Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By JOSE M. ROMERO
PHOENIX — The U.S. U-17 mens national team had a two-man advantage, the result of two red cards shown to Brazilian players, over the final 15 minutes of Friday night’s friendly. But it couldn’t manage a goal and settled for a 0-0 draw with Brazil’s squad in the two teams’ second match of the Nike International Friendlies at the Reach 11 Sports Complex.
The match, played in front of an overflow crowd of mostly youth soccer players in town for the annual Winter Showcase tournament, was entertaining and full of physical play and scoring chances despite the absence of goals. Brazil’s approach was more aggressive while the young Americans were sound and attacked the goal more often. Striker Mario Rodriguez, who was a force in the U.S. team’s tournament-opening win over Korea Republic Wednesday, was Brazil’s target on Friday.
The target forward from North Hollywood, Calif., took three hard knocks and a kicked ball to the back of the neck, drawing a pair of yellow cards (and thus a red) on Brazil’s Luiz Gustavo. Rodriguez was tested for a concussion after the game but is expected to be fine for the Americans' tournament finale Sunday against Turkey.
It was clear that Brazil watched how Rodriguez overpowered Korea Republic's defenders. The Brazilians weren't going to allow that to happen to them.
"They're going to go after the big boy," U.S. coach WIlmer Cabrera said. "If you're good, they're going to come after you. That's soccer today. We saw Barcelona-Real Madrid. They went after Messi. So that's going to happen at all levels. The good thing is now Mario's a threat for any national team and is becoming a target."
The U.S., tied with Turkey at four points, can win the four-team friendly round robin Sunday with a victory or draw. Turkey can do the same, unless Brazil wins big over Korea Republic and overtakes the U.S. and Turkey in the event of a draw between the teams.
On Friday the U.S. played well on both offense and defense, its attacking players generating chances and its defenders in control and doing a good job of helping on a double-team or clearance if Brazil made a run. But the Americans couldn't turn their effort into a goal, even though they had 11 players to Brazil's nine on the field after Gustavo was shown a second yellow in the 72nd minute for kicking the ball into Rodriguez, and defender Wallace was sent off for a hard tackle on midfielder Marc Pelosi in the 80th minute.
"The speed of the game was fast. I think we played better than them," Cabrera said. "I cannot complain about the kids. Running, showing personality, intensity, they were brave. And when we had to create, we created…I'm pretty happy about the performance overall."
The U.S. lost attacking center midfielder Alejandro Guido to a back injury in the 25th minute and replaced him with Dillon Serna, who helped keep the team's shape over the course of the match. In the 64th minute, Serna gave the U.S. perhaps its best chance at goal when he centered a ball through the box perfectly but no teammate was there for a finish.
"Not what I'm used to, really," Serna said when asked about the rough play in the match. "But I like these kind of games."
Serna said the Brazilians were faster overall than the U.S. team, but that his side wasn't intimidated. Brazil's right wing in the match was Mattheus, son of Selecao legend Bebeto.
Still the U.S. frustrated their opponents into fouls and lost possessions.
Both team's goalkeepers were strong. Brazil's Guido made a couple of big saves and Fernando Pina of the U.S. kept the Brazilians at bay with the help of defender Andrew Souders, a product of the Columbus Crew academy who blocked a shot along with end line with a slide in the 66th minute.
2nd half very even and open. both teams have had some chances
Just after I said that, Everton hit the inside of the post and the ball rolls right across the face of the Chelsea goal. Everton all of sudden bossing the game.
OMG i knew fernando pina in middle school. Wow cant beleave how far he has gone.
How many times does Murphy get to cough up the ball leading to an Arsenal attack before he gets yanked? Good grief his play stinks today.
I think today has been one of his better games. BMG is down to 10 men, since halftime, Bobadilla was sent off, so that seems to have changed bradley’s role a bit, because he is pushing forward more. I’m not sure if this is a good thing or not, because as many people have pointed out BMG’s defense has issuses, but overall he looks like he’s having a good game. he did have one of his signature late runs into the box that couldve been a goal (too high) and several would-be assists.
How are they looking in the second half, Brent?
Chelsea is generally controlling play.
Wow, I am a Chelsea fan that generally detests John Terry as a person but wow did the team need him back there. He’s been a beast today.
typical Arsenal performance: total domination for the first 20+ minutes, score 1 goal instead of 3 or 4, then give up a semi-flukey one against the run of play, completely lose their confidence and composure, and are lucky to go into halftime tied 1-1.
hopefully they can come out with renewed fire in the second half. c’mon you gooners!
Since you’re watching BMG and Mikey B, how is his play overall? There’s been a lot of back n’ forth regarding his impact or lack thereof on BMG’s performance so what’s your take for this match…
Bradley scores but BMG collapse, conceded two goals in 3 minutes. Down 2-1
This game sounds like D2 the Mighty Ducks. The darn Icelanders picking on Charlie Conway.
I saw the goal, nice kick by bradley, but it was hard to tell if it went directly into the goal or was tapped in by bobadilla or deCamargo. but i guess espn says it was just bradley. awesome
I didn’t hear the commentators say one word about Dempsey’s ball into Kamara…normally I don’t care what the they say, but that was a beautiful ball that found Kamara one on one with the keeper
Michael Bradley scored for BMG from apparently close to 35-40 yards if you believe espn’s gamecast shot chart.
Mikey with a goal on a FK
all the US games have been on the Fox soccer channel. I think Sundays is 6:00 PM est, but don’t hold me to it.
Dempsey’s looked good so far… more so on the defensive side as he’s helped prevent or slow down several Arsenal attacks. well played assist to Kamara put him clear on goal to level the match.
Absolutely! He beat two defenders at the top of the box then split two with the pass to Kamara
Dempsey with a nice assist to Kamara. 1-1
Sounds like the US soccer future is bright. Is the Sunday game on TV?
no Saturday morning commentary? Ives, you’re slippin’
😉
Mario is listed at 190 LBs lol dude is a hoss. Would be interesting to see the team with Kellen Gulley, reportly our best player on this team.
+1 and from a technical stand point the next group may be even better. It was clear once we settled down we were able take the game to them at times. The Brazian team looked frustrated and lost their composure. Too bad Guido left early, I think if he had stayed in we could have won the game outright.
I was very impressed with out u17 squad. They really played evenly with the Brazilians, so this looks very good for our future. I absolutely agree with the statement about Mario Rodriguez. It says a lot that the Brazilians had to resort to thug-ball to stop him
I was impressed with the overall skill level, but the goalies seemed to dominate this one. Fernando Pina smothered some one vs. one situations that should have ended very badly.
wife and I watch a good part of this game, she had seen a couple minutes of the Korean match and couldnt believe this was the same level game, both teams were pretty impressive.
This hybrid nation even…
Even though previous teams have tied and even beat Brazil, this is the first time I have seen a youth team play as well in the run of play, as a Brazilian team. I am very impressed and that Columbian coach that the US has, seems to have found the hybrid Euro/south American style of play that seems to fit his hybrid nation.
Who says foreign coaches can’t coach American national teams?