USA Ties Mexico 1-1 With A Strong 2nd Half:

USA Setup:

     USA Coach Jurgen Klinnsman set up in a 4-2-3-1 with Michael Bradley as the #10 behind lone striker Edson Buddle. Bradley was not close enough to Buddle, and therefore Edson was isolated up top. He did however hold up the ball well when given the opportunity, it was just that his opportunities were few and far between. Donovan was wide right and Torres wide left. Donovan was the best player on the field Wednesday night for either team, and Torres made a strong claim to be a regular in the squad. Both players were more effective in the second half when they moved into the middle, especially Torres. He is the central midfield player that can create and set up his teammates that the US side had been lacking under Bradley. He had a brief stint in the 2010 World Cup but it was clear that he was uncomfortable in Bradley’s system, which was much more rigid than the one we saw Wednesday night from Klinnsman.

     Beckerman and Jones were the two holding midfielders in front of Bocanegra and Orozco. Beckerman played a wonderful match, doing well to support the back four as well as being aggressive in pressuring the Mexican midfielder to try and win the ball back. Jones was disappointing and it seemed as though his fitness was not up to par with what it should be considering Schalke have already played a Bundesliga match. Cherundolo was steady as usual at right back, while the newcomer Castillo looked nervous at times, hurrying passes when pressured that resulted in turnovers. He did look to attack at times but it would seem as though it is too early to judge him after just one match.

Mexico Setup:

Mexico played their usual 4-4-2. This is the same formation we saw them play at the Gold Cup. Castro and Torrado played as holding midfield players. The strategy was built to attack on the flanks. Barrera and Guardado were the wide players and always supported by the fullbacks, Juarez and Salcido. However, Mexico’s strikers were not Chicharito and Dos Santos who were more involved in the passing game. Dos Santos would often drift to the wing to link up with the wide player. Instead, Zinha and Peralta stayed higher and the US was able to close them off. As a result, Mexico controlled the game with passing but did not create many chances.

First Half:

 In center midfield, Jones was found to be charging out at the ball and trying to destroy while Beckerman sat deeper behind him. In the 5^th Minute Donovan won the ball, passed to Bradley who then passed back to Donovan who played in a cross that almost found a sliding Jermaine Jones. This shows that the USA was playing for the counter attack. Mexico was really targeting Barrera down the right testing Castillo. ESPN Commentator Jorge Ramos said that Castillo is a player who always attacks and sometimes forgets to defend for Club America. But, Wednesday night, he looked up to the very difficult challenge and defended a Barrera well.

     In the 17^th minute, short corner for Mexico and Beckerman was too slow to help Castillo defend the two players. As a result, Guardado had room and fired in a cross that Peralta got a touch in ahead of his marker Michael Bradley and delicately flicked the ball into the corner past Tim Howard. It was an excellent finish that gave Mexico a 1-0 lead.

     The USA was much too passive in the first half and did not apply enough pressure on Mexico when they were passing the ball around. That allowed Mexico to dominate possession and left the US playing on the counter-attack. It was also clear that they were adjusting to a new system, as they looked unsure of where to play their next pass when they did have the ball.

USA Subs Shea and Agudelo and Rodgers Inject Life Into the USA Attack:

     Shea and Agudelo were subbed on in the 60’ minute for Buddle and Jones. The US attack began to take shape as Torres moved into the center. Then in the 72’ minute Rodgers came on for Bradley. This left Donovan and Torres in the middle with Rodgers on the right. With only one holding midfielder on the pitch the US started to take over the game (See Diagram Below)

 The breakthrough finally came in the 73’ minute when Agudelo received a throw-in deep towards the end line. He then played a ball back to Shea who showed off his size and strength to hold off two Mexico defenders and played a ball across goal to an unmarked Rodgers who tied the match 1-1. With Donovan and Torres in the middle creating chances for the two speedy players wide of them and one in front of them, the US drew two penalties that were not called and then Rodgers had a breakaway on an excellent ball by Agudelo on the counter attack that led to a yellow (should’ve been red) and a free kick. In Klinsmann’s system Torres and Donovan had freedom to roam around to either side of the field and move up the field as far as they needed to in order to create offense. It was refreshing to see the US have a bulk of possession even if it was only for the last 20 minutes or so.

Conclusion:

It will be interesting to see who is called in for the two September friendlies against Costa Rica and Belgium, as the European based players will be available. It is clear that the US going forward is going to have much more energy and enthusiasm and will look to play a game where they control possession. With that being said, they will need to call in the players that have the technical skills to play that type of game. 

Comments on the Match?

Tweet us @kpngacleansheet

Or Write on our Facebook Wall.