By RYAN TOLMICH
Despite making eight changes to the lineup, it was a familiar face that led the way for the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team in what will likely be their final game of the Toulon Tournament.
Julian Green provided the lone goal for the U.S., leading the way in a 1-0 victory over Qatar in the Americans’ final group stage game. Despite the victory, the U.S. appears to be on the outside looking in when it comes to claiming a spot in the tournament’s third-place match.
The U.S. got off to a fast start through Green, who opened the scoring with a familiar-looking volley in just the eighth minute.
After stealing the ball on the right sideline, Alonso Hernandez darted down the right sideline before centering a looped cross to Green. The 19-year-old winger proceeded to volley a shot first time in a similar fashion to his World Cup finish, giving the U.S. the early 1-0 lead.
Green stayed active throughout the first half, proving to be the focal point of the U.S. attack. The Bayern Munich product continued to be a menace throughout the opening 40 minutes, with his best chance at a second goal coming on a 17th-minute curler from outside of the box.
Defensively, the U.S., and goalkeeper Tyler Miller, remained largely untested due to the dominance of the midfield unit. The biggest harm to the U.S. backline proved to be the injury bug, with Juan Pablo Ocegueda leaving early due to injury while Sam Strong was forced to depart after being bloodied by a stray elbow.
The second half proved to be more of the same for the U.S., with the introductions of Jordan Morris and Jerome Kiesewetter affording the U.S. a few decent looks throughout the second stanza.
That would not yield any finishes, however, as the U.S. were forced to settle for just a one–goal victory, likely not enough for advancement due to the team’s goal differential.
With the victory, the U.S. finishes the group stage with six points in four games and an even goal differential. As a result, the U.S. will now need to rely on the help of France to help clear the way of the Netherlands and Costa Rica en route to a spot in the third-place game.
As things stand, Costa Rica sits on three points through two games, while the Netherlands equals the U.S. tally of six with a plus-three goal differential.
France and Costa Rica are set to collide on Tuesday afternoon. The group stage then rounds out on Thursday, as Costa Rica takes on Qatar and the Netherlands faces group leaders France.
US fans are showing a bad tendency to eat their own. Never thought I’d see biases against our own young players. Or maybe he’s not considered our own?
On a day in which the debate has been about whether things have changed massively, or will stay effectively the same, it’s vaguely appropriate that Julian Green would finally score again. In pretty much the exact same way.
Think about it for a second. Then realize it’s meaningless.
It seems there are some really good players in the under 20 team. Maybe in the near future they could go to the under 23s.
It’s good to see Julian Green finding his level.
Looks like he’s a one trick pony…(one shot pony?)
That was going to be my line….
Aarghh! That was going to be my line…
Don’t forget Green is still just 19. The kids in New Zealand are his ‘level’. His generation.
Speaking of which, he could have been better to bring to the U20 WC?
I agree, I think it would have been awesome seeing him, Hyndman, and Zelelam running the midfield in the u20 and growing up together.
However, I am sure it has to do with the fact that Green turns 20 this weekend.
Our potential olympic team is exciting. If the u23s get their act together during qualifying. Losing to Costa Rica is not a good sign.
Benji Joya: turn over machine.
Can you hear the voices……”Ding dong the witch is dead. The witch is dead! Ding dong the wicked witch is dead!”
quick Sepp just resigned…
The U23’s have looked completely worn out for the past two games. This is a rough tourney and they got dealt a bad hand by getting 3 games in 5 days.
After watching Morris play in a couple of different contexts, it is clear…the kid is OUTSTANDING. I think he may be the best forward prospect I have seen in watching the USMNT for the past 30 years. He’s the American Wayne Rooney…replace the bad attitude of Rooney with a classic American blue collar mindset and there you have it.
It’s funny to see that the people who are watching simply cannot compute how good this kid is because he plays at stanford rather than some developmental team in Germany.
He is exceptionally strong, exceptionally fast, creative, good with his first touch, can combine quickly and creatively, wins headers, scores finishers goals, and plays all out.
Morris is our best prospect…better than Green, better than Zelalem.
Not impressed with what I have seen of Morris’ technique. He strikes me as just an athlete mostly. And “blue collar”, his dad is a physician and he is going Stanford, hardly blue collar. Perhaps its just that “American thing” as Sir Alex called it.