The U.S. men’s national team takes the field for the final time this calendar year on Saturday night, looking to claim a 17th victory of 2021 with European opponent Bosnia and Herzegovina standing in the way.
The USMNT will look to set a new federation record with a victory at Dignity Health Sports Park (8 p.m. ET, FS1), ending what has been a successful year for the squad and coaches. Gregg Berhalter will get to see plenty of players for the first time in Saturday’s match including Brooks Lennon, Jonathan Gomez, and Caden Clark.
Several veteran players will also have a point to prove ahead the return of World Cup Qualifiers in January. Walker Zimmerman, Gyasi Zardes, and Jordan Morris headline the veteran contingent brought in for the final match of 2021.
Here is a rundown of SBI’s pre-match coverage previewing Saturday’s friendly:
Brooks Lennon is looking to stake his claim in a crowded USMNT right back pool
The USMNT remain motivated to end a successful 2021 year with a record-setting win
Who Should Start for the USMNT vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Taylor Booth is ready to add his name to the USMNT midfield conversation
Five Key Questions that will be answered in the USMNT’s December camp
Jordan Morris is grateful to be back with the USMNT after two years away
Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions on the match in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action.
why were gomez and reynolds sitting behind bello and lennon? people wonder why i think the coach is clueless.
I wondered if they had minute limits from their clubs. The bigger question for me was why did we think the Acosta/Roldan CM pairing would be able to create anything. You never know if somebody picked up a sore muscle or ankle sprain so we don’t use them but the game was pretty predictable with that pairing.
We have a goal! Cole Bassett taps in the rebound off of a shot from Jonathan Gomez. #USAvBIH 1-0 heading into stoppage time.
86′ 0-0.
A lot of subs for both sides and BIH seems content with sitting in and hoping for a draw. Dual national and soon to be Real Sociedad defender Jonathan Gomez has entered the match for the US in the 83rd minute.
69′ – 0-0 and a yellow card given to Walker Zimmerman for a foul on Nukic Ajdin. There was a little wrestling match between the two and a loud scream from Ajdin was enough to draw the foul. Getting a little chippy as Jesus Ferreira gets a yellow card of his own.
54th minute – 0-0.
First group of subs out for the USMNT, looks like Jonathan Gomez, Cade Cowell, Taylor Booth, Gyasi Zardes, Bryan Reynolds and Jackson Yueill.
Trio of subs coming on for the USMNT — Gyasi Zardes, Jackson Yueill and Bryan Reynolds enter the match. Ricardo Pepi, Johnny Cardoso and Brooks Lennon depart at the 62nd minute mark.
Morris has to bury that chance in the first half. Great run and cross by Ferreira though. Like the way he is playing
Agreed, forgot to mention him in my first half standouts but his movement has been really strong.
Ferreira that is
0-0 — Halftime.
Players that have impressed me so far: Jordan Morris, Kellyn Acosta and Walker Zimmerman.
Back four has been solid, but the outside backs have been pressured a few times in transition. Some of that is expected because of how far up they are playing in possession. Imagine we see a few changes coming out of the half and hopefully some goals, but hard to learn a lot now that BIH is down a man for the remainder of the match.
40th minute – 0-0.
And we have a red card given to Bergic Amar of BIH after he came in from behind on Kellyn Acosta. Acosta currently limping off with the trainers but looks to be ready to re-enter the game. No VAR tonight.
27th minute from the stadium and still 0-0 with a few chances from both sides. Ricardo Pepi with the best chance for the U.S. in the 14th minute off of a cross from Brooks Lennon, but the FC Dallas striker could not finish the tap in opportunity.
28th minute and BIH is starting to find some success going at George Bello.
30th minute — still 0-0, but a set piece from BIH leads to a dangerous few seconds of penalty box pinball, but the USMNT escape unphased.
As I was typing this Jordan Morris headed the ball on frame off of a cross from Jesus Ferreira, but the attempt was saved by Cetkovic Nikola. Worth noting that Morris has moved to the left side and Ferreira to the right.
8th minute – 0-0.
Bosnia is playing in a 3-5-2, offering an interesting challenge for the USMNT, which is set up in its favored 4-3-3.
Very interested to see Johnny Cardoso in the defensive midfield role, and Jordan Morris, in his first USMNT start in two years.