Photo by ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
Jurgen Klinsmann entered the U.S. Men’s National Team’s friendly against Canada wanting to erase the memory of last summer’s dull scoreless draw in Toronto.
Rather than forget the bitter feelings from that game, they were compounded, as a young and inexperienced Canada squad held an inexperienced U.S. team to another goal-less draw on Tuesday night in Houston.
The Americans were the better side for much of the night at BBVA Compass Stadium, but once again were unable to find the breakthrough against their northern rivals. In fact, the well-organized Canada, who was routed by Denmark just three days prior, had arguably the best chance of the game off an early volley from Dwayne De Rosario.
The U.S. controlled possession for large stretches and had some decent half-chances, especially in the second half of the match after Klinsmann made a number of substitutions. Still, the Americans struggled to break down a compact Canada side that was content on sitting back and hitting on the counter.
The insertion of Benny Feilhaber and Josh Gatt at halftime helped a tepid U.S. side look more dangerous in the closing 45 minutes, but the Americans was wasteful in front of goal. Juan Agudelo, Brad Davis and Omar Gonzalez all had looks on goal but did not convert.
Gonzalez came closest to putting the Americans ahead, getting on the end of a Feilhaber free kick before heading the ball just over the crossbar.
The Americans deployed a 4-1-3-2 to start the game but switched to a 4-3-3 in the second half. Will Bruin, Alfredo Morales, Justin Morrow and Tony Beltran all earned their first caps in the game. Goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who did well to deny DeRosario in the opening minutes, started and went the distance en route to recording the cleansheet.
The U.S. national team will return to action on Feb. 6th when they travel to San Pedro Sula to face Honduras in their first qualifier in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. Klinsmann has said he will pluck anywhere from 6-9 players from this current team to the one that will compete in next week’s qualifier.
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What do you think of the USMNT’s scoreless draw with Canada? Who impressed/disappointed you? Which players do you think will be taken to Honduras?
Share your thoughts below.
Everyone says the US needs to find a playing style and its seems as if we have been searching for a playing style forever. Maybe because we have so much diversity in the US that we might not need a playing style trying to fit ourselves inside a box that we are to big for anyway. I say put the best players on the field and just adjust your game plan to the team your playing next. Maybe not having a playing style is the beauty.
what a sleeper. Whimping out from direct shots on free kicks just outside of the area really summed up the lack of technical ability on the U.S. side. Also, if you are going to rely on looping crosses from the wings, then your forward and attacking mids need to get more bodies in the area. Overall, the game was definately not worth staying up to watch.
Klinsman better be paying for his own chopper rides after this.
If you’re worried about this game, you worry too much. This wasn’t a game they should have even televised. Meant nothing, playing vying for positions, playing a lack luster team that sat back, equals a recipe for yawn factor. Who cares? This was a match where only a few players were being watched and that’s it. Get over it.
How dare you think about this in a rational way? Why make sense when we could freak out about our opinions, berate the coach for not growing better players, and question why we even have a team. We should just give up now.
Here’s to rationality
We can always err on the side of projecting the illusion (sp) of rationality…as im sure you saw this result comming.
Some good discussion in this thread & love the passion & the different perspectives; must remember last night was just a friendly with many young American players that have very little international experience at the senior team level. A 90 minute trial in match conditions to see if there are any players who may help/represent next week, when the result really matters.
I agree that it was very difficult to watch, in that they did not respond effectively to Canada’s defensive-minded plan, but no reason to be down on our team – similarly to how when (a different 18) played attractive attacking soccer in their last contest vs Scotland was clearly no reason to be elated.
JK has his hands full, is doing a good job and is moving US Soccer forward. What happens in WC qualifying and in Brazil come 2014 will be the best measure of our progress.
Fugly game, but it is what it is: a friendly. Honduras will be a whole other animal.