Paul Arriola’s U.S. Men’s National Team debut was always going to be a memorable occasion, but the 21-year-old’s first taste of senior international action proved even better than he could have imagined.
Facing off with Puerto Rico in the first of three pre-Copa America friendlies, Arriola scored his first USMNTÂ goal while also providing an assist in Sunday’s victory over Puerto Rico. The performance helped lead the way in a 3-1 win while also netting Arriola honors as SBI USMNT Man of the Match.
While Arriola’s assist on Bobby Wood’s first half goal proved to be a game-winning one, Arriola’s true moment came early in the second half. Played in by Alejandro Bedoya, Arriola tapped in from close range to push the lead to 3-1. The goal provided valuable insurance for the U.S. against a Puerto Rico team that threatened more than many expected while also giving Arriola a special debut with the senior team.
Arriola’s performance earned him honors as SBI USMNT Man of the Match over Bedoya, Wood and DeAndre Yedlin.
What did you think of Arriola’s performance? Which player stood out to you on Sunday?
Share your thoughts below.
I didn’t see this match but I take it Yedlin was very active up and down the wing. I had a second look at the roster, which leaves little doubt that he and Johnson will be our outside backs. I think Klinsmann’s strategy is very clear, and almost promising. He has a ton of confidence in these two players, especially in the attack, and therefore an equal amount of confidence in the two center backs who, in all likelihood, will be alone a lot. It won’t be flat back 4. His roster is attack-minded in principle and it starts with these two players. Two of the only players on the roster who truly like playing wide, touching the touchline, and are naturals doing so. Nearly all of the midfielders like it central. Yedlin and Johnson in the back, in my opinion, put even more players potentially in their comfort zones (the midfielders). Acknowledging that in a tournament there will certainly be rotation, I see this as a very solid lineup (backups) –
Wood(Zardes)
Dempsey
Bedoya(Pulisic)-Jones-Bradley-Nagbe(Zusi)
Johnson-Besler/Brooks/Cameron-Yedlin
Call me crazy, we’re no pushover ! We won’t win the tournament though.
Watched Klinsmann’s facebook talk after the PR game. He basically said Johnson will be the left back, because we don’t have enough confidence in the other LBs. Playing say Bedoya in midfield is better than playing Castillo at LB was the reasoning, but he didn’t mention those players by name.
He ain’t wrong though … Castillo is a good player but continues to be a defensive liability. Added another mid who can track back and provide some wide D support is a good choice.
Did anyone notice Hyndman as much as I did, i was impressed with the movement and ball control. Something they lack awhole lot of and Green was impressive I thought also
I thought there was a lot of individuals working on their perceived Nat weaknesses, and I don’t mean that in a derogatory way. I think the staff hold told this players what they need to work on and asked them to show it in a game were the result was never really in doubt.
Hyndman and Green be aggressive and take players on one-on-one, Yedlin, we know you can get to the byline every time against these guys work on your crosses, Williams can you stay in the DM and be ball winner.
What was understated in all this commentary is that Klinsmann asked Arriola to play a more forward role. At Tijuana, Arriola has played several roles in midfield, but was most comfortable playing a deeper role and more as a box-to-box. In the JK setup, he was asked to stay forward more often instead of tracking back, almost the reverse of Zardes, an upfront, center forward who was asked to trackback, play underneath or to the outside/wings in midfield.
I think he passed whatever the test that Klinsmann had for him, he played the full 90, and got a goal, and assist and in his first cap. It’s gotta make JK happy and when you vindicate JK’s choice, you get playing time, so I expect to see him in Sept in the next WCQ matches.
Are you sure about that box to box role? I thought he played much more of a wing/forward playing off Moreno, but I only saw two or three matches this season.
His box-to-box was not regular, but was occasional, just among the many roles he took in midfield for TJ, that were, for the most part, deeper midfield roles than what Klinsmann had him play on Sunday. He did occasionally played on the wing and was effective, but Miguel Herrera mainly played him in a deeper role,than what Klinsmann had him. I think at 21, and as versatile as he is, he will get some minutes this year for the USMNT
He’s still the one that got away…
Anybody know where I can watch a full replay?
Its kind of that best player vs most valuable player debate. Certainly, there were players that had better overall games than PA, but you can’t argue with a goal and assist no matter how they came. He’s only 21 hardly time to right him off, Clint Dempsey was just starting his professional career at 21 (in no way saying Paul is the next Dempsey).
I thought Yedlin looked like the best player on the pitch.
Since tournament rosters are on everyone’s mind right now, it’s worth remembering that Klinsmann’s inclusion of Yedlin on the 2014 World Cup roster was quite controversial at the time: http://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2014/5/23/5743110/deandre-yedlin-us-soccer-world-cup-2014-roster
Yet it was Yedlin’s play in Brazil that earned him the transfer to the EPL, where he got the instruction that has helped him take his game to the next level.
If Klinsmann had let Twitter pick his roster in 2014 where would Yedlin be now?
Holland
It’s worth remembering most fans are complete idiots.
I know I am, but I admit it and admission is the path to recovery.
Youre joking around but it’s true Kermit.
Personally I would have given it to Lichaj for that run into the box he had. Dude wanted a goal.
🙂 Yeah, I watched the game at a bar and was a bit distracted. I just wanted to comment and be a bit obtuse for self-gigs.
Still though, despite the lacklusterness of the game, a goal and an assist in his debut and you seem intent on casting shade. I don’t know what he did to you, or if you’re worried people are going to think this means Arriola is the next big thing and want to make a preemptive counter-attack, but all this negativity from you about how he played seems undue and strange to me.
You’d give the man of the match to a player for a run? Because he wanted a goal?
It was a joke. Stop fixating on me you sociopath
Pot calling the kettle…?
Am I the only one who noticed how short this bro is? #nottallenough #nofuture
How tall was Pele? Maradona? How tall is the world’s number one, Lionel Messi? Don’t have to be tall to play soccer…
Sorry to suck in you in, but that was me being a troll type comment.
I thought about keeping it up though with this obnoxious response:
“Those guys could get away with it because of their talent level, but the worse you are the taller you need to be, especially at striker!”
😉
funny. we noticed his shortness when, after one of the goals, he jumped into someone’s arms for a celebratory hug….just looked funny b/c of his height. …looked like a little kid welcoming daddy home.. #hugthelittlepeople
This is more about how bleh the match was than how areola played. Bedoya set him up nicely and playing on with men down with a nice finish from bobby certainly padded his stats even more.
Calling a man a nipple: Classy
My phone doesn’t want to let me spell his name correctly. Relax
Hard to believe you with your track record of classy name calling
Not on the hype train quite yet. That being said I think he has a USMNT future.
No no no, I heard this guy is not a soccer genius, so how can he be man of the match?