BY ADAM SERRANO
CARSON, Calif. — There were plenty of lessons to be learned on Friday as the U.S. men's national team soundly defeated the U.S. Under-23s, 4-0, in a scrimmage at Home Depot Center.
Chris Wondolowski opened the scoring midway through the first half before Benny Feilhaber doubled the lead for senior squad moments later. Shortly after the second goal, Teal Bunbury capitalized on a turnover by Jared Jeffrey to score the third goal for the senior squad. Bunbury's teammate with Sporting Kansas City, Graham Zusi tallied the final goal of the match for the senior team.
Following the scrimmage, U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann admitted that the match was an extremely valuable measuring tool for evaluating his players as the team heads into in the final week of preparations for friendlies against Venezuela and Panama.
"This scrimmage gives us how comfortable they are on the field, how they shift, how they take the guidelines that we gave them and implement them," said Klinsmann. "Now, we can read the players a bit better…We knew about their personal capabilities, but not in the context of the team so that's why we need these games to see that then we can go ahead and modify our training sessions."
Although the scoreline was far from flattering, U.S. Under-23 head coach Caleb Porter believed his side performed well against Klinsmann's group.
"We learned that the way that we trained has begun to take shape. We worked a lot on the attacking and possession as well as ball circulation and movement," said Porter. "For large sections of the match, we controlled the tempo and the rhythm, but there is a balance to that as well because you need to get some penetration from possession and continue to show a killer instinct in the final third."
The two teams will face off again on January 17th.
Lineups and Notes from the scrimmage:
SCRIMMAGE LINEUPS:
Senior team: Nick Rimando (Bill Hamid 45'); Zach Loyd, Michael Parkhurst, Geoff Cameron (AJ DeLaGarza 45'), Heath Pearce (Jeff Parke 45'); Graham Zusi, Benny Feilhaber (Brad Evans 45'), Jeff Larentowicz (Ricardo Clark 45'), Brek Shea; Chris Wondolowski (CJ Sapong 45') Juan Agudelo (Teal Bunbury 30')
Under-23s: Zac MacMath (Sean Johnson 45'); Josh Gatt (Sheanon Williams 45'), Zarek Valentin (Royal-Dominique Fennell 45'), Andrew Wenger (Sebastien Ibeagha 45'), Kofi Sarkodie (Jorge Villafana 45'); Amobi Okugo (Michael Stephens 45'), Jared Jeffery (Sebastian Lletget 45'), Mix Diskerud (Isaac Acuna 45'); Freddy Adu (Kelyn Rowe 45'), Jack McInerney (Josh Gatt 66'), Dilly Duka (Tony Taylor 45')
GAME OBSERVATIONS:
Finishing eluded Porter's men throughout the match. Although the U-23 squad was able to control the first 25 minutes of the match, they routinely saw their chances go wide of net. Jeffrey had the finest chance of the evening for the U-23s firing a shot from 30 yards out just wide of Rimando's net.
Brek Shea was the most dominating performer throughout the course of the match as he challenged the U-23's backline. Shea is one of four members of the senior squad — Agudelo and Bunbury and Hamid being the others — who are eligible for selection to the Olympic squad. The FC Dallas attacker played some part in each of the senior squad's four goals and sent in the cross that led to Zusi's goal at the end of the first half. Following the match, Porter admitted that having Shea, Bunbury and Agudelo playing for the senior squad will only serve to help the Olympic campaign.
”The nice thing is that a couple of the goals were generated by guys who are going to be with us," said Porter. "That gets me excited because I know that through the experiences that they’ll have with the senior year, they’ll bring those experiences back to us and enhance our group.”
Juan Agudelo excelled in the first half but left the scrimmage near the end of the first half to receive treatment for an ankle injury. At the moment, there was no diagnosis for the extent of the injury.
Josh Gatt put in an uneven performance on the night for the U-23s. Playing at right back in the first half, the Molde winger showcased his blistering speed as well as a willingness to get involved into the attack. However, on the defensive end, Gatt was consistently challenged by Brek Shea, who blew past the defender on several occasions. In the second half, Gatt was pushed forward to right wing and helped create several chances for the U-23 team.
Amobi Okugo had the strongest showing for Porter's U-23 team. Appearing composed on the ball, the Union midfielder aided in the attack as his side pushed forward in the first half. However, where he was most effective was in defense, frequently breaking up chances for the senior team.
Less than 24 hours after being drafted by the Montreal Impact, Andrew Wenger started at centerback for the U-23 team alongside Montreal teammate — and childhood friend — Zarek Valentin. The number one pick in the 2012 SuperDraft appeared composed alongside Valentin, but was frequently targeted by Chris Wondolowski, who beat Wenger for the opening goal of the match.
Similarly, Kelyn Rowe, the number three overall selection for the New England Revolution, performed well coming on in the second half and helping the U-23 team dominate possession. Rowe was at his best late in the second half when he sliced through two defenders, creating a scoring opportunity for the U-23s.
Bill Hamid enjoyed the best day among the four goalkeepers, making several timely saves as the U-23 team pushed for a goal in the second half. Hamid's best stop of the night came midway through the second half when he parried away a close range header from Royal-Dominique Fennell.
Jermaine Jones will join the senior squad on Saturday after being added to the January camp roster on Friday afternoon while he serves an eight-week suspension with Schalke.
we do have a number of players in that position but I wouldn’t be so quick to write off mix. He has been starting professionally for a number of years and with OGS as his manager he has gotten looks from Manchester United.
If you add in 2/3 German/Americans, 3 over aged, and 2 U-23 who are on the Senior side, only 3 or 4 of these players will make the starting 11. When will Porter have that fist 11 to work with? Perhaps never, since the Olympics don’t get FIFA releases.
Might explain the score…
Yeah, I wasn’t giving Klinsmann any credit for bring Jones onboard, I was referring to him bring Jones into camp during his suspension being a good move.
I, for one, thought Bradley did good things for the program while he was here and have nothing to say against him. I’m just optimistic about the Klinsmann appointment (he was a childhood idol for me growing up, to boot) and hope he is able to take the program to the next level.
I wrote friendly instead of scrimmage
Grant Wahl wrote on Twitter that Freddy Adu played really well in the friendly. There were other similar comments on Twitter from other journalists.
are to = are not
good question, who do you have in mind?
are you talking about for the qualifiers or for the next game?
well, you kind of have to read between the lines, i think the reports say the U23 dominated the midfield for good portions of the game but didn’t have the personnel to finish (score). Porter is known for possession soccer, he needs to work on his defense. I’m also under the impression that the senior side kind of “let off the gas” after half time.
How did Cameron & Parkhurst look on D? Anyone…?
I believe club teams are to obligated for olympics qualifiers but if we make the olympics, then clubs are required to release the players.
I agree with most except about JJ, he was already under BBs command. Now most of the U23 kids I think JK had more of an active role than BB.
not sure, Elite is stating that porter “has forgotten more about soccer than you have ever known” maybe the “forgotten” for “knows” would be more appropiate. Porter is known for being an offensive tactician, i think this scrimage shows his weakness on defense. hopefully, he can improve that in the next week or so.
there are better midfielders in the U-23 pool than mix
I heard Freddy did some good things in the first half as a LF. I still think Porter needs to put Adu at the #10 position for the U-23’s. Gatt definitely needs to be used as a RF or LF in Porters 4-3-3.
Most curious about Freddy, Mix and Feilhaber – who looked good?
sorry, allowed…
He’s been reported as battling an injury, only stretching and light jogging aloud at this time.
Why no Beckerman?
Hey Ives, “Shea is one of three members of the senior squad — Agudelo and Bunbury being the others — who are eligible for selection to the Olympic squad.”
I don’t know if you were only thinking about field players but you forgot Hamid and Johnson. These players have bounced back and forth between the senior side and U-23 side so much I get confused about which camp they’re in. And although they’re both with the senior team now, it looks like Johnson played with the U-23s? Interesting, I was kind of hoping they would do that with some of the field players, let them play part of the game with the U-23s. Probably for the sake of team chemistry though it would be difficult to just throw them in with players they haven’t been playing with and expect them to perform well.
I’m encouraged by the report of the match.
I’m glad that the senior team won – after all, if the senior team can’t beat the U23s then they shouldn’t be the senior team.
But I’m also glad to hear that the U23s dominated possession. This is hopefully a sign that the overall skill level of our player pool is improving over time. I’m especially encouraged by the fact that U23s Agudelo, Bunbury and Shea were some of the best performers with the Senior Team.
Again, I’m with @Elite Hunting.
Camp Cupcake shut out the U23s 4-0. Yes I know some of the top U23s weren’t there and that some were playing for the senior team.
Regardless, possession is nothing if it’s not possession with a point.
I don’t always agree with @Elite Hunting, but he’s right.
Porter knows what he’s doing, and he did play Gatt on the wing in the second half (if you read the article).
Juan,
I’m curious. Do you blame the USSF for that? Or do you blame the media who aren’t giving you what you want?
To Elite Hunting’s point, I think it’s fair to note that the media attention has been far greater and of course twitter and other forms of communication are far more pervasive now than they were in 2007 when Bradley started out. And that is because the fan’s expectations of transparency are much higher than what they were even a few years ago. We live in a very different world now.
The USSF has responded and is making more of an effort in terms of their Studio 90 videos and the like. Bradley was renowned for his reticence but I think this new transparency goes way beyond the manager.
It’s fair to note that JK just can’t shut up. With the possible exception of Maradona, JK may be the most talkative and transparent National team manager of any country I’ve ever followed.
He has made his objectives pretty clear and any US fan who does not understand his selections,tactics and plans for building up the team either isn’t paying attention or doesn’t understand the game very well.
Kelyn Rowe,…2012 MLS Rookie of the Year.
There’s no way Williams plays if Chandler is available to Porter. Maybe at LB?
Josh Gatt was moved forward int he second half.
it says Josh Gatt was subbed at halftime for Sheanon Williams. i’m assuming this means it was Sheanon Williams who was dangerous out of the back in the second half? Sheanomenon is a stud and should be a lock at RB for the Olympic team.
The impression I get is that there has been a greater visible degree of communication and systematization between different echelons of the national team program, and a greater emphasis upon building careers for our up-and-coming players, through European loan deals on the club level. It certainly seems to me that there has been a much closer and more active interface between club and country with our players, and loans and Jermaine Jones being brought into camp are just examples of that. I’m not saying any one of these things would not have been possible under the previous regime, but I do see movement and activity in the past year that indicates new policies and modes of thinking are being brought about, and that, to me, is cause for optimism.
I’m not criticizing Bradley, I’m saying that there has been a marked change of policy that I find refreshing. And for the record, I think there has been a much greater degree of transparency in regard to what’s going on within the camp than under Bradley, who tended to keep his cards close to his chest. None of these points are unreasonable.
FIRE CALEB PORTER!!!! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!
What is Jurgen doing with the program? I dont know whats hes done
Wow the guys can score goals. Oh wait, it was in the US against our U23s. Forget it.
Laughable. They dominated a game they lost 4-0? Be serious.
If you didn’t get this information when BB coaching it is only because you weren’t paying attention. It was certainly available. This criticism of BB isn’t valid.
b: Caleb Porter has forgotten more about soccer than you have ever known. Let him put players where he thinks they can best help the team in a meaningless scrimmage in a January camp. Sincerely, everyone else.
easy killer..just relax bro..we’ll be alright..JK cant please everybody..we’ll just have to wait for the games!! (not trying to be an a hole, just chattin with ya). peace.
Everyday I search for something, anything, on how the Senior guys are looking in camp. This scrimmage may be “open” and “transparent” but the lack of any kind of camp reports is becoming annoying.
What I take away from the stories here the even though they didnt score.. the U-23s dominated? That can’t be good but is very typical of what we’ve seen from Klinsmann’s teams against almost anybody they play. Time is running out. Qualifying is just around the corner and we BETTER start looking good very soon if we want to be part of the big show
This is only for the team called into camp. When the actual olympics come Jozy and others should play, but the Olympics is NOT a FIFA tournament and teams are not obligated to release their players.
Oh, and Timmy Chandler and Bill Hamid?
Isn’t Altidore also a senior team member that is available for the Olympic team? Or are they just referring to players that were at this scrimmage?
I enjoy all these glimpses into what the program is doing under Klinsmann. I realize scrimmages like this aren’t exactly unique, but the fact that they’re open and that were hearing about them and about how players are doing adds a dimension of transparency to the whole setup that we didn’t have under Bob Bradley or previous senior coaches. I like that we have someone like Caleb Porter involved in the youth setup and I really like what Jürgen is doing with the program.
Why are there only 10 starters listed for the u-23’s?
(Gatt)
Caleb Porter: please stop playing Josh Gat at right back, that is not where he belongs. Sincerely, everyone.
word
hi Adam,
I’m curious how the following players did: G.Cameron, F.Adu, D.Duka, M.Diskerud and S.Lletget
I’m assuming that if you didn’t write about them, they neither impressed nor looked bad.
y no highlights?