The United States were unfortunate to not get a better result in their 1-0 loss to Ecuador in a friendly at Red Bull Arena last night.
They created a number of good chances early on in the match, and conceded a late goal for the final 1-0 scoreline.
Ridge Mahoney of Soccer America gives some of his impressions following last night's match.
GOOCH IS BACK. For the first time since suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in the Hexagonal finale against Costa Rica at RFK Stadium nearly two years ago to the day, Oguchi Onyewu is re-claiming his starting spot with the national team.
He followed up a solid 45 minutes -- except for missing a sitter -- against Honduras Saturday by going the distance as a starter in the 1-0 loss to Ecuador. Along with the size and power and strength in the air he’s displayed since debuting for the senior team in 2004, in the last two games he’s anticipated situations rather than reacting to them.
Onyewu thwarted numerous Ecuadoran attacks by reading the play as it approached the penalty area and stepping up to intercept a pass or block a cross. He and central partner Carlos Bocanegra sorted out most of what Ecuador threw at them, and he helped out on the attack, too.
He got into the box during a set play and when the ball wasn’t properly cleared he turned to hit a first-time shot over the bar, and in the final seconds as the USA pushed up for an equalizer, he prodded a ball to Clint Dempsey, who took a shot that was deflected.
Onyewu (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) and Clarence Goodson are the only U.S. centerbacks of the large variety, and while captain Bocanegra isn’t small (6-foot, 170) he’s also three years older than Onyewu, who will be 32 at the 2014 World Cup. The need for an experienced veteran to man the middle is critical, and if a big man can fill the bill, that’s a plus.
QUIET ON THE FLANKS. The Americans tightened up their defense after being riddled by Honduras, but fatigue and a more cautious approach also resulted in fewer good scoring chances. Though they put eight shots on the goal, few seriously tested keeper Maximo Banguera.
Right mid Danny Williams, who threatened the Honduran goal three times, seldom got into a good position against Ecuador to either shoot or cross. Both Jozy Altidore and his replacement Juan Agudelo occasionally ranged to the right side to add impetus with only limited success. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann used three outside backs and all were occupied much of the time keeping their corners secure from the raids of Michael Arroyo and Jefferson Montero.
Brek Shea was livlier on the left side than Williams on the right. Shea fired a hard shot in the early minutes that forced a good save. He gave way in the second half to DaMarcus Beasley, who showed the same energy he’d brought to the attack Saturday yet was more effective centrally – from where he launched two shots – then he’d been out wide.
SET PLAYS UNDECISIVE. In the absence of the injured Landon Donovan, several players took care of dead-ball duties, with Michael Bradley providing a significant upgrade to the USA's first-half efforts by Steve Cherundolo and Williams. Nearly all of Bradley’s deliveries dropped into a dangerous area with either a teammate on the end of it or battling for a touch. Some desperate defending and one smart save from keeper Banguera preserved Ecuador’s shutout.
Ecuador scored its winner in the 79th minute when the Ayovi cousins combined to cash in one of the game’s rare threats from the flank during the run of play. Walter Ayovi hit a first-time ball that Jaime Ayovi knifed in front of Tim Ream to head on the bounce past keeper Tim Howard.
Coach Jurgen Klinsmann likely wouldn’t sub Ream (he replaced Bocanegra in the 72nd minute) into the game at a late juncture if not for it being played in his home stadium. Still, he got caught on the wrong side of Jamie Ayovi in a standard situation any reliable defender should be able to handle by either winning the ball or at jarring the attacker so he misses the target.
MIDFIELD MIX STILL IN FLUX. Maurice Edu played the more of an attacking role in central midfield, with Kyle Beckerman a bit deeper shielding the back line and ranging from side to side to break up plays.
Both players had good moments, but also some very poor ones. Though Edu did connect with Clint Dempsey a couple of times, he lost the ball in bad spots, and one badly scuffed shot attempt on a very controllable ball opened the gates for an Ecuadoran counterattack. Beckerman won a lot of balls, a few of which he presented to the opponents straightaway without being pressured.
Bradley, who replaced Edu at halftime, brought some stability to the center and instigated sequences that provided balls for Dempsey and Altidore’s halftime replacement, Juan Agudelo. But the lack of bite on the flanks allowed Ecuador to squeeze the field and greatly limit space for Dempsey and Agudelo to get shots within close range.
GOOCH IS BACK. For the first time since suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in the Hexagonal finale against Costa Rica at RFK Stadium nearly two years ago to the day, Oguchi Onyewu is re-claiming his starting spot with the national team.
He followed up a solid 45 minutes -- except for missing a sitter -- against Honduras Saturday by going the distance as a starter in the 1-0 loss to Ecuador. Along with the size and power and strength in the air he’s displayed since debuting for the senior team in 2004, in the last two games he’s anticipated situations rather than reacting to them.
Onyewu thwarted numerous Ecuadoran attacks by reading the play as it approached the penalty area and stepping up to intercept a pass or block a cross. He and central partner Carlos Bocanegra sorted out most of what Ecuador threw at them, and he helped out on the attack, too.
He got into the box during a set play and when the ball wasn’t properly cleared he turned to hit a first-time shot over the bar, and in the final seconds as the USA pushed up for an equalizer, he prodded a ball to Clint Dempsey, who took a shot that was deflected.
Onyewu (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) and Clarence Goodson are the only U.S. centerbacks of the large variety, and while captain Bocanegra isn’t small (6-foot, 170) he’s also three years older than Onyewu, who will be 32 at the 2014 World Cup. The need for an experienced veteran to man the middle is critical, and if a big man can fill the bill, that’s a plus.
QUIET ON THE FLANKS. The Americans tightened up their defense after being riddled by Honduras, but fatigue and a more cautious approach also resulted in fewer good scoring chances. Though they put eight shots on the goal, few seriously tested keeper Maximo Banguera.
Right mid Danny Williams, who threatened the Honduran goal three times, seldom got into a good position against Ecuador to either shoot or cross. Both Jozy Altidore and his replacement Juan Agudelo occasionally ranged to the right side to add impetus with only limited success. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann used three outside backs and all were occupied much of the time keeping their corners secure from the raids of Michael Arroyo and Jefferson Montero.
Brek Shea was livlier on the left side than Williams on the right. Shea fired a hard shot in the early minutes that forced a good save. He gave way in the second half to DaMarcus Beasley, who showed the same energy he’d brought to the attack Saturday yet was more effective centrally – from where he launched two shots – then he’d been out wide.
SET PLAYS UNDECISIVE. In the absence of the injured Landon Donovan, several players took care of dead-ball duties, with Michael Bradley providing a significant upgrade to the USA's first-half efforts by Steve Cherundolo and Williams. Nearly all of Bradley’s deliveries dropped into a dangerous area with either a teammate on the end of it or battling for a touch. Some desperate defending and one smart save from keeper Banguera preserved Ecuador’s shutout.
Ecuador scored its winner in the 79th minute when the Ayovi cousins combined to cash in one of the game’s rare threats from the flank during the run of play. Walter Ayovi hit a first-time ball that Jaime Ayovi knifed in front of Tim Ream to head on the bounce past keeper Tim Howard.
Coach Jurgen Klinsmann likely wouldn’t sub Ream (he replaced Bocanegra in the 72nd minute) into the game at a late juncture if not for it being played in his home stadium. Still, he got caught on the wrong side of Jamie Ayovi in a standard situation any reliable defender should be able to handle by either winning the ball or at jarring the attacker so he misses the target.
MIDFIELD MIX STILL IN FLUX. Maurice Edu played the more of an attacking role in central midfield, with Kyle Beckerman a bit deeper shielding the back line and ranging from side to side to break up plays.
Both players had good moments, but also some very poor ones. Though Edu did connect with Clint Dempsey a couple of times, he lost the ball in bad spots, and one badly scuffed shot attempt on a very controllable ball opened the gates for an Ecuadoran counterattack. Beckerman won a lot of balls, a few of which he presented to the opponents straightaway without being pressured.
Bradley, who replaced Edu at halftime, brought some stability to the center and instigated sequences that provided balls for Dempsey and Altidore’s halftime replacement, Juan Agudelo. But the lack of bite on the flanks allowed Ecuador to squeeze the field and greatly limit space for Dempsey and Agudelo to get shots within close range.
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