Photo by Brad Mills/USA Today Sports
By RYAN TOLMICH
Jozy Altidore may have done the damage Friday night, but it was Gyasi Zardes who pulled all of the strings for the U.S. Men’s National Team.
The LA Galaxy winger proved to be the USMNT’s biggest threat throughout 90 minutes and helped set up the U.S.’s game-winning goal, which earned him recognition as SBI USMNT Man of the Match in Friday’s 2-1 victory over Peru.
Throughout the opening half, Zardes was essentially the USMNT’s lone contributor, marauding down the left side repeatedly while testing the Peru defense. Creating several chances from the left, Zardes supplied cross after cross in the opening stanza, with his ball in in the fourth minute proving to be one of the lone U.S. looks in the first half.
In the second, Zardes and the USMNT finally got their rewards. Just eight minutes after seeing Altidore level the scoreline from the spot, Zardes helped feed the TFC forward for the USMNT’s second. Firing a cross in front of net from close range, Zardes’ effort deflected straight to Alditore on the backpost, allowing an easy tap-in to seal the USMNT’s victory.
Overall, Zardes proved to be the USMNT’s most consistent and dangerous attacker, earning SBI USMNT Man of the Match honors ahead of honorable mentions Altidore, Tim Ream, Brad Guzan and Jermaine Jones.
What did you think of Zardes’ performance? Which player stood out to you in the USMNT’s victory over Peru?
Share your thoughts below.
Zardes was very effective up and down the flank. Jones was awful. Klinsmann, kept him in way too long. He was lost and passed like a high-schooler. I was at the game which was dominated by Peruvian fans. My hat is off to them, even after the loss they were joyous and having a good time.
I think what we saw with Zardes was what we will continue to see from him. His speed and footwork is what enables him to get those great crosses in. Ineffective for the most part last night as Jozy and Woods were not in the box. When Duece and Bradley are back, this will be much more successful. Duece makes those long runs, Jozy is a holdup guy. The other side to Zardes game will come more visible in his ability to open up channels for Duece and Bradley, what he has really learned from Keane and Donovan. This kids ability to soak up all this knowledge in two years is phenomenal. The speed of play with the National team, he has picked up in less than a year. He is only going to get better!
Haha Peru! Like I said Peru is Peru, always a bridesmaids never a bride. We should Nickname Peru “el dorado” always every year they have a golden generation but we never see it like that mysterious city.
I think our defense held up well so credit to them and there were less scary moments then in recent US games. However, lumping the ball to Zardes creates the illusion of offense. Even though he was in Peru’s final third of the field, he was isolated and Peru didn’t have trouble closing him down. It was interesting that we rarely saw either Jones or Bedoya near the sidelines. However we saw Peru’s center miss triangle passing with their wings and backs. That’s the sign of a good team.
I was at the game with seats on the touch line so had a great view of the action in front of me. First, I’m blown away by the physicality of playing soccer at this level. I was very impressed with Tim Ream. The entire offense of the first half seemed to be long ball to Zardes but then there was nobody around him to play the ball to. He had too much to do on his own and his only recourse was to cross the ball and hope someone was there. Jozy looked quite good the second half. As for Yedlin, he has great speed and made his contribution but he’s still seems to lack basic technical skills. Jozy often had to tell him to run to space. The crowd had to tell him to make a run once and there’s no doubt he heard us. Fantastic atmosphere even if 90% of fans were Peruvian including most of my friends. Overall Peru was the better team and not impressed with the style of play of USA.
A couple of points. Because Peru had so much possession, the US got impatient when they got the ball and I think that’s why they played a lot of long ball in the first half. I am pretty sure that Klinsmann emphasized pressuring the ball and, as John Wooden used to say, be quick, but don’t hurry. While Peru does possess the ball a lot, much of that is on their half of the field. Once they got into the final third they still passed well, but they really didn’t break down the US defense much at all. In short, they look good at times, but they’re no Barcelona and, I think, not that formidable. When the game got stretched, they looked very vulnerable.
Bit off the point but just wanted to mention that Chicharito broke his collarbone in that (not-so) friendly with Honduras last night.
Jim,
Mexico played TNT last night.
Chicharito did break his collar bone in a game versus Honduras back in July and that kept him out of the Gold Cup.
One thing contributing to Zardes’s good night: Ream. He passes well. Zardes got the ball early, in good positions.
This is silly. If anyone else scores two goals, they’re MOTM for sure. It’s crazy that everyone is scared to declare the obvious. Jozy is clear MOTM here. He creates that first goal/penalty completely out of nothing in a moment of individual skill. That’s what we need. That’s what we’ve wanted from a forward. He also put the ball on the foot of Brooks for a wide open chance, Wood for another chance, had a brilliant flick to put AJ in, and ran hard all night. I’m on Jozy when he doesn’t show enough killer instinct or smart movement, but give the man his props when he does the job.
I still do not like zardes and his decent performance won’t change my mind. I just wish we had players that were better on the ball and could use some skill instead of speed to beat somebody. He had a decent game but still want more from him. Overall still think our player pool is getting better and we should have a strong WC 2018 team
We do have those players…JK needs to call them but I think JK likes bangers more
Rdiculous. Jk likes guys who help him win.
I have to laugh at myself because just last night I wrote a post cautioning people not to get too expectant about Zardes because he is still raw and needs more experience. The last couple of national team games his first touch let him down several times and I thought he looked a bit unsure at times. Tonight his first touch was almost flawless and he made some excellent crosses and his feel for the game and passing were usually first rate.
Also, Besler was good.
totally agree Ah.
i just feel better when Besler is on the field. …along with Cameron and Ream. They just seem much more calm and unflappable.
Ream impressed me. Yedlin impressed me. Cameron is class. I like Danny Williams out there. Zardes was pretty good. Ventura Alvarado had a much needed good game.
As for Jozy, he mostly looks horrible out there. Inexplicably bad simple passes. I have no idea what has happened to him. I know he got the goals and had a few decent passes but I think he is looking terrible. And this is coming from someone who gets annoyed by all the Jozy hate and always rated him. Until the last six months or so. Something is wrong.
I was really impressed with Tim Ream. He had his side on lockdown. Deandre Yedlin was also pretty good. his speed is unreal.
Both Zardes and Jozy were very good I thought. Zardes was more impactful in the first half, but Jozy did some good things in the first half too – his effort was there, but he wasn’t getting much service (largely because the US couldn’t hold the ball). That effort paid off in the second half when the whole team started to press higher. But Zardes is definitely a good choice for MOTM too. Dangerous all game long 1v1 and did some good pressing as well.
Gyasi is the future. Will he be the greatest USMNT player ever?
I’ll bet no on that one…
He can be the best of his generation…
Define his “generation”
He was the best tonight. I thought this was the best game I’ve seen him play for the NATs. I can’t argue his MOTM nomination. I also credit MIX with turning this game around. He so blew Bedoya off the field tonight. Our turnaround can be linked to Mix coming on the field and Bedoya leaving
Hopefully he’ll resist the pull from the EPL when it comes because that blackhole, hurts many more than helps. He would end up on some 2’d tier bench after being loaned out somewhere like his counterpart on the opposite side of the field.. He’s doing fine without going to Europe
Consider these points. From what you write, you would rate Zardes ahead of Bedoya. I think he is at least comparable to Beasley at the same age. He is at least as good as Dempsey was when he went to Fulham. Bedoya is a pretty regular player in France, Beasley played for some good European teams and, of course, we all know about Dempsey. He needs to land in the right place, but I think Zardes is close to good enough to be a starter with a team in a top 5 European league. By next year he will be good enough. He certainly is good enough for Holland.
You will get that effort all day long from Zardes, If you look at the replay, he also tracked back countless times to help out on D, I think he has profited more from his mentor Robbie Keane and before that, Landon Donovan, than he would if he had gone to Europe and rode the pine or played in a Euro league for a team nowhere as talented as the Galaxy
Think you’re right on both counts. Zardes work-rate is what keeps getting him PT. Even when other things aren’t working, doesn’t mope, just keeps grinding. Agree as well regarding the benefit to being with Galaxy. Europe v MLS isn’t something that should be generalized about- needs to be case by case depending on the individual player, his skill set, ability to adapt/blend in new situations and the team/situation/manager etc in either location. From Arena, to LD, to Keane, Lampard, even Gio- lots to draw from with mentors and…. playing time! There may be a time and a situation for Gyasi where a European move could be beneficial- but I would hope he chose carefully/not assume the grass is greener!
I am a Zardes and a Galaxy fan and don’t want him to leave the Galaxy. However, for his development and for the betterment of the national team, he needs to go to a team in a top 5 European league. I really thought he would get an offer during the August transfer window, but if he continues to play this well, I think it is very likely to to come in January. While he has a lot of great Galaxy teammate, it’s more important who you play against, not who you practice with. I think Dempsey became much more skilled than LD because of his years in the EPL. I see Zardes as Dempsey’s successor. Finally, if he goes to Europe he could end up setting himself up financially for the rest of his life.
Gary Page,
There are plenty of guys with his tools and skill set in Europe.
Memphis for example has a similar skill set but he is better and he is 2 years younger.
Zardes is going well right now because he is very intelligent, he has a great team to play for, two managers who love him and quite a few excellent teammates to learn from. This all breeds confidence which makes him even better.
It is a unique situation.
So unless he can find a comparable, really solid situation in Europe where someone will actually appreciate him and let him develop he may be better off spending his entire time domestically.
It would be different if he was 19 like Martial but at 24, most of the teams over there will look at him very skeptically.
Between 19 -22 a new young player can possibly develop and have a much higher re sale value. At 24 the re-sale profit potential is much lower. Zardes at 24 is actually only a year younger than Jozy.
For his sake, I hope he can find a better situation in Europe; but it won’t be as easy as you seem to think it will be.
Because Bruce rates Zardes highly and considers him incredibly valuable to the Galaxy and their chances to win CCL. It might take a great offer from a team in Europe for the Galaxy to consider selling him. I could see him moving as free transfer in the January 2017 window when Zardes becomes a free agent.
My man of the match: Tim Ream
Ream was by far the best defensive player on the field until Geoff Cameron came on and then they both had excellent games.
Ream and Cameron need to be on the field every time. They are a cut above the others.
US’ Best Defenders tonight:
1) Ream
2) Cameron
3) Besler
4) Brooks
5) Alvarado
6) Gonzalez
Omar was terrible. Alvarado was nondescript. Brooks had some good plays and some gaffes.
Besler was solid and deserves to get called in again and to be in the rotation.
Here’s who I run out there for the Mexico game:
LB: Fabian Johnson
LCB: Ream
RCB: Brooks
RB: Cameron
A problem the Galaxy has right now is that, unless MLS chan ges its rules again, they are basically tapped out when it comes to giving out big salaries. Zardes probably deserves Temporary Allocation Money right now and maybe a DP slot in the future, burt the Galaxy have used all those avenues up. Another thing to consider is that the Galaxy have both Villarreal and Jamieson, promising youngsters waiting in the wings.
I just went and checked on some US players who went from MLS to the EPL. It’s not an exhaustive list, but includes some of the more prominent US outfield players in the relatively recent past. McBride went to the German 2nd division when he was 22, spent two years and then went back to Columbus. When he was 24, he went on a loan spell to Preston North End, which was, as I recall, a Championship team. He then went back to Columbus and moved to Fulham when he was 31. Dempsey went to Fulham when he was 23 and didn’t start playing regularly for them until he was 24. Bocanegra was 24 when he went to Fulham. Geoff Cameron was 27 when he went to Stoke. So, going at 24 is not that out of the ordinary.