For the third time in 2018, the U.S. Men’s National Team is set for friendly action.
The U.S. faces off with CONMEBOL representative Bolivia at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pa. on Monday. This will be the first action for the USMNT since a 1-0 friendly win over Paraguay back in March. Youth is the highlight of Dave Sarachan’s roster this time around, with the average age of the 23-man squad being 22 years old.
Eric Lichaj captains the USMNT for the first time in his career, while Antonee Robinson, Alex Bono, Erik Palmer-Brown and Josh Sargent are each earning their first caps. Christian Pulisic headlines the starting XI, while Tim Weah and Weston McKennie also get the nod.
The boys in 🔴⚪️&🔵. Here's how our young squad will line up for #USAvBOL.
Lineup notes » https://t.co/hXJivOtHZ6 pic.twitter.com/nfdOsDJcRT
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) May 28, 2018
The SBI Staff will be offering updates and analysis in the comments section below, so feel free to follow along, and as always, please feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions below.
Enjoy the action.
Pulisic with a good ball into the box but nobody can get onto it. 66′
Larry can you think of a guy who hasn’t performed well thus far? Admittedly not much opposition… and Pulisic hasn’t gotten much going.(though expectations are different)… anyone else?
Everyone did well when call upon but then again it is Bolivia. Weah stood out after a nervy first half, i thought Robinson and Lichaj did strong too. McKennie bossed the midfield, and the CB duo was comfortable overall. Think work needs to be done as a whole tho against Ireland/France
Green goes for goal himself but misses wide. Had a wide open Novakovich there as a better option but called his own number. 65′
Green goes for goal himself but misses wide. Had a wide open Novakovich there as a better option but called his own number. 65′
Weston McKennie gets a yellow card. Safe to say it’s been coming with how physical he’s been playing. 64′
Triple subs coming for U.S. Andrija Novakovich, Keaton Parks, and Julian Green coming on. Timothy Weah, Josh Sargent, and Joe Corona coming off. All three gets rounds of applause with Weah getting the biggest. 61′ 3-0
And Timothy Weah gets on the end of Robinson’s cross to make it 3-0 U.S. A fine finish and a better pass from the Everton loanee. 59′
And that is a yellow card for Corona after he tackles Ribera. 57′
Ok I’ve seen enough. Josh Sargeant is a friggin’ star. Also, this Bolivia team is really bad. I’ve been following the USMNT for almost three decades and can’t recall a less threatening opponent.
I too am a fan of Sargent, he was very active but nothing about the game shouts star just yet, especially as you said against a pretty weak opponent.
It is Sargent’s first senior goal for the U.S. A good finish but I assumed Lampe would do better on that effort. Still hats off to the forward. 53′
A mistake by Bolivia and Josh Sargent beats Lampe to double the U.S.’ advantage. 2-0 52′
Fernando Saucedo is given a yellow card for a shoving match with McKennie. 48′
In unrelated news, I’d peg the ref’s weight at 75 pounds.
This is true.
And we’re underway in the second half. No changes by the U.S. Carlos Lampe, the most experienced national player for Bolivia comes in for Vizcarra. 45′
I’d like to see Green and Gooch get an extended run out in the 2nd half, Leave Sargent in for a while, and at this point no need for CCV and MM- let them play the full 90 next week
An MLS player scoring off a set piece. Lalas is happy.
Not a surprising first half but just take out CP. He looks exhausted or just wants the game to be done with, long grinding season get him the rest
Have to agree. Looks like a pointless exercise for him. Get some other guys a look and get Christian a rest.
And the whistle goes and we have halftime at Talen Energy Stadium. The U.S. lead Bolivia 1-0 thanks to a first-half header by LAFC’s Walker Zimmermann. Easily could’ve been more the Dave Sarachan’s side, but we can expect to see some changes in the second-half for both teams. HT 1-0.
Minimum of 2 minutes of first half stoppage time. 1-0 45′
A foul by Bolivia’s Alexis Ribera gives the U.S. a free kick on the right side of the field, just outside of the box. 43′
On the U.S. goal it was their seventh corner of the first half. Pulisic had been taking the earlier ones but Corona, the Club America midfielder had taken over since. 42′
Some strong defending by Robinson who does not allow a through ball to get through and puts it out for a corner. 41′
McKennie gets whistled for another foul, kinda surprising he has not had a long talk yet with the referee. 40′
A nice looping header by Zimmermann beats Vizcarra to the right side of the goal. It is the LAFC defender’s first international goal. 39′
Walker Zimmermann with the header of Joe Corona’s corner and it’s 1-0 to the U.S. 37′
A nice move by Guido to get past the Bolivian defense but his pass for Pulisic is not handled. 36′
Now Bolivia’s Hector Ronaldo Sanchez is down after a collision with McKennie. 34′
A nice effort by Sargent is blocked out for a corner kick. 33′
Understanding between Sargeant and Weah has been a nice positive. Rubin and Robinson are impressing as well.
First Sub of the night goes to Bolivia as Jose Sagredo is coming in for Baldomar, who is being carted off. 31′
A nice run and cross by Robinson finds Weah on the right side of the box, but a block by Oscar Baldomar sees the ball go out for a throw in. 30′
A nice passage of play by the U.S. is snuffed out by Bolivia. 29′
Beautiful cross by Antonee Robinson finds Pulisic in the box, but the midfielder cannot gather in time before Bolivia clears. 26′
A long cross by McKennie is aimed for Weah but was hit a little too hard. Vizcarra easily gathers. 24′
The cross from the Dortmund star is juggled by Vizcarra but the play is whistled dead for a foul. 20′
A nice 1-2 between Weah and Sargent leads to another U.S. corner. Pulisic doing his best to pump up the American Outlaws. 20′
Weah is back on the field but is limping and not running full speed just yet. 19′
Not a good sight as Tim Weah is down and holding his left knee. Medics tending to him how. 17′
Corona’s cross a little too high for the head of Sargent as Bolivia relieves pressure. 16′
A nice find by Weah to hit Corona in stride but not enough power on the shot. Easy save for Vizcarra. 15′
Second corner for the U.S. as Pulisic’s cross is deflected out. 10′
A great pass from Joe Corona to hit Weah in stride but the winger is kept out by Vizcarra. 10′
An extra touch from Weah was not the best idea as the PSG forward lets the ball go out for a goalkick. 9′
Pulisic with the corner and McKennie gets his head on it but it’s just wide of the left post. 6′
Tim Weah with a slow but dangerous cross into the box. Bolivia puts out for first corner of match. 6′
EPB & Z over Miazga/CCV? Surprised?
Bolivia’s Rodrigo Vargas is down and getting treatment by the medics. 3′
First shot for either side is a scuffed effort from Bolivia just outside of the box. 3′
And we’re off from Talen Energy Stadium! Should be a fun one indeed.
Good evening all and thanks for joining us as always. Fun lineup from the USMNT with several first-time starters. Personally, really looking forward to seeing Antonee Robinson and how he handles things at left back given the obvious weakness that position has been.
As for those of you with questions regarding why X player or players aren’t in the lineup, several players are being rested for European-based friendlies while those that are leaving are getting the chance at playing time. Expect substitutions to reflect that a bit as well.