Jurgen Klinsmann broke his goose-egg on Saturday as the U.S. narrowly beat Honduras for 1-0 win in their first of two friendlies during this international break.
While the performance was not particularly impressive on either side of the ball, the Americans were effective in managing the result once they went a goal ahead. The team has yet to perform well for 90 minutes, but Klinsmann will have been encouraged by the amount of chances that his team created and the fact that they kept a clean sheet against a team that is very capable in attack.
In the first twenty minutes of this contest, neither side possessed the ball particularly well as there were a lack of real threats created on either net. In the 20th minute, Honduran attacker Jerry Bengston beat the offside trap to get onto the end of a pass from the midfield and stormed towards Tim Howard in goal. The U.S. keeper made himself as big as possible and took away the angle for a save off the body.
The goalies would exchange crucial saves in the following ten minutes, but the U.S. would nearly break through in the 30th minute. As Brek Shea blew by a defender to get to a through pass from Chandler, he put in a cross toward several bodies in the box. The ball scampered through to Danny Williams at the top of the box but as the debutant tried to size it up, he would curl it over the bar with his left foot.
Six minutes later, it was Shea again, this time on the right side receiving a pass from Cherundolo. He took one touch and put in a cross toward Jozy Altidore in the box. The ball would skip by the striker landing at the feet of Clint Dempsey. The Fulham player would take one touch to his right before pulling the ball back with the soul of his foot and unleash a left footed blast that found the top of the net. With a moment of brilliance, the Americans had a lead for the first time under Klinsmann.
The U.S. mustered a few more chances before halftime but were unsuccessful. The game went to the interval with Dempsey's goal separating them.
Michael Orozco Fiscal had played reasonably well in the first half but picked up a slight injury according to reports on television. Oguchi Onyewu would make his return to the national team fold as a substitute to replace the young center back.
Five minutes into the second half, the U.S. nearly found a second goal when some good ball movement led Shea to cut into the middle of the park and pass the ball toward Dempsey. The Texan dummied the pass into the path of the streaking Maurice Edu behind him. Edu slid the ball out wide to Williams who took a shot that was covered up in front of the keeper before Edu could tap in the rebound.
In the 53rd, Onyewu passed out of the back neatly to Cherundo who found Dempsey along the sideline. After a quick one-two with Williams Dempsey found Altidore with a pass down the right side. Altidore turned and made a move towards goal drawing out the keeper before passing it across the box towards Shea. The FC Dallas winger couldn’t get a clean foot to the ball and missed the sitter.
Honduras got back into the game with a chance of their own before the U.S. made a couple of substitutions. Just as the fresh legs graced the field, the U.S. restarted play quickly with Dempsey collecting a pass from Cherundolo. He made a stutter move and eased past the defender to take a shot from the right side of the box. The shot was saved but fell directly to Onyewu who hit it over the bar as he fell backwards.
The U.S. was allowing Honduras a fair share of the ball, but were dangerous when they had possession. The game seemed to be slowing down by the 73rd minute when Honduras suddenly stole the ball deep in the U.S. half. The attacker played the ball into a midfielder whose long range shot was batted away by a diving Howard. On the night, the Everton keeper was solid but saw some poor passing out of the back and a tendancy to close down space too slowly from his defenders.
In the 84th, The U.S. has a goal called back after Agudelo saved the ball from going over the touchline and passed it back to Spector who crossed it into the box. Dempsey rose up and headed it home but the referee made a call indicating that Dempsey used the defender to propel himself into the air. The decision was harsh to say the least and took away a goal that would have put a nice shine on a dogged night for the U.S.
The rest of the game was pretty mundane as the Americans successfully ran the clock out without much trouble. Overall, a decent performance against a quality side, but not particularly dominant in any way. The U.S. didn’t possess the ball all that well, although it was not all negative because when they did, they were direct and aggressive with their attempts to get forward.
While the performance is likely far from what Klinsmann will hope for in the future, at least he has the burden of his first victory off his back. With that bit of business done, he can go about shaping the side in his image, one position at a time.
Top Performers:
Tim Howard: Finishing with six saves, Howard was a rock in front of goal all night. He had several diving attempts that he did well just to deflect away from goal in the rain. Is there any doubt this guys is our No. 1?
Clint Dempsey: He shows so much skill and yet, we haven't seen the best of what Dempsey can do with the national team. Hopefully under Klinsmann, performances like tonight become a common thing for Dempsey.
Brek Shea: He was not only involved in the goal but several other very good scoring chances. Had he been able to keep his balance a bit better, Shea would have had one of his own, but as it is, tonight's game was confirmation that this young player has a big future ahead of him as part of the national team picture.
Danny Williams: While he didn't threaten goal very much, the debutant didn't seem nervous or out of place. He controlled the ball well and aided in maintaining possession, something the U.S. could have done better on the night. He has the ability to change pace and play the physical style that the U.S. will encounter against countries like Guatemala and Honduras in World Cup qualifying.
Jozy Altidore: He may not have popped in a goal of his own, but Altidore was plenty dangerous in front of net on the night and did well against the incredibly physical center back Osman Chavez. If he can continue to develop in Holland, Altidore may come good on his potential yet.
Problems: Maurice Edu and Kyle Beckerman were not a detriment to the squad in any way, however, the two players are a bit too similar to play side by side. Both are very good defensively and possess a good short passing ability, but there was little fluidity to move the ball on the ground out of the back and into the attack with them playing together. Very little changed when Klinsmann made a like-for-like substitution, replacing Edu with Bradley.
Oguchi Onyewu's return to the team turned out okay, but the second half had no shortage of Honduran chances. He was pretty sharp as was Bocanegra for most of the game, but when the outside backs get caught going forward, it'll be tough for Howard clean sheets if it's up to the aging Bocanegra and Onyewu to chase opposition speedsters. In some ways, it's one or the other with a younger and quicker counterpart beside him.
written by porsche design flat 6 chrono, November 09, 2011
-
- +0
-
-
written by replica handbags, November 09, 2011
-
- +0
-
-
written by Coach Outlet, November 18, 2011
-
- +0
-
-
written by replica rolex explorer watches, November 25, 2011
-
- +0
-
-
written by party dresses, November 28, 2011
-
- +0
-
-
written by Amandabridal, November 29, 2011
-
- +0
-
-
written by cheap IWC Big pilot, December 14, 2011
-
- +0
-
-
written by hats scarves, December 16, 2011
-
- +0
-
-
written by supreme hats, December 17, 2011
-
- +0
-
-
written by chicago hat, December 17, 2011
-
- +0
-
-
written by new eyeglasses, December 18, 2011
-
- +0
-
-
written by football shirts sale, December 19, 2011
"Will the boy come back?"
"Yes," answered Ben. "I'm in the same situation as my friend, football shirts sale Mr. Bradley. I haven't my fortune yet."
"You'd better stay with us, boy. We'll do the right thing by you."
-
- +0
-
-
written by replica ulysse nardin, December 20, 2011
-
- +0
-
-
written by air max online, December 23, 2011
In good years corn is hay, in ill years straw is corn.,you can point the browser to your JavaScript file.
-
- +0
-
-
written by replica iwc watches, December 23, 2011
-
- +0
-
-
written by Nike Air Max, December 25, 2011
-
- +0
-
-
written by tisa hats, December 26, 2011
-
- +0
-
-
written by cheap snapback hats, December 28, 2011
air jordan retro 12
nba snapback hats
-
- +0
-
-
written by rolex day-date watches, December 29, 2011
-
- +0
-
-
written by grand canyon tours, January 02, 2012
-
- +0
-
-
written by Nike air Max 2009, January 04, 2012
-
- +0
-
-
written by Merlin Seasons 1-4 DVD Box Set, January 10, 2012
to write such an article is good,and also I want to share something good with you.Merlin Seasons 1-4 dvd release date
-
- +0
-
-
written by wholesale hats, January 10, 2012
-
- +0
-
-
written by wholesale nba hats, January 11, 2012
-
- +0
-
-
written by red bottom shoes, January 12, 2012
-
- +0
-
-
written by louis vuitton multicolore wallet, January 13, 2012
-
- +0
-
-
written by cheap new era hats, January 19, 2012
-
- +0
-
-
written by wheel balancer, January 20, 2012
-
- +0
-
-
written by maldives honeymoon packages, January 24, 2012
-
- +0
-
-
written by piumini moncler uomo, January 29, 2012
-
- +0
-
-
written by hukan, January 29, 2012
-
- +0
-
-
written by north face clearance, February 03, 2012
-
- +0
-
-
written by cartier replica watches, February 06, 2012
replica cartier watches
-
- +0
-
-
written by Nike Football boots, February 07, 2012
-
- +0
-
-
written by prada handbags 2010, February 18, 2012
-
- +0
-
-
written by MLB Snapback Hats, February 18, 2012
-
- +0
-
-
written by pink ribbon north face, February 19, 2012
-
- +0
-
-
written by cheap mac makeup, February 20, 2012
-
- +0
-
-
written by cheap oakley sunglasses, February 20, 2012
-
- +0
-
-
written by new era hats, February 23, 2012
-
- +0
-
-
