Tonight’s USA/Ecuador game was the definition of a slow burn. Struggling in the first half, making moves to slowly get better and then have that result in a 90th minute goal to defeat Ecuador 1-0.
For a Copa America tune-up, the first half didn’t inspire confidence. In all fairness, manager Jurgen Klinsmann said that he was switching players around but when you see this lineup, you know it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Here is the #USMNT Starting XI for #USAvECU. Tune in to ESPN2 or @UniMas at 7 p.m. CT for kickoff. pic.twitter.com/GkH6SFWNpO
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) May 25, 2016
I mean seriously, look at the midfield. There are three midfielders who play better as defensive midfielders, yet Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones are attacking midfielders with Kyle Beckerman playing defensive mid. Sure enough, in the first half, there was hardly any communication between the midfield and the front line and resulted in the front line barely touching the ball.
The USMNT’s best chance in the first half was when Clint Dempsey sent a ball into Gyasi Zardes and Zardes’ first touch, as usual, failed him. I don’t know what Zardes needs to do to fix his first touch issue but it is some of the worst I have seen out of a professional player. Zardes has shown he has potential and skills, and he definitely works hard. But, it’s almost as if Zardes needs to go back to the fundamentals when it comes to working on his first touch. If he needs to go in his backyard and kick a ball against a brick wall a few hundred times per day like a youth player, go and do it because his first touch is costing him.
I however was intrigued by the backline of Fabian Johnson, John Brooks, Steve Birnbaum and DeAndre Yedlin and was looking forward to how they worked together. I have to say I was pleased. John Brooks especially played well and give or take a couple plays, it didn’t look like anyone was overwhelmed back there. No one panicked and really played well along with Brad Guzan in goal. Now, let’s see if they can do it against a player like James Rodriguez and Colombia but it’s a good start.
In what appeared like Klinsmann going on and reading our tweets at halftime, he made two subs at the start of the half that were well received. Bobby Wood, who is likely to be the starter up top since Jozy Altidore is injured, subbed for the struggling Zardes. And Darlington Nagbe came in for Beckerman and Bradley went back to the defensive mid position. Two very smart moves that really began the transition of the team. Next, Alejandro Bedoya came in for Jermaine Jones and 17-year-old Christian Pulisic subbed in for Clint Dempsey, giving Wood the ability to play up top. Once Klinsmann made those subs, then the USMNT was cooking with gas.
Their attacking game seemed to get on the right track and then after a while, they had Ecuador on the back foot. A few close misses was more than what Ecuador was doing in their attacking zone and when they did, the backline and Guzan weren’t worried. Then in the 90th minute, Nagbe side volleyed Wood’s header to take the lead and seal the 1-0 win for the USA.
Watch @darlingtonnagbe's 90th-minute volley to give the #USMNT a 1-0 victory against Ecuador. #USAvECUhttps://t.co/IVHPYqNr6y
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) May 26, 2016
I didn’t notice this live and seeing the clip, DeAndre Yedlin made a great fake out to start the play. The USMNT was finally creating chances and were rewarded.
It’s easy to get carried away with the result but look at the game for what it was. Even before the goal, the USMNT gave me a bit of hope that maybe they can put up a run in the Copa America. Have a formidable defense that can play together, a midfield and front line who can communicate and have the moves to set something up and get a goal. It may not be the most entertaining play, but it’s sometimes effective, especially in tournament play. It’s unknown if Klinsmann will keep this XI that played in the second half, and maybe this all goes in a complete 180 on Saturday, but surely they showed tonight that it’s possible to have a U.S. Men’s National Team who can compete.
