The US played…”nice” for 85 minutes. “Safe.” You’d feel comfortable letting your daughter go out with that team. They even looked spiffy in their new blue kit with the white sash.
The team that played the last 5 minutes was lock your doors dangerous. If not beautiful, at least brutally effective.
Basics
For 85 minutes we never looked dangerous in the attack, save one shot. Torres made a nice turn and put a shot on goal that drew an “oooh” from the crow, the only time in the first 85′ our offense elicited such a response for the Dutch masses.
Beasley turned the tide with a glorious free kick that Bocanegra did not waste, putting it the back of the net. This unleashed some slightly crazy but very fun play by the US that saw them nearly equalize several times.
The US capitalized on uncharacteristic poor ball control by the Dutch defense in the 89th minute. Pedoya played an excellent give and go with Bradley and earned a penalty just outside the box. Beasley’s ensuing free kick left something to be desired.
To be fair, we are missing Dempsey and Davies, two key components of our attack. Altidore is not yet a player who can create all on his own. He needs to collaborate, and Findley was floundering before being replaced in the second half. Nonetheless some good play from our subs found us a goal and several good chances at equalizing, including another great effort by Altidore in the waning moments of the game.
Bummer
The refereeing was bizarre, especially in the first half. At times in the first half it seemed if the US came inside a 1 meter bubble of a Dutchman we were blown for disturbing personal space. Then we got the gift of a no-call for a blatant Bornstein handball in the box. Then a severe, late tackle that ended Stuart Holden’s night didn’t garner the much-deserved yellow card.
We can’t complain too much about the PK called on Bornstein with today’s football climate. However, the brilliant Wesley Sneijder made the most of it and easily could’ve completed the play. I sure get tired of all the flopping in European Football.
Stock went down:
- MLS: not a great showing for our boys playing club ball in the US
- Bornstein. I’m sure he’s a great human being but geez he makes me nervous every time the ball is withing 5 yards of him
- Findley: looked out of his depth. He’s young, but he’s not ready
Bonus
Sans Bornstein we were solid in defense. His needless PK gave up the first goal, then he was unlucky to have the 2nd deflect off his torso and go past a wrong-footed Howard. If we can get Gooch back in the center, shift Spector to the left, and leave Bornstein on the bench where he belongs, we have a solid defense.
If Gooch doesn’t get better…I have visions of Bornstein pulling down Torres or Tevez in the box.
Beasley put out a good showing and in my opinion earned himself at least a spot on the World Cup side.
Stock went up:
- Maurice Edu showed good signs of composure on the ball
- Beasley played solid
- Pedoya showed signs of being dangerous
- Bradley was steady
Backtalk
1. What did the US show you today? Did their energy at the end indicate positive things to come, or was it the last gasp of a disjointed team?
2. Whose stock went up, and whose went down?
International Soccer, Major League Soccer (MLS), US National Team
Alejandro Pedoya, Carlos Bocanegra, DeMarcus Beasley, Johnathan Spector, Jonathan Bornstein, Jose Francisco Torres, Major League Soccer, Maurice Edu, michael bradley, Netherlands, Oguchi Onyewu, US Men's National Team, Wesley Sneijder, World Cup
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