the first man to make the squad of this three, as he has the versatility to play wide and central midfield. Watch to see if Sacha is creating as the squad will direly need in the midfield. Look for Robbie Rogers for the next WC as he has great pace and is adept at putting balls into the box. This is the weakest part of the roster because most the US's midfielders play in Europe and we will see them later in friendlies against Turkey and Holland.
What to Watch for: Defense and Keepers
With Onyewu's recovery going to plan he has his spot back and there are probably two spots available in the WC squad. This game will be a try-out for Wynne, Bornstein, and Marshall. look for Bornstein to start and hopefully help out with the attack and the midfield will lack creativity and Bornstein could really help by making some runs up from his wide back position. Bornstein has a chance to steal a starting spot, as Spector has looked over-matched in the Premier League with West Ham United. Marshall, a center back plays for the Columbus Crew and has played well in the MLS, the question iscan he take his form to the international stage? I think he will, he played well in the last Gold Cup. Marvel Wynne has pace and power as a wide back, but he plays the same position as Bornstein so he will have to beat out Bornstein to get on the WC roster. Look for the wide backs Bornstein and Wynne to use the attacking prowess and help out a midfield that lacks quality. As for the goalies don't expect either Perkins or Rimando to either make the squad barring injuries to three of these four Howard, Friedal, Guzan, and Hahnemann.
The Game: I see the US coming out in 4-2-2-2,
DF(left to right)- Bornstein, Marshall, Goodson, Wynne
CDM- Beckerman, Gaven
AM-Kljiestan, Rogers
ST- Casey, Findley
Overview- Look for what the strikers do, these are guys fighting for a spot on the WC and have to show Bradley something. I see Findley starting over Ching, as Ching and Casey have too similar skill sets, but Bradley could very well give the nod to the Hawaiian, and choose to bring Findley off the bench in the second half to unleash his pace on what could be a tired back line for El Salvador. Also, look for Heath Pearce to come in during the second half if either wide back is struggling to get forward in the attack I predict a 2-1 game, advantage to the USA with goals by Kljiestan and Casey.
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