The United States national team won their second straight Gold Cup group match in convincing fashion Wednesday night in DC, cementing their dominance with two late goals against Honduras.
Coach Bob Bradley opted for much of the same lineup that ran all over Grenada in the first match Saturday, making only a few changes to his original Gold Cup starting team. Michael Parkhurst replaced Clarence Goodson in the heart of defense, Santino Quaranta came on in the right of midfield for Stuart Holden, and Brian Ching went for Charlie Davies at forward.
As expected, the Hondurans provided a much stiffer challenge than Grenada had from the outset, with frequent forays into the Americans' end causing early discomfort for American goalkeeper Troy Perkins.
But the US would have the better of the chances in an otherwise even first half. The first good look at goal came in the 15th minute when forward Freddy Adu neatly back-heeled a pass into the stride of winger Robbie Rogers. The Columbus Crewman then put a ball across the area which Quaranta dived acrobatically to send towards goal, but his effort went wide.
The Americans came even closer in the 22nd minute when Kyle Beckerman, playing in an offensive midfield role for the second straight match, played a quick ball into the box for Ching. The Dynamo attacker managed to poke the ball towards goal and past Honduran 'keeper Donis Esober, put his weak effort was cleared off the line, and the match remained scoreless.
The Hondurans would have their best chance of the half at the half-hour mark, when a giveaway on offense by the US led to a quick counter, sending Walter Martinez in alone on Perkins. But the Valerenga goalkeeper quickly closed down the angle, forcing Martinez to shoot just wide.
The US was getting much more from the left side than the right, and the ever-dangerous Rogers soon sent another cross in from the wing, but Adu could manage only a weak header which was easily saved by Escober, and the half would end scoreless.
Yet another chance came down the left side in the opening minutes of the second half, as wingback Heath Pearce dashed past two Honduran defenders and put a dangerous ball in for Adu. The former Monaco man flicked on towards Ching, but his acrobatic shot missed high.
As the half progressed, the Americans took control. But they had nothing to show for their dominance, and were beginning to look a bit pressed for ideas when Bradley brought on two Confederations Cup veterans in the 63rd minute to help liven up the attack. Charlie Davies entered for Adu up top, and Benny Feilhaber replaced Logan Pause in midfield.
A few minutes later Davies nearly put the Americans on top with his game changing speed, as he swooped in on Escober and blocked a clearance attempt. The ball spun dangerously towards goal before the 'keeper managed to scramble back to pick it up.
In the 75th minute the breakthrough would finally come, and the two subs would play critical roles in the buildup to the goal.
Feilhaber picked up a ball on the left of the field and played a pass for Ching at the corner of the box and the Houston veteran returned the ball to the onrushing AGF Aarhus man who played another incisive pass back into the box for Davies. The Hammarby striker turned and calmly slotted a pass across the box for a wide open Quaranta, who dispatched it into the back of the net.
Four minutes later, the US added another when Steve Cherundolo sent a cross into the box from his right wing for Ching. The Dynamo man attempted to head on goal but could only get a slight touch on the ball before it bounced off a Honduran defender and into the net to double the American advantage. Despite the appearance of an own-goal, Ching was credited with the score.
Kenny Cooper made a late appearance for Ching, and saw a couple decent chances fall by the wayside, before, as time ran out, Walter Martinez forced Perkins into a diving save off a set piece, in what would be the Hondurans' final chance of the game.
Man of the match and hometown Maryland product Santino Quaranta was pleased to score his first international goal in front of the supportive crowd at RFK.
"To listen to the anthem was very emotional for me, it was a special night," Quaranta told YA after the match. "I've fought a long road back. Bob said before we got on the bus 'It's only a game.' I tried to just enjoy it but it was difficult.
"To be able to play for your country – before it didn't mean as much to me as it does now."
Coach Bob Bradley said after the match he felt the team played well throughout, but that the Catrachos really wore down late under the Americans' constant pressure.
"There were times in the game when we couldn't find a rhythm," the US boss opined at the post-game press conference. "We think if we stick with games for ninety minutes that's where we get an advantage, and I think you could start to see that in the second half."
"When players are in these types of games when they see what it is like to play from start to finish in an international match, that really helps."
The Americans, now qualified for the quarterfinals and likely group winners, head north to Boston for their final group match Saturday against Haiti, 2-0 winners over Grenada at RFK. |
Friday July 10, 2009
8:57 am |
coach bradley understands that playing on the national team is an honor and a privilege and he is showing that he can leverage the most out of the US players. at the same time he is testing players to see where they are and he is creating good competition. you know kenny cooper is going to start against haiti and look to run ruff shot and he will probably have altidore next to him. its becoming pretty clear that adu and torres are fighting for one spot next summer and that's if even one of them gets a spot.
— dikranovich
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Friday July 10, 2009
1:21 am |
Adu plays best when he is behind the forwards and plays an attacking role. As mentioned by many, he needs time playing and that is evident. However, I do feel he was feeding the ball well and seeing some possible combination passes that didn't come through.
There are some other bright spots as in Rogers and Santino while Ching and Pearce seem to be finding their form. This all provides us with more depth going into the World Cup. However, the question will be is their enough? Hopefully, we'll keep progressing as we are and Bradley is smarter than I think he is!
— Pep
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Thursday July 9, 2009
10:58 pm |
So once again, Bradley proves that he might know what he's doing--let the kids across the pond establish themselves in their preseason session club-side, show off some mls-ers that maybe deserve a chance overseas come January. Maybe I'll happily eat my words once again!
I get that it's important for our euro-kickers to be in preseason club training to fight for playing time and first team roster space, but honestly, where does a Beckerman or Holden or Pause fit into a WC lineup that has Dempesy Donovon Jones and Bradley with Edu Clark and Feilhaber already serving as solid subs? Maybe Rodgers replaces Beasely and Cherundolo and Pearce show they're not out of the fight yet, but is that really new knowledge?
But again, when do you get a chance to give European Players (who are still the smart money bet for being able to compete on the international level of WC 2010 and to fill in the remaining roster holes) if the hexagonal gets tight with a draw or loss in Mexico City?
— phil
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Thursday July 9, 2009
7:40 pm |
I agree Freddy needs playing time with the first team to see what he can or cannot do. By the way, why is there no discussion of the Bradley suspension by FIFA going on. Freddy has been critizied, for being immature, well, chasing down a referee and confronting him in the tunnel is not exactly an act of maturity.
— David R.
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Thursday July 9, 2009
5:00 pm |
Well both teams were sending their "B" squads so while this is a nice victory, I wouldn't get too carried away with this win. What these two games show me is that Robbie Rogers needs to be played more often and that Coach Bradley has other options at left half other than DaMarcus Beasley.
Adu clearly is still in limbo, he is under pressure to show that he can actually do what he's alleged to be able to do. Simply put, he needs to play first team ball SOMEWHERE, and if Benfica still has plans for him, it is imperative that they loan him out to some team that will play him regularly... obviously that team is not Monaco.
— Robert Kiernan
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Thursday July 9, 2009
2:33 pm |
They looked like a team that hasn't played together. Then when Charlie and Bennie came on, they settled. When Adu touches the ball once he has good creativity otherwise he is a blackhole. They also didn't look to have the physical advantage, speed and strength, that the regulars do.
It is impressive that the second team can beat one of the best teams in CONCACAF. Hopefully this is a sign of Project 2010 coming fruition.
— kellyp
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Thursday July 9, 2009
1:08 pm |
Ostensibly Adu was playing the withdrawn forward role, but it seemed like he didn't know what the duties of the position were. Nearly every time he touched the ball, it seemed like his first instinct was to drive to goal rather than set the field up to find an open man. And his dribbling was atrocious -- never pushing the ball more than a foot in front of him, trying to pull off fancy footwork but without the speed to fool anyone.
To me it felt like he was trying to show himself off, and not realizing that he was failing miserably. He looked like a showboat and wasn't playing a team game. Maybe that's why he wasn't playing at Monaco? The kid needs to get some real playing time and learn what "team sport" means. Until that happens, he needs to be pulled from WC roster consideration.
— skeptical elliptical
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Thursday July 9, 2009
10:01 am |
I don't understand why Adu starts at forward. He is a midfielder and looks lost up there. He has great speed and foot skills but seemingly no idea how to use them, and his wide-open header from the six was pathetic. If he does not gain a sense of the game and some vision, I would not bother with him in 2010. I don't think it was any accident the game swung largely in our favor at the Davies' substitution.
— Kyle
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Thursday July 9, 2009
9:17 am |
So great to see Santino's recent success. With continued dedication, he may just make the WC team. After years, it is great to see players like Beckerman and Benny hold and cleanly distribute the ball in the midfield under pressure. Where's Torres?
— Peter
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Thursday July 9, 2009
8:43 am |
Beckerman played very well in these two games.
— paul rosenberg
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