The U.S. men’s national team was staring a lackluster goal-less draw in the face on Thursday night in Austin, Texas, until its persistent final-third attacking finally paid off and opened the floodgates.
A 3-0 CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal first leg victory over Trinidad & Tobago now sets the Americans up in good position to advance to the Final Four of the competition and also seal a berth into the 2024 Copa America. Despite being held in check for 80 minutes, Gregg Berhalter’s squad eventually found a way past the 10-men Soca Warriors and can breathe easier heading into Monday’s second leg in Port of Spain.
“I think that the easy thing to do is credit Trinidad and say how much they fought and how they weren’t giving up, and how compact they were and I told the guys, ‘Listen, they played great,” said Berhalter postmatch in a press conference. “They really did, gave everything, but I think our guys matched that and then even exceeded it.
“We didn’t lose structure,” Berhalter added. “We didn’t lose determination to try to get the goals and then when we did, you see we kept going and were able to get three, which puts us in a very good position to advance. We know we still have work to do. We know there’s 90 minutes left, we’re not done. But big credit to the guys.”
The USMNT didn’t register its first shot on target until the 54th minute, despite having an extra man advantage from the 38th minute onward. The Soca Warriors were content with allowing the Americans to have ample possession, however, the USMNT didn’t start playing wider until the second half.
“We lacked a little bit of precision, and you see there was a lot of moves in the first half that were pretty good moves that just the final pass was missing, or the first touch was missing,” Berhalter said.
Ricardo Pepi and Brenden Aaronson’s entrances into the match certainly provided a spark, taking over for Malik Tillman and Kevin Paredes. Pepi’s clever flick-on finish in the 82nd minute finally boosted the Americans in front before Antonee Robinson’s clinical strike and Gio Reyna’s insurance tally truly iced the victory.
Pepi, who has mainly served as an impact substitute over the past few months for club and country, has seven combined goals since the start of the new European season. Even in limited playing time, the 20-year-old has remained ready for his opportunities and proceeded to deliver yet again for the USMNT in a crucial match.
“All he does is when he gets the opportunity, takes advantage of it,” Berhalter said about Pepi. “And he’s in a great spot. If you think about his situation, his [club] team in the league is undefeated, doing well in the Champions League. Compared to last year, his team was relegated.
“The year before he wasn’t playing at Augsburg,” Berhalter added. “So he’s significantly increased his situation. He’s gotten much better for us. He’s established himself as a guy that’s hard to take out because he keeps performing and I think he’s in a great spot.”
The USMNT will be favored now to advance into the Nations League semifinals, especially with Trinidad & Tobago having to lay it all on the line on Monday’s second leg.
Could have been much more interesting _if it had been televised._
As it is: zero coverage, zero interest.
Huh?
TNT had the broadcast. It’s basic tv for people in Atl & metro. I’m talking about using the antenna.
Mexico down 0-2 heading home against Honduras. Canada vs Jamaica postponed to Saturday morning (can Canadian fed afford an extra night in the hotel). Panama up 3-0 going home. Imagine if Mexico, Canada, and Costa Rica are in the play in rounds.
Just saw the Mexico / Honduras score. Very surprising. Honduras usually plays Mexico ( and the USMNT ) at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula. The field is always a factor, as the grass is up to the players knees., That is not by accident. Today’s game vs Mexico was played at Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés in Tegucigalpa. The field was in perfect conditions. Many thought this was a mistake on the part of the Honduran Soccer Federation and that it would work to the benefit of Mexico. I guess it didn’t.
Really glad to see Mexico lose because I watched the last 25 or 30 minutes and as the game wore down and Mexico got frustrated they took a lot of cheap shots. They should have gotten about 3 or 4 yellow cards that the ref let go because the game was pretty much decided.
Last night’s game was bad, especially given the opponent, and to say it was a fortuitous win is an understatement.
Some of my musings…first the bad…
The formation in the first half was just plain wrong. That is on Berhalter. I would be very interested in learning why that formation and what thought process led to that decision.
The team lacked energy and effort ( particularly in the first half. ) That is on the players and I see that as arrogance on the players’ part. They thought it was going to be a cake walk.
The speed of play, or lack thereof, continues to be a problem, especially against an opponent’s low block. That is on the players, as well.
Many players ( in the first half…Reyna, Paredes, and Tillman ) were put in positions that did not allow them to succeed.
While every opponent must be respected, we should not be so challenged to get a W vs Trinidad and Tobago.
Now, the “good…”
The team increased their energy and effort in the second half, but it was out of desperation, which is concerning.
The speed of play improved in the last 10 minutes, plus stoppage, but again, it was out of desperation, so that is concerning.
Reyna got on the ball more in the second half, which allowed us to control the tempo and have better possession, but at the risk of sounding like a broken record, it took too long to come to fruition.
Some additional thoughts…
I’ve seen some comments that Ferreira could’ve / would’ve made a difference…not a chance.
I like Balogun and he is legit, but if he is not scoring and someone else is, isn’t that a clear sign of someone else having success, and shouldn’t success be rewarded?…what else does Pepi need to do to get a start?
For this USMNT, the short term objective should be to win every game…the medium term objective should be Copa America..the long term objective should be the World Cup in 2026.
With this in mind, last night’s game between Argentina and Uruguay had it all…tactics and technical ability of the highest level, along with great team and individual play. As of right now, I’m concerned about how we will do in Copa America…the way things are currently unfolding, we would have problems against Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, and Brazil.
At the moment, I remain “optimistic” about the World Cup, but that is only because we have time on our hands, and I wouldn’t call it a high level of optimism. 🙂
Let’s all hope for a much better performance this coming Monday.
The US has always had a lot of trouble with those 4 SA teams. We seem to do better against good European teams than against those SA teams.
agree, and not sure what Jesus has to do to prove he can. he literally destroyed the team we just struggled to play against
Agreed, the USMNT has always had it’s hands full with those four teams, but for Copa America, the team needs progress.
They need to…
– Produce results in the score lines
– Clear examples that the team is better off tactically ( formations, player selections, in game adjustments, substitutions, etc.)
– Progress to at least the semis, really the finals
In order to succeed with the latter, they will likely need to beat one of these four teams.
If the team cannot accomplish the above, the question has to be asked, “is Berhalter the guy to lead the team in 2026, or is a change needed?”
if Tillman buries either excellent chance, everything’s different. yes it’s a what if, but good grief those were a couple of sitters, well constructed attacks and chances, no finish
vs. the 4 5 1 hyper bunker, can’t do that. Pepi made no mistake, changed the game. either of Tillman’s would have too
excuse me, the 5 4 1 hyper bunker
Papi, I think he chose a lineup that allowed him to put who he thinks were his best 10 players on the field. I also think choosing to play without wingers and use his outside fullbacks for width was to get more players in the box against a bunker knowing they would have little defensive responsibilities and was a huge improvement over what we saw in qualifying repeatedly. Historically, the wingers and outside fullbanks have mostly just gotten in each other’s way against a bunker and then sent aimless crosses to one player in the box with 6 defenders and a goalie. I don’t think there was anything wrong with the formation or lineup and the first half was on the players but I know you disagree. He did end up with Pepi and Balogan in together and it was good. I still hope to see a 442 diamond in trinidad and I think we probably will with McKennie now out.
Tele57,
I hear you, and I agree that Berhalter was trying to get his 10 best available players on the field, but with that formation, it was like trying to force square pegs in round holes.
I’m going to watch the game again, and I’ll do so before the second leg, but I don’t recall much width in the first half.
For me, Balogun and Pepi ending up on the field together was more reflective of Berhalter’s desperation, than a tactical masterstroke.
A 4-4-2 diamond would be different for Berhalter. Given Weston’s absence, it will be interesting to see what he chooses to go with.
Papi, Yikes!! That’s called taking one for the team. I definitely won’t be rewatcing that game; it was hard enough watching it the first time. I guess knowing they are going to win might make it better.
Tele,
Ha!…you’re most recent reply made me laugh! 🙂
For the second viewing, the game doesn’t get prime time on my calendar. I’ll watch it again tonight as I am shutting down for the night.
Pepi seems to be the type of player who really gets a new gear when he plays for country vs. club. I was skeptical at first but he’s convinced me. He always seems to have a strong showing every time he wears the USMNT jersey despite his mitigated club situation. I would like to see him and Pepi start sometime uptop together in a 4-4-2 of sorts.
I meant Balo and Pepi uptop together….
Mat,
Right now what you are seeing from Pepi is the maturation and development of a player that is currently immersed in the daily struggle of European soccer. He is in a difficult situation ( which isn’t ideal, but not completely bad either ) in Holland where he has to perform EVERY DAY and EARN the few minutes he is getting for his club. That is manifesting itself in quality performances for the USMNT from a player who is “hungry” and has a chip on his shoulder. I hope it continues.
to all…agreed about Jesus. maybe some info is missing?
other roster and deployment decisions, even if I don’t agree, I can see reasons last night, and various ones we observed didn’t work, or did.
but I don’t get the Jesus thing from GB on this one either
He’s hurt
you keep saying this but he played a game the day USSF sent the press the list, scored a goal, played 84′. he then missed the 3rd game a week later.
So doesn’t that mean he’s hurt
JR: we both know what it means. it means he was healthy the day the roster was announced,. playing and scoring. you’re using an after-fact excuse to explain what at the time was a healthy scratch.
Jesus missed at least one maybe two very score able goals against Miami in Leagues cup and wasn’t the same after. Had 3 g last two months of the season but two of them were pens. Just wasn’t himself. As I said on the other thread Gregg didn’t pick him but he didn’t play last week with injury so he’d have been out if he had.
the diagnosis on last night is easy. 1 — as someone on the other article noted, rarely played balls into the box below waist high. when we did, goals, chances, almost-penalties, red cards. we instead often whacked balls in high that were either wayward or to personnel who don’t usually score headers eg aaronson. match personnel carpet to tactical drapes. i have said 20 times quit taking the ball to the corner and whacking it in. i thought we sorted this ghana game with the 4231 and going to goal. now we’re back tentative again for 70 or so. 2 — he botched the wing choices. this livened up precisely when the subs came in.
i do not understand the tentativeness against a team we have routinely drubbed lately. you want to know why we drubbed them? we played ferreira who will show to ball and combine — as on goal 3 with the wall ball — and we went to goal like we weren’t the slightest bit scared we could lose. more like the last 20. to me if i was playing TNT i’d run out the attacking unit. make them so busy defending we don’t even have to worry about playing our own defense. as it stood they were content to sit back. so why aren’t we playing 2 attacking AMs and better wings than that? and when the opponent all window is TNT it’s flat bad worksmanship to not have ferreira around as at least a 3rd option. i mean, some of you folks who think we have to win em all, if it ain’t broke why were we fixing that?
and before people start babbling about they bunkered, sorry, but the angle ball back to the spot was routinely “on,” not wide open, but open enough, and they were hacking anyone in the box. part of the reason this ends up by the flag is we seem scared to play a ball to a forward in the box with a man not just on his back but even a couple yards away. i am a chances over possession sort. play the ball into the box to feet and make them defend us. pepi can turn and shoot. we gave that team way too much respect and they were not cutting down all passing lanes as we saw at the end. but you had to go at them to find out and under GB we usually play nervous and pass the ball to players wide open which tends to be scared, uncreative, undangerous balls to the corner flag.
we also spent a chunk of the first 30 trying to hit that “diagonal-chip-volleyed-square-back-across-the-net” that we manage to score about once or twice a year. it’s like the pretty-but-rare youtubes where some slow build team scores some “are they playing defense” 30 pass build. it looks nice but it’s too many moving parts needing to work perfect to get a chance on net much less a goal, to run an offense that way.
Regarding your taking the ball to the3 corner, I though Dest was especially disappointing. T&T gave him so much time and space and he rarely did anything constructive with it. Invariably he would fake inside then go to the corner and rarely deliver a dangerous cross. What Pepi and especially Aronson do is go to the top corner of the box and drive toward the creases in the defense, drawing defenders from both sides, leaving a gap around the box that opens up chances for give and gos, Generally, over the years I have always thought that the US is much too tentative about shooting, wanting to play for a situation wh4ere an attacker has to just tap in for the score. I think you should whack away whenever you have an opening, making the keeper work. Deflections, a spill of the ball, rebounds, all can lead to goals. It’s harder to score without shooting.
agree again re. BA and Pepi.
re. Dest, we pushed up the left flank at will, would bog down and then switch the point where Dest would end up with it 1v1 on the right. he didn’t start attacking with the dribble in that situation until after the first goal, when he looked more comfy on the ball, instead he played crosses one after the other, close on more than one but no goals that way. another thing he could have done along with the balls he was serving would be to wait for the defense to come all the way over, and then switch the point back again
Tillman buries either of his excellent chances and all of this would have started earlier
From years ago, after a game of Princeton U. vs Columbia U. wherein Columbia used the strategy of defending deep with 10 players and leaving a single (very good Icelandic forward) as a target for long balls. I recall Bob Bradley, then coach at Princeton University, fuming afterwards: What are you supposed to do when the other team wouldn’t play soccer. PU lost 1-0.
For long stretches yesterday’s game reminded me of that losing effort. I was relieved when the US finally put the ball in the net. What was it 26 shots to 1?
T&T has no choice but to come out of bunker mode in game #2 if they want to try to advance. We’ll know Monday if they go with something other than a 5-4-1 again. If T&T does open up, this should result in a much more fluid game with more open space for attacking. ‘Gritty’ is the only apt description when one team plays 11 behind the ball.
Russia took down a fluid attacking Spain the WC by parking the bus and making a packed forest of 11 behind the ball. It is often the only way to have a chance against a vastly superior team. What my Mexican cousins call, “el anti-futbol.”
T&T will have to come out and play attacking football to have a chance of scoring on Monday, and yes, it should open up space for us to counter and attack their final third with more space and fluidity.
are you kidding? if i was them i’d do exactly what i just did again. 1) their best chance is keep the score down and steal a goal or two — like in 2017. 2) that was their best game against us since — 2017. 3) worst case scenario they are bedding in a fairly effective if negative system that they can use in their qualification coming up, knowing the series was basically over last 20 last night. it won’t work on a good team but the 3 best teams aren’t in their quali. that only has to work on CR or more likely ES or honduras or jamaica. i could see that.
T&T will need a minimum of 3 goals just to even on aggregate. If you’re down 1 goal, maybe 2, you can bunker, then go for broke at some point in the 2nd half. But 3 goals is a big ask, especially given the past results between these opponents. At this point, does it matter if you are T&T if lose by 1 goal or 1+ goals? You playing at home – go for broke from the opening whistle.
if TnT plays tactically similar, then no need to attack it until they change; just hold it in their half knowing we can always play back and recycle; then maybe attack while they are out, certainly don’t have anything against scoring goals…but defend hard and transition to defense hard at all times
or TnT can come out hard looking to energize and get one back early while they are freshest to try so in the first half at home, still knowing they can bunker down at any time.
got to be ready for whatever. and if TnT does come out and play, got to be ready to defend and counter and remind them why they chose not to last night
PN: you’re indulging in the classic naive fanboy “try hard” concept. you are down 3-0 so you go try hard even if it means playing naive and getting beat 6-0 like they had been. “why am i here otherwise?” thing being, if you actually think it through, your best chance is “be yourself.” or “be your best self.” if the most likely scenario playing end to end is a 6-0 hopeless blowout, that is not the best choice. my best choice is actually play the style that had it 0-0 on the road for 70′. hope that as with 2017, i do even better at home, perhaps get that same 2-0 lead that team got, while playing a negative style that blunts our threat. if you then get within a goal, at home, you can open it up for a half or 30′ at lower risk than if you did it for 90′.
sorry but this reminds me of the folks who want ES to play pretty soccer and not foul us. they should only do that if they have gotten good enough they can beat us playing pretty. otherwise, play ugly as heck and hope our keeper goes to sleep on that near post free kick. these small countries’ chance is to keep our score down enough where the few goals they can possibly manage, might matter. if this goes end to end we win 6-1 and so what.
you’re also not considering that realizing it’s 3-0 they may see more value in reinforcing a playing style for CONCACAF quali and keeping it close than pretending they have any chance left. to be fair the US would do exactly what you are saying but that’s also why the holland game finishes 3-1 which is as bad as we have looked in a knockout ever.
I agree with IV, they can’t outscore us in an open game. The just gave up 5 to Curaçao. I’d start Levi Garcia up top as the lone striker and just try to spring him on a counter for the first half. Maybe you can go in at half up 1-0 and you feel like you’ve got a chance pushing numbers late. Try to play an open game against quality attackers like Reyna and Balo when Ferreira and Mihailovic carved you up isn’t a great strategy.
Superior fitness I think was the difference in the end. Just once I would love to see us try and play counterattack ball against these teams that pack it in against us. We have a great player pool to be so dangerous in the open field. Give T&T the ball, sit back and draw them out. That seems a much easier way to open them up than having our defenders play keep away at midfield and then the centerbacks try and pick out a perfect diagonal when the opposition has all 10 players in their box.
I think the problem of trying to suck these kind of teams into a counterattack strategy is that unless it’s a single elimination game that team parking the bus is happy with 0-0 so if we don’t go out and press they won’t take any risks and then we shoot ourselves in the foot a bit. Different story in a knockout round though of course.
Or if we’re going to be playing a team like that, put a team on the field that’s got players who are good at operating in tight spaces. Jesus Ferreira is #1 on that list…yes, yes, I know his record is spotty against strong opposition, but he’s one of the best smurf killers I’ve seen in recent memory and he feasts on teams like these, and Gregg just completely disregarded the hat trick he got against T&T in the Gold Cup and didn’t even bring him. Aaronson’s not bad in tight spaces either, and that’s where Zendejas is at his best.
And of course, Pepi is that big strong striker who can put his head on stuff and stand up to the push-and-shove match that goes on in a packed box. Especially if we’re going to be dealing with a low block and sending in a lot of crosses, we sort of need one of those. In this setup I don’t see a starting forward spot for Balogun since this sort of ugly game negates his speed and he’s not really any kind of leaper either, though I might be inclined to play him as a wing because he really is very technical. And you have to have De La Torre on the field; his splitting balls are the best on the team. Against T&T I’d have put him in for Musah because Musah’s main thing is breaking lines in the middle third, and T&T just plain didn’t have any lines in the middle third. Use the right tool for the right situation, you know?
Mind, now that T&T has to actually come out to play and try to somehow make up three goals or they’re done, the personnel Gregg put out Game 1 would now be a lot more appropriate for what’s going to have to be a far more open game. And now we’ll probably see de la Torre, Zendejas, etc…grr. Berhalter.
balogun and pepi to me are good at being played behind a defense. and then pepi can also turn and shoot. but we were rarely playing the ball either behind TnT — for contrast, jedi’s assist — or to feet at the spot. where i know pepi has some US goals turning and shooting to a corner a la dempsey. we for some reason were stuck on whacking crosses like we’d started 2 forwards and one was mcbride or something.
already said my piece on zendejas’ selection/club form but i found it telling who saw the field last night. not sure why you’re saying zendejas and not someone like dest who playing wingback had a few balls-in and shots. he is always lively and can slalom a defense. let him loose up top. or musah, who is a tank and wouldn’t have been bullied.
IMO good wings are either real fast or super technical to deliver the ball just so. i don’t know what he was thinking on tillman — who to me is an AM sub — and while i see some promise in paredes he’s not first on my prospect list wide. i didn’t get it.
“Or if we’re going to be playing a team like that, put a team on the field that’s got players who are good at operating in tight spaces.”.
And Flo and Pepi are not? That’s news to me.
“Jesus Ferreira is #1 on that list…but he’s one of the best smurf killers I’ve seen in recent memory and he feasts on teams like these, and Gregg just completely disregarded the hat trick he got against T&T in the Gold Cup…”
Disregarding anything that happens in the Gold Cup is usually a good idea. Gregg spent 22 caps and a World Cup spot trying to cram him down everyone’s throat as a #9. Instead Gregg and Jesus proved he was a backup. That’s a lot of starting caps to waste on a backup player.
Using Jesus vs TNT because of his previous record against them is basically superstition, like me saying playing Ariolla would have resulted in a loss for the USMNT. So Jesus is our TNT Lucky Charm?
If I’m Flo or Pepi and Greg uses Jesus, I’m thinking WTF a-hole?
You and Gregg would be saying he has more confidence in Jesus than he has in Flo or Pepi, which sends the wrong message. I don’t care about messages but it’s still the wrong one.
You want to keep Jesus around just to beat up on crap teams? The USMNT is garbage at beating anything resembling a decent team..
The crap teams? The Berhalter era is almost entirely about beating up on crap and losing when the opposition becomes more growed up.
They don’t need help there and have that aspect more or less covered. Beating teams that are better than USL level? That’s more of an issue.
“And of course, Pepi is that big strong striker who can put his head on stuff and stand up to the push-and-shove match that goes on in a packed box. Especially if we’re going to be dealing with a low block and sending in a lot of crosses, we sort of need one of those.”
Yeah so that’s why Pepi’s goal was scored with the outside of his right ( or was it his left) foot because he was so good in the air. Pepi is a good striker, a good footballer period who happens to be big and strong. That’s why he was signed by PSV, specifically to serve an apprenticeship under De Jong who PSV regard as one of the best center forwards and aerial threats in Holland.
“ In this setup I don’t see a starting forward spot for Balogun since this sort of ugly game negates his speed and he’s not really any kind of leaper either, though I might be inclined to play him as a wing because he really is very technical. “
Ridiculous. Flo should have had one or two goals in this game but he is not sharp. If it gets worse then sure drop him but he is by far our best #9.
“And you have to have De La Torre on the field; his splitting balls are the best on the team. Against T&T I’d have put him in for Musah because Musah’s main thing is breaking lines in the middle third, and T&T just plain didn’t have any lines in the middle third. Use the right tool for the right situation, you know?”
You mean through balls? Considering most of this game was played with the USMNT starting on the half line that makes 11 men behind the ball even more densely packed. Or should I say 10 men. Not an ideal situation for a through ball no matter how good a passer you are.
“Mind, now that T&T has to actually come out to play and try to somehow make up three goals or they’re done, the personnel Gregg put out Game 1 would now be a lot more appropriate for what’s going to have to be a far more open game. And now we’ll probably see de la Torre, Zendejas, etc…grr. Berhalter.”
The way you talk , it’s as if the USMNT is going there down 3-0 instead of up 3-0. If TNT opens up just a little it could end up 4-2 USMNT.
I expected the USMNT to get through this two game set.
I did not expect flashes of elegance and beautiful or even coherent soccer from either side. Anyone who did , I’m sorry but those people still believe that Gibson guitars are worth the full price.
If it ends up 0-0 down there then that’s just fine.
Getting a result against crap, is something Gregg’s teams can do. That’s about all they can do but it should be enough for now.
Vacqui-
Let’s just say I disagree with you on a number of points and I would suggest to you that no one who is genuinely secure in their opinions talks to others the way you do. I’d respond further but courtesy and humility do not seem to be files on your hard drive…so why would I even bother talking to someone who’s reduced themselves to an Internet troll? Which is kind of a shame because while I do disagree with the majority of the amazingly condescending drek you just wrote there, you often do seem to have opinions worth hearing. But if you’re this regularly disrespectful, who’s ever going to listen to you?
Life’s too durn short to waste on that kinda noise. So good day to you, sir.
“Let’s just say I disagree with you on a number of points and I would suggest to you that no one who is genuinely secure in their opinions talks to others the way you do. ”
I’m sure everyone here is all secure in our opinions but opinions can be changed…as long as compelling information is provided.
Provide that information and I’m happy to change my opinion.
For example, you say Jesus should be here because he’s good in tight spaces? That clearly suggests that you think his replacements, Flo and Pepi,, can’t do that as well. Why is that?.
“I’d respond further but courtesy and humility do not seem to be files on your hard drive…so why would I even bother talking to someone who’s reduced themselves to an Internet troll?”
Courtesy and Humility? Really….You’re the one who brags about having prima donnas like Gio on the teams you’ve coached and calling them diva shitbags,, which is where I got the term.
“But if you’re this regularly disrespectful, who’s ever going to listen to you?”
I don’t expect any of you to listen to me. What I write is for the record. I think it’s wrong if IV makes up some stuff just to support his narrative. So, I’ll correct that, if I can, not because I expect IV to listen to me( he won’t) or anyone, but just for the record. Most of what I write you can look it up if you give a shit. When you have that information then you can decide for yourself.
Disrespectful? Hah. You have IV regularly shitting all over everyone on this site. 24/7 /365.
There’s your tone setter on this site.
“Life’s too durn short to waste on that kinda noise. So good day to you,” sir.”
Absolutely.
i like counter soccer and as discussed above thought i saw it work a couple times when we tried, but even in the set offense i thought i saw a lot of angle balls open back into the heart of the box that we just weren’t taking because a defender was a few yards away. it was very tentative particularly given their penchant for lumberjacking our players receiving the ball to feet. make them show they can defend a ball to feet without hacking and cards and PKs. i think if you go back and look at older games the difference is we were suddenly scared to play a ball to feet with a man on someone’s back. from TNT not brazil.
IV,
Before the game blew open, both Flo and Tillman missed a few chances I would normally expect them to make. Dest hit a pair of long range shots and Musah hit one from outside the box, all on target that the keeper did a nice job on.
By my rough count, that’s half a dozen legit chances the USMNT missed.
And that’s all while playing, as you put it “scared”.
Maybe there is something to be said for playing “scared”.
GF