By FRANCO PANIZO
The U.S. men's national team may have been hoping to head into World Cup qualifying with a confidence-building win, but they instead finished their summer friendlies with a frustrating result.
The United States was held to a scoreless draw by Canada at BMO Field in Toronto on Sunday night in its third and final friendly before World Cup qualifying begins. The Americans struggled to create chances against a compact Canada side, and goalkeeper Tim Howard made a handful of saves to prevent the hosts from picking up their first win over the United States since 1985.
Canada did not have many quality looks either, but they saw a first-half goal waved off for a questionable Dwayne De Rosario foul on left back Edgar Castillo. Canada also missed a late chance to come out victorious when substitute Simeon Jackson missed a shot from point blank after De Rosario got by Michael Parkhurst on the left flank.
Clarence Goodson came closest to scoring for the United States in stoppage time, but Canucks goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld swatted away his headed effort seconds before the final whistle.
Castillo, who was given a late start after Fabian Johnson picked up a knock in pre-game warmups, also had a chance in the first half to break the deadlock before Hirschfeld parried away his volleyed effort from distance.
Playing in their third friendly in nine days, the United States was not able to create the number of chances that it had in a loss to Brazil and a lopsided victory over Scotland. Canada's midfield pressured the Americans and the hosts' back four stayed compact and disciplined.
U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann started Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey together for the first time since he took over. But the American duo were not able to muster much in the way of offense as Canada closed in on them quickly to prevent the quick combination passes that the U.S. team demonstrated in the two prior friendlies.
The United States will next take on Antigua and Barbuda at Raymond James Stadiun in Tampa Bay, Fla. on June 8 to start its World Cup qualifying campaign.
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What do you think of the United States' 0-0 draw with Canada? Who impressed/disappointed you? Are you feeling good about the team's style of play as the head into World Cup qualifying?
Share your thoughts below.
some SBI readers blow my mind. HE CAN’T CHANGE BECAUSE HE ALREADY FILED HIS ONE-TIME SWITCH. This has been covered MANY times by SBI.
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This was one of the most frustrating games to watch…as a U.S. Supporters Club member, I have to say that we were lucky to come away with a tie…we looked awful and after watching how Mexico played against brazil, I don’t even want to compare the 2 concacaf teams…it’s too painful….hopefully this is not what we have to look forward to as USMNT fans and coach Klinsmann has something good up his sleeve
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This was one of the most frustrating games to watch…as a U.S. Supporters Club member, I have to say that we were lucky to come away with a tie…we looked awful and after watching how Mexico played against brazil, I don’t even want to compare the 2 concacaf teams…it’s too painful….hopefully this is not what we have to look forward to as USMNT fans and coach Klinsmann has something good up his sleeve
Dude, I agree. Castillo was solid last night. I honestly can’t believe some of the comments about Castillo.
This was one of the most frustrating games to watch…as a U.S. Supporters Club member, I have to say that we were lucky to come away with a tie…we looked awful and after watching how Mexico played against brazil, I don’t even want to compare the 2 concacaf teams…it’s too painful….hopefully this is not what we have to look forward to as USMNT fans and coach Klinsmann has something good up his sleeve
I agree about Castillo, Goodson and Jones being the 3 best US players tonight.
dude, the fact you have Castillo as the worst completely invalidates anything you said. this guy was being attacked all night and was still able to keep a clean sheet. he played well.
Disagree about Torres but agree with everything else.
Jones was my #2 on the night. Goodson bailed us out a few times. Jones got forward well, passed well and caused problems for Canada all night. I thought his work on defense could have been better though.
No, this just simply isn’t true. He was hardly EVER caught out of position. Canada attacked his side ALL night and he was ALWAYS there. Not ONCE did Boca have to play LB. His passing going forward wasn’t the best, I will agree with that. But no one seemed to be able to pass last night. As for crossing, I think he crossed it 1-2 times. If anything, he needed to cross more. But he would keep dribbling and ended up losing it. That was my issue with him last night. He needs to be quicker in his decision making.
Absolutely dude. The only thing Castillo was poor in yesterday was doing too much, usually when getting forward. He played pretty well defensively.
You know there are several places people can go to verify all the things you just said, right?
Mexico’s pre south africa ‘confidence-building’ schedule:
5/24/2010 v england in england
5/26/2010 v holland in germany
5/30/2010 v gambia in germany
6/3/2010 v italy in belgium
then this:
8/11/2010 v espana in mexico city
Mexico are good. Our hatred of them doesn’t change that.
Dude, same here. Castillo was the 3rd best player on the pitch tonight for the USA. Behind Goodson and Jones. Canada attacked the left side ALL NIGHT and Castillo only got beat (flat out) 3 times, only one of which resulted in a non-goal. He provided options out wide and combined pretty well with Torres (not as good as Johnson though). He got forward and was pretty dangerous, but sometimes too spastic. Despite what people think, I think Castillo showed he is capable to fill in a LB. Given how poor we were today, he would probably be better in a game we were playing well in.
Actually, the majority of Canada’s attack came down our leftside and Castillo basically stopped every single one of them. He got beat a few times, but was pretty solid overall. His problems seemed to stem from being spastic, especially when he got forward.
Well, right now Mexico > USA, so I don’t think we’ll be in first. But things happen, so I’m not giving up hope.
It did look like the team trained through the game. And am I the only one who doesn’t like Donovan out on the wing? Put the best field player ever for the US in the middle!
Parkhurst plays RB for his club. I agree he did not look good, but you are wrong that he is not a RB.
Castillo did NOT look awful!!!
Dude, I agree. I don’t know why people are getting on him. Canada attacked the left side the entire game and he stopped them almost every single time. He did get lucky on the non-goal, but the guy was solid. He just needs to relax a bit.
I couldn’t disagree more about Jones. And I agree with you about Castillo’s game. Aside from Goodson, those two were the next best USA players on the night. Jones created much of the attacks that we managed to get. He was constantly charging forward, and doing it well, causing Canada to foul him. His defense was questionable tonight though, but Bradley was clearly the one tasked with sitting in front of the back four.
As for Castillo, he played well. Especially considering the team didn’t really play well and he thought he was’t even on the bench 15 minutes before kickoff. He has good foot work and can pass well. He’s quick and good at getting in the way. My issue with him is he can be a little spastic and try to do too much. But if he can continue playing like that, he’s certainly a solid LB depth option.
No, he’s not.
There seems to be something of a Yaya Toure situation with Bradley. Man City would seem to be a more attacking side with Toure at DM instead of De Jong and another attacking mid (usually Nasri) added in front of him; yet their attack always seemed to sharpen when an apparently defensive substitution was made (Nasri off) and Toure was pushed higher up the pitch. Similarly, Torres instead of Edu seems to be a positive, attacking change, yet it’s pinned Bradley back in the 6 and stripped the offense of his driving forward runs. The Scotland lineup, with Dempsey in for Torres, might be the best attacking team JK can put out there.
Note: I am not comparing Toure and Bradley, or Man City and the USA, in terms of quality.
i agree with you. imagine if he came in instead of Edu.
that’s got to burn. I am surprised he would do that.
So playing a spanish country in another spanish speaking country compares to playing Belgium in Brussels and Slovenia in Ljubljana? And since when was Poland a power in Europe? You sir need to do some research
Yup. Still banging my head on the desk wondering why Lichaj’s watching these games on a slowly-buffering internet stream.
A very unimpressive outing. We were somewhat lucky not to lose
Is Fabian pulling a chandler?? If.he doesn’t play a quali this time I think were gonna lose him too
This game was soooo bad, that I ended deleting the recording of it. LD just wasn’t there. seldom I saw give support to DOLO, not sure if that was designed. LD’s passing was bad, can’t sugar coat it. If JK wasn’t to play from the back…why have Gooch in there, he can’t pass, never has. either Edu or Williams be the DM have JJ and MB in front. Now that we are playing for real, I wonder if we will see the same CB pairing, that is going to be hard to watch specially when going to Guatemala.
apparently, Gooch does so well at training that he is always going to be in the starting lineup, even with a limp.
Yes he is and he deserves to start! Gooch has not been th e same since getting injured. Against good teams it seems like his feet are incased in concrete.
No you didn’t. First time watching the team that I feel I wasted my time.
LMAO!!!
Well said! F Mexico!!!
+1 on Danny Williams
Couldn’t agree more about your comments. If there is anybody that i am very high on than it is Gatt. I think he is a player and deserves serious consideration because i truly feel that he can make an impact at this level. Dead on with all your points Crispy
Goodson is solid.
Glad to see my assesments were so far off, lol
I think I agree that there is way too much reactionary posting. I’m guilty of it, for sure.
However, it is hard to deny that this was a poor display. The game was pretty tough viewing. You’d expect the US to take care of Canada, and when they don’t, it raises eyebrows. Fans are right to ask questions, but it’s far too early for doomsday sentiment.
Sounds like I didn’t miss anything important.
Take Torres out. Put Edu in as a destroyer. Have MB and JJ play as box to box mids. Jozy up top. Donovan and Dempsey slightly off to either side of him
The Epic Meal Time guys (Montrealers) call ham ham and bacon bacon.
That’s because he’s not a right back. That’s the 2nd reason JK is an idiot for not calling up Lichaj. The first reason was also shown to us today, and that is that if Fabian Johnson goes down you’re stuck with Castillo at LB. Lichaj should be the main backup at RB and LB.
He was miscast in the 4-4-1-1 JK ran out today for the beginning of the game. Instead of continuing to press forward he slows up the attack and plays back and sideways passes because that’s what he does. That’s all he does. That’s what he’s programmed to do. He’s not a left mid.
best post yet.
anticipating some hate for this, but that was a perfect game for adu, one of the few players in the pool that can take a pathetic game like that and make it interesting, not always in a “good for the US” kind of way, sure, but at least it’s fun to watch. yes, he falls short in many other categories, but his x factor is worth it. i hope he gets his club situation sorted out. not a starter, but a great 70 min sub during a dead game.
Play Beckerman, allow Bradley to play a more offensive game, result: a more offensive performance by the US.
I feel your pain Benny, but as a resident of South Louisiana, I don’t exactly have tons of people I can vent my soccer frustrations to.
I think we would have won 3-0 (maybe 4)if Hainault hadn’t flaunted the rules with those “black bicycle shorts.” It threw the Americans off their game. Everyone knows the bicycle shorts MUST be the same color as the uniform shorts… damn Canadians have no respect for the beautiful game.
Disgusting.
From who’s perspective the United States or Canada
Probably have been for years