Ocean City went in search of their first victory of the campaign in Trenton on Wednesday. Their still searching after the 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Central Jersey Spartans. A frantic rally nearly got them back level when Carmichael volleyed home Sal Pistone’s flick on but ultimately fell short. Ryan Finley, one time OC Baron (2008) opened the scoring for the Spartans. It was an ironic twist since Finley is also Ocean City’s youngest ever goal scorer.
As the tempo builds during this last few weeks leading to South Africa Team USA was looking forward to international friendlies against the Czech Republic on Tuesday and Turkey in Philadelphia (Saturday). Two opponents that were sure to stretch the Yanks and focus their minds on the task before them.
Ahead of the games in the buildup one tendency of the Bob Bradley coached side that has become alarming is their loose play, giving up the ball far too often, too easily. Seemingly aimless passes and far too frequent hopeful balls will punish them against quality sides. Poor decisions when under pressure by the backline contingent and too frequent occasions where the wide backs are caught up the pitch creating chances for their opponents to attack the space behind them. These are a few of the tendencies that must be minimized if they are to be successful. Things to watch in the friendlies and unfortunately they are also the very same issues that caused them grief in 2006.
In the first of the warmup matches the USA huffed and puffed producing few chances and their loose play caused them grief again. Maurice Edu bundled in a result of Petr Cech mishandling a Holden corner for the lead but other than that there was little of note coming from those auditioning for a place on the plane. They rarely managed to even approach the offensive third in the rest of the opening half and just ahead of the break the Czech’s leveled off a free kick when Onyewu didn’t even get off the ground to challenge for the ball.
The Czech’s would take the lead in the 58th when Heath Pearce was victimized when he lost his man at the back post and that wouldn’t be the last time on the night. The Yanks leveled matters on what was the best piece of play on the night when Goodson headed a Holden corner back across the face of goal and Herculez Gomez (the most influential player on the night along with Ching and Holden for the USA) was there to head it in. Pearce was again victimized by the Czech’s and the resulting cross was poorly cleared by Goodson and banged in for the match winner (Fenin) from 7 yards. It would get even worse when Edu was beaten in the air by Czech Republic’s young superstar (Necid) who turned and fired it home for the final 4-2 scoreline in stoppage time.
Few highlights came from this as the lack of depth of Team USA was again made apparent. What makes this so dire is that some of these guys will be on that plane and a few of them will be pressed into action because several of the first 11 guys are still in recovery mode and not fully match fit. Left back remains a huge hole that was exploited again and again by the Czechs and the lack of any real danger from the front line with Buddle & Johnson in particular proved to be a real weakness. Instead of this being an opportunity to impress this match exposed the weakness of this version of the USMNT. This opponent was in rebuilding mode. Yes, this was not the first choice 11 but that only illustrates just how thin the USA is in reality.
Bradley announced his 23 man roster would not include Brian Ching, Chad Marshall, Heath Pearce, Alejandro Bedoya, Sacha Kljestan, Robbie Rogers and Eddie Johnson. Perhaps the biggest surprise was Ching who did well, better than either Buddle or Johnson, as the target man but his recovery from the recent injury made his position in the squad questionable. Makes you wonder why Onyewu doesn’t it? Expect his injury to have an impact on the squad in South Africa. His selection also indicates the true weak part of the US team is in the defenders; there is simply no one else with Marshall also in recovery mode. Expect the hobbled defender corps to be a real problem during the tournament with Bocanegra and DeMerit also working to regain full match fitness.
Without the experienced Ching up front you have to wonder where the goals will come from. Findley’s selection, after his poor start in MLS this season is a gamble. Will we see Gomez playing off Altidore? Or will it be Findley? Buddle? Another issue to watch for is Bradley is forcing the issue of where Dempsey will play; on the wing he is rarely effective yet he needs to be on the pitch. Expect to see various combinations up front in the final two tuneups (Turkey and Australia).
USA’s World Cup opening game opponent England produced a 3-1 win at Wembley over Mexico but despite the scoreline it was Mexico that were the more impressive side, especially in the opening half. El Tri cut England apart and controlled the ball yet fell behind 2-0 on goals from Ledley King and Peter Crouch (was it a handball?) thanks to the woodwork and a fistful of saves from Robert Green. Mexico produced 23 shots, 9 of them on frame forcing 8 saves from Green and Hart (came on at the break) in the net for the Three Lions. Mexico finally got some reward for their first half performance in stoppage time as Franco pulled one back only to see Glen Johnson produce a stunner just two minutes into the second half.
The match should provide Bradley with some ideas but he shouldn’t be misled by the slow and plodding England of the first half. As unlikely as it appeared for much of that opening 45 England left the pitch with the lead. A testament to the depth and quality of this England side as they did not play well yet scored 3 and ended up winners on the day. An ominous sign for the USMNT dreamers and hypsters for the opening match on June 12 where the USA will need to bring their very best to stay close. A draw with this England side would be seen as a huge victory for the USA.
As if to emphasize the message England’s lackluster performance against Japan ended with a 2-1 victory; a match where they actually scored no goals! Marcus Tanaka put Japan on top early (7) off the action from a corner and it stayed that way for a long, long time. Lampard’s free kick in the 55th resulted in a penalty award for handball and his spot kick was saved nicely as Japan held their lead. Then in the 72nd Tanaka deflected a Joe Cole cross past his own keeper and 11 minutes later Nazakawa’s OG, the result of England’s pressure, became the match winner. Capello brought on many of his first 11 for the second half after the second choice players produced little of value in the opening 45 and therein lies the message. He appears to remain unsettled about his first 11 but this team can win, and will win, despite a performance that most would label a substandard effort. And they just might do it without scoring a goal of their own.
In other friendlies Argentina thumped Canada 5-0 while Japan lost on home ground to South Korea 2-0 while Portugal produced a real surprise with a scoreless draw with Cape Verde despite Cristiano Ronaldo playing the full 90.
In Philadelphia the USMNT rallied from a goal down to defeat an experienced and quality side (Turkey) 2-1 with both goals being set up by Donovan. Actually USA was very fortunate the hole they had dug for themselves in the opening half wasn’t deeper. The Turks took advantage of an adventurous run by Jonathan Spector who was finally dispossessed just short of the Turk’s area. The Turks hit back with a brilliant ball into the space he vacated to Arda Turan who made no mistake on his finish. The Turks also sqaundered several other good chances but left the pitch with that one goal lead at the break.
Bradley made 4 changes at halftime and they changed the tenor of the game. Holden, Torres Cherundolo and Findley pressed forward stretching the Turks and resulting in periods of sustained pressure for Team USA. That pressure led to good chances and Donovan made the first of them count when a deft touch carried him beyond the keeper coming out to snuff out the threat and his pull back found Altidore for the tap in (59). Continuing the pressure looking for the match winner Team USA found it in Clint Dempsey when he took Donovan’s ball off his hip, controlled it well and slipped it past the charging keeper (75). USA would look to add another and hit the post twice in the dying moments as they bid to stretch the lead to the delight of the 55,000 fans at Lincoln Financial Field.
It was an important victory for the USMNT over a quality and experienced side. It is also one of the few times they have recovered to win a match from a losing position against an international opponent. They will now travel to South Africa and finish their warmup games against Australia on June 5, one week ahead of their big opener against The Three Lions on June 12.
MLS featured a showdown between the two undefeated sides as Columbus welcomed the Galaxy with both sides missing some key players but still able to continue their winning ways. Something had to give here or was this a prescription for a draw?
The Galaxy got goals from two young players (Stephens and Bowen), both their first goals in MLS to win 2-0 at Columbus. The win also extended the Galaxy’s shutout streak to 456 minutes as they leave town the only undefeated side in MLS.
Philadelphia Union got their first ever win on the road via a stoppage time winner from Danny Mwanga off a feed from man of the match Sebastian Le Toux for the 3-2 victory. It was 2nd half sub Mwanga who set the table for Le Toux in the 68th to level the match at 2. Brian Ching had scored on his return to the Dynamo to level at 1 off a Brad Davis free kick and Eddie Robinson headed home yet another Davis free kick to take the lead just seven minutes later.
And DC United followed their exhibition win over AC Milan with a stoppage time winner from the penalty spot for a 3-2 victory. Chivas keeper Zack Thornton had been sent off for dragging down Santino Quaranta in the area ahead of Carey Talley’s successful conversion. Chivas defender, Dario Delgado put on the gloves after Thornton’s ejection. United’s teenager, Andy Najar, got his first ever MLS goal in the 26th as United scored three goals in an MLS match for the first time this season and only their 2nd victory of the campaign (2-8-0).
