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USMNT vs. Portugal: Live Commentary

The U.S. Men’s National Team is set to close the 2017 campaign by beginning a new era.

Roughly a month after seeing World Cup dreams dashed, a very new-look USMNT squad is set to face Portugal in the final game of the 2017 season. The squad is a young one, and the starting lineup features young faces like Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Matt Miazga and Ethan Horvath.

After being out of the picture for the World Cup qualifying push, Danny Williams returns to the field as captain, and is joined by veterans like DeANdre Yedlin, John Brooks, Eric Lichaj and Kellyn Acosta.

The SBI staff will be offering updates and analysis in the comments section below, so feel free to follow along, and as always, please feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions below.

Enjoy the action.

Comments

  1. Please freaking shoot me with Bruce Arena on Fox. GET RID OF HIM NOW!!!!!!! Really bad coach, even worse commentator.
    Overall very excited with game. Tons of positives. Hate to go there but this team would have gotten it done against T&T. My point is Bradley, Dempsey, Altidore, Gonzalez, Healer should be DONE.

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    • Agreed! Having Arena on this broadcast is an insult and slap in the face to all US fans unless it’s just him apologizing and getting grilled. Disgusting.

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  2. Hasn’t been pretty but doesn’t need to be. Love the crazy hustle in the midfield. McKennie, Williams, Acosta, Adams all playing with some crazy adrenaline engines….They are flying everywhere to cover and close space…

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    • Midfield has held up much better than expected. Have to say the USMNT has probably won that battle. So much energy, and have to add Sapong to that list as well. Been chasing down everything.

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  3. Ref got really touchy with the “foul” in the box on the disallowed Brooks goal…Way more physical play than that in the box usually…

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    • 7′ VERY good cross to the back post, but Lichaj gets there and clears it out for a corner. Good play from the veteran fullback.

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      • 16′ Good spell for the U.S., but now a good spell for Portugal. Great work from Miazga on a long ball to the speedy Bruma. The Vitesse centerback does well to shield the ball and let it roll out.

      • GOAL MCKENNIE! Interception in the midfield and the ball gets to Sapong out wide. McKennie beats his defender and finishes near post. Great finish from the young midfielder and it’s 1-0.

      • 30′ Pretty composed in the moments following McKennie’s goal. U.S. looking fairly strong. Not much going forward for Portugal thus far.

      • 31′ GOAL PORTUGAL, and it’s a howler from Horvath. No real way to explain it. Cross into the box from Antunes and it just slips through Horvath’s arms. Rough one for the young goalkeeper.

      • 35′ Good response for Horvath. Fernandes hits one hard and Horvath collects the dipping shot. Little confidence boost.

      • HALFTIME: 1-1 at the break. McKennie with the opener before a Horvath blunder undoes it. Overall, some positive signs. McKennie and Adams have looked good. Liked Sapong’s game so far. Not much to be concerned about from Brooks/Miazga.

        What are your takeaways? Who do you want to see come in?

      • 52′ SAVE BETO! Incredible stop from the Portugal goalkeeper. Close-range header from Adams is somehow kept out. Still 1-1.

      • 54′ Lichaj with a shot and Beto parries it away. Ensuing corner sees McKennie hit the crossbar. U.S. pouring on the pressure.

      • 73′ CCV almost has his head kicked off by Beto, who is lucky that his unorthodox flying kick save didn’t result in anything worse.

  4. Hey all. Checking in now ahead of today’s match. Definitely a younger lineup that I expected but, then again, why not? Interested to see how Miazga/Brooks handle everything and how the young midfielders do with the step up.

    Feel free to fire some questions/analysis my way up to kickoff and all through the match!

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  5. Pretty defensive lineup. Going the safe route I guess.Williams/Acosta/McKennie are all box-to-box central midfielders…Not really split the defense type passers…Looks like set pieces/scrappy shots type game…

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    • Just look to navigate the first half and then go from there. Not going to outplay Portugal with the lineup they have. Will have to weather the storm and then hit them quickly.

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