Photo by ISIPhotos.com
Juan Agudelo's birthday is six days away, but he got his best present a week early, scoring the game-winning goal to help the U.S. men's national team top South Africa in exhibition action in Cape Town on Wednesday.
Fellow debutant Mikkel Diskerud worked a give-and-go with Agudelo, who took a touch in the penalty area before coolly chipping a shot off the bottom of the crossbar for the only goal of the match.
The goal made Agudelo the youngest player to ever score a goal for the U.S. men's national team.
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan, the captain for the young U.S. side, preserved the shutout with a handful of clutch first-half saves.
On a night when five players made their U.S. national team debut, every one of the newcomers made a positive impression. Along with Agudelo and Diskerud, Tim Ream was solid as a solid central defender, while Teal Bunbury played the target forward role well for 45 minutes. Gale Agbossoumonde came on in the 87th minute and helped hold the lead.
It wasn't just the newcomers who impressed. Midfielder Alejandro Bedoya and right back Eric Lichaj were standouts on the right flank for the Americans, while veteran centerback Clarence Goodson was a rock in the middle of the defense.
Not all performances were good. Robbie Findley floundered yet again as a starting forward, while Jonathan Spector struggled at left back, as did starting left back Jonathan Bornstein.
The U.S. national team ends the year on a high note and will return to action in January against Chile, a game that could feature several of the same players who played in today's victory.
What did you think of the victory? Ready to order your Agudelo jersey? Excited for the future of the national team?
Share your thoughts below.
Woo-hoo! Now he just needs three goals against Chile to match Eddie Johnosn’s production in his first two caps! (ableit in friendlies, as opposed to Eddie’s WCQs)
intriguing, while juanito has a little way to go, i can see chicharito terrorizing the US defense for years to come, i like him a lot cause i like ManU, but he is gonna make mexico even tougher
I love how Lalas immediately took the conversation after the game to “we cant get to excited or over hype this guy”. are we really that neurotic?
Bradley makes up the rules to fit what he wants to do.
Yes, under future USMNT coach Marco Bielsa. Ha
+ 1. Loved Mix on that play
You’re an idiot. Do you think Spain, who lost to us in the Confeds cup and got thrashed by Portugal today, cares about their friendly record that much? Do you think they said, ‘oh my God the sky is falling since we lost to the U.S.’? No, and they are the World Champions. I’m pretty sure if a team came out with a losing record in a WC year and still won the cup they’re fans would be happy.
Blake-I want some of whatever you are smoking
The difference is that Spector isn’t getting any playing time, even in cups or reserve. He isn’t making the bench.
Again, I don’t know what game you were watching. EVERY announcer and commentator was saying how they thought Bedoya was great today.
There you go focusing on the athletic skills instead of soccer skils. he is not playing basketball or on a track team.
The U.S.A. needs players with skill not track runners like Findley.
By the way he plays in a position were he shouldnt be running around defending, he just needs to control the game and make smart passes.
If you want to see people running around defending go and watch Serie A.
I could see Jones or Edu there. Don’t know about their crossing ability, although Jones seems fairly skilled
As much as many people will want to crap on this statement, Bob Bradley deserves some recognition for tonight’s game. He selected a great mix of young players, many of whom we have wanted to see for a while now, and incorporated most of them into the game and at the right times.
Still think that LD will have to be our creative linchpin in the attack, even if he loses a step. Hard to see anyone else, except maybe Holden, able to take over that role against the best teams. Still, along that line of thinking, how about one of our many defensive centermids at leftback?
This would be a nice line up for the Chile game. 😀
I think age can be disguised at certain positions better than others. Donovan’s best position is winger, and he’s admitted publicly that his game is built on speed. You’re right about Zidane (my all-time fav), but he played centrally; his name was never built on speed. True as well for Cannavaro, although he and Italy stunk it up in SA. Figo and Portugal crashed out in 2002, which I think was his last WC, although I’m not positive.
I agree Landon is great at his position… I just think that when his legs go a little bit, it’s going to be harder for him to make the same impact. There’s precedent for players moving from winger to outside back as they age, and I love his leadership and demeanor on the field. The suggestion has nothing to do with Donovan’s quality and everything to do with Bornstein’s complete lack of it
Bedoya was amazing haha i don’t know what match you watched on that one. I do agree with you on the throw-ins though.
Rogers was way better then him Bedoya did nothing today. He is so slow in play.
No Donovan? Dempsey? Howard? Altidore? Bradley? Holden? Edu? People getting significant minutes or even starting for teams in the EPL, Bundesliga? Really?
Plenty of excellent players on the WC2010 team and others who didn’t quite make it. If Bradley knows what he’s doing, he won’t jump on the youth bandwagon so blindly after the results of a single friendly.
Not true..the last goal he put in for Villareal was far from a tap in. He was carrying the ball down the right flank, cut inside against 2 defenders and finished cooly with his left foot just inside the 18.
Just for the hell of it, here’s a lineup I’d like to see someday:
ST: Agudelo, Altidore
Mid: Holden (LM), Mix (CAM), Bedoya (RM), Bradley (CDM)
D: LD, Ream, Onyewu/Agboussamande, Lichaj
GK: Howard/Guzan
Is* Brazil, Holland, or Germany.
Figo, Millard, Cannavaro, and Zidan were old in their final world cup tournaments , but played great. Just because you are a little older does not mean your form and skills go down it is a thing of how bad do you want to get better. Keep Landon at his position he is very good at it.
Um Lalas alway says something negative to say he never says anything good, please do not be sarcastic with me Lalas needs to stop talking like the USA mens national team in Brazil, Holland, or Germany we are an emerging soccer nation. I like hearing criticism too, but all the time by someone who does not seem to realize we are still trying to figure out a winning solution of formation and best XI it just gets old and boring hearing him bash the team and captain, who died and made Lalas the also god of everything to know about soccer ? Well apparently if you like his bashing then why are you a US fan ?
+1
mentioned this a few days ago in a thread and got shot down by some enthusiastic posters, but I wonder (if no other LB option emerges by then) if Donovan could feature there in 2014. Not now, of course, with the Gold Cup coming up. But in 2014 he’ll be 32, a couple steps slower. If the midfield and strike force continue developing so promisingly (MIX!), we could have a lot of talent at our disposal there. So, IF the choice is a) bring LD on as a super-sub, a la Blanco for Mexico or b) play him the full game at left back, I’d say he’d be great there. Would add a huge attacking threat on that side, and I think he has the discipline and savvy to pull off the defensive work.
I welcome any reasonable responses. Once again, it’s just a suggestion
I’m also intrigued by this kid (MIX). Hopefully we will see more of him in the next camp.
Never understood fans that just like to hear rosy commentary and zero criticism all the time every time.
FYI: Edgar Castillo got the start tonight in San Luis in the Mexican Playoffs for San Luis at left back. Perhaps Bob will give hime a call in January for another go around. Why not? Nobody is really locking it down right now. What do you guys think?
I wouldn’t consider Bornstein having a good track record or a good WC. I guess we see the player with different eyes.
No matter how much Bornstein struggles he always seems to get a starting spot. Why?
+100 again
+100
Exactly. No goal if Mix rushed or tried to jam things in, instead it was his play with the ball that made the space, and the goal, possible. He’s young and playing in Norway so we shouldn’t get carried away but those 2 played the game the right way, together, which you don’t see often – or to be honest almost never from USMNT strikers since the Davies accident. Love Demps but he needs players to work with and Jozy is a work in progress still.
He did a good bit of work at the other end after setting up the assist, too.
Just think that Agudelo will only be 29 when the U.S. could host the World Cup in 2022!!!!
Bedoya did nothing good he was horrible.
Alexi Lalas is so negative I am so tired of hearing him on tv complain on what the USA needs to do and who needs to step up and who needs to be left off and called. If he is so perfect why is he not the USA coach. I wish he would stop being so negative and being the first to cast the first stone it is getting old. When Agudelo scored he act like he was not happy and was like whoopie he scored, but he got a long way to go. We know that Lalas, but give the kid props.
Bedoya was horrible. He kept on being slow with his trapping and slowed down play. He falls down to easily and he is just not ready for the international level yet. Rogers played way better then him.
Well, how many times does a shot like that bounce away from the goal rather than INTO the goal?
I’d be thanking the heavens, too, if I had that kind of luck on my first call-up to the senior team. In front of shitload of people. As the visitor. With ESPN talking about it.
Yes, I loved that and his post-game reaction. Seems like a good kid.
Bedoya was horrible too. Spector needs to work on his throw ins they were horrible.
It was acting weird. Just start any internet-cast and then find the game on the right side of the pop-up window. Then, click on the that. It’s sort of hidden. you have to click open the menu. Good luck.
What is ridiculous is to think that even if used properly he fits at this level. He barely can hack it in MLS. Findley is garbage and as my colleague above pointed out, is best suited as a water boy.
DIDO. 😀
Actually calling him ignorant is the proper response. Calling him stupid would have been uncalled for. Ignorance is not knowing the facts, stupidity is knowing and still failing to be correct. The comment was in fact made in ignorance because this did not cap-tie anyone to the US, but in all likely hood they will be US players just because we gave them a shot and they performed well so will probably get some more calls when it matters.
Robbie is a good player he works hard and crosses a lot I do not understand how people criticize him constantly Bedoya has done nothing for the national team no goals , or no assist.
It’s probably b/c the goals Jozy does actually make are so unimpressive. Any recent goals (which are few and far between) are pretty much just tap ins.
What game were u watching > Did you not see when he burned that guy and crossed to Bedoya ?
My thoughts:
-I can’t remember the last time I saw the Men’s national team play that well. A lot can be said about the quality, or lack of quality, of the opposition. However, an international friendly is top-level soccer, especially when it’s played in that environment.
-The vuvuzela has a “Pavlov” effect on me. The monotonous tone of 50,000 vuvuzelas evokes vivid images of Michael Bradley sprinting to the touch line with his arms outstretched in the 80-something minute against Slovenia, and Ian Darke screaming “GO GO USA” while Donovan becomes the bottom of a massive dog pile at the corner flag. I get chills hearing Ian Darke and vuvuzelas at the same time.
-The rising quality of soccer in MLS shone tonight. Players like Logan Pause, Tim Ream, and I never thought I’d say it… Eddie Gaven, were visibly better than their opposition. MLS players always seem to think a bit too slow in international friendlies, but tonight MLS showcased their products very well.
-Bob Bradley has found his formation. The 4-2-3-1 we started with absolutely dominated South Africa, in particularly in the midfield. Players swarming around the ball, then dinked the ball around in tight space. It was beautiful to watch.
-Robbie Findley sucks. ‘Ol brick feet was at it again tonight. He does not deserve another call up.
-What good can we NOT say about the USMNT youth? There are so many pluses that came from this roster; I don’t know where to begin. Eric Lichaj, Tim Ream, Alejandro Bedoya, Juan Agudelo all played the game of their lives.
Wow you are a genius. You want to have my job?