A lucky bounce jotted its way to a backpost Graham Zusi annnd... that was about it. No that's not true, it just felt like it. Geoff Cameron picked up a questionable red card in the 52th minute and that basically stagnated the entire US offense. You can check out the highlights here, along with EVERY US SOCCER HIGHLIGHT EVER here.
A lot of players had notable games. Rimando got put in tough situations and fought his way out of them. I thought the CBs were strong albeit more tested. And Zusi, wow what an engine he has, not to mention a poised goal in the mix. And Wondolowski was limited on minutes but put in a solid, hungry performance as well.
Panama came out with a much higher attacking line than Venezuela and the US had trouble reacting to it. A lot of sloppy, hurried play. They looked to beat their visitors by countering quickly with through and over the top balls in the first half, then switched to more of a crossing game in the second half. US pushed with their outside backs, seeming to be a staple of their attack now, while the top strikers checked to play and ran off the ball.
Player Ratings
+4 - Parkhurst - (10…7/3…90') - Under much more pressure but dealt with it well. Usually had to bail out another defender's mistakes.
+3.9 - Zusi - (7.5…5.7/1.8…66') - Would have had the highest +/- had he finished the game. Like I said, clutch goal. In the right place at the right time. One of the few players who didn't look tired after halftime.
+3.5 - Jones - (11.5…7.5/4…90') - Some sloppy play but the offense went through him every time. Biggest asset was probably his experience and verbal directions.
+3.5 - Wondolowski - (5.5…4.0/1.5…55') - Robbed of a goal. Unfortunately had to be pulled out after Cameron's card to get another defender on the field.
+5.9 - DeLaGarza - (10.5...8.2/2.3...90') - Got up the field and showed his footwork against a passive defender.
+5.6 - Shea - (11...8.3/2.7...90') - Smart crosses and created two positive chances on goal in the first half then went flat in the second half.
+5 - Jones - (12...8.5/3.5...90') - Everything went through him. Some hiccups but nothing costly. Was in great form. Wasted a FK at the end but sent beautiful corners into the mix.
+3.8 - Feilhaber - (7.2...5.5/1.7...62') - Earned the #10 jersey. Almost drew a penalty multiple times on a corner. Played a great ball to Shea for a one-on-one.
+2.5 - Zusi - (7.5...5/2.5...74') - Wasn't on the same page with the rest of the team. A little bit too aggressive? Not sure. Loved the hustle, though.
+2.3 - Pearce - (6.7...4.5/2.2...72') - Play went to the right side more and when it came to the left he did his job.
+2.2 - Wondolowski - (3...2.6/0.4...28') - Should have started over Bunbury, in hindsight.
+1.6 - Clark - (7…4.3/2.7…67') - Looked better in the second half, interestingly enough. Didn't really contribute a ton defensively and didn't really do anything worthwhile for the offense. Safe play but nothing inspiring.
+1.6 - Rimando - (5…3.3/1.7…45') - Some great play and some scary please-don't-do-that play. Definitely bailed out the defense multiple times though.
+1.5 - Larentowicz - (2.5…2/0.5…23') - Came in as a late sub and did more for the offense in those few minutes than Shea and Bunbury did combined. Off the ball runs, composed play.
+1.1 - Cameron - (6.5…3.8/2.7…55') - Questionable red card, yes, but still looked out of shape previous to that. Had trouble handling the quick counter.
+1.1 - Parke - (3.5…2.3/1.2…35') - Nothing different from what Cameron had to offer. Good play mixed with a couple mistakes.
+1.1 - Evans - (2.5…1.8/0.7…24') - Really wished he could see better opportunities than spare change of minutes for a ten man team. Energetic and played the wing well.
+1.1 - Sapong - (1.5…1.3/0.2…14') - Played the solo striker much more efficiently than Bunbury. Held the ball and knew when/where to pass.
+1 - Pearce - (5…3/2…49') - Came in for an injured Zach Loyd. Offensively sound, defensively decent. Had trouble tracking back in the late stages.
+0.5 - Loyd - (4.5…2.5/2…41') - Exactly what Klinsmann is looking for in the attacking third; not what Klinsmann is looking for in the defensive third. Blew two critical offside traps.
+0.5 - Johnson - (2.5…1.5/1…45') - Ill-timed punch but covered the goal besides that.
+0 - DeLaGarza - (9…4.5/4.5…90') - Exposed. Mentally not quick enough against this press.
-0.5 - Shea - (8.5…4/4.5…90') - Lagging the entire time. Could see the picture but couldn't physically get there. Not sure why he finished the game.
-2.9 - Bunbury - (7.5…2.3/5.2…76') - Trying to remember a worse US performance that I've seen. Bornstein in GC final, Castillo against Mexico... Could do almost nothing for the offense except take obtrusively large touches.
Subjective Point Graphs
First Half
USA - 32.57
Panama - 49.70Second Half
USA - 5.57
Panama - 37.53
Full Game
USA - 38.14
Panama - 87.23
Momentum Graph
First Half
Dominance
USA - 20.0
Venezuela - 13.3
None - 66.7
None - 66.7
GG Rating - 55.6
Dominance
USA - 0.0
Venezuela - 11.1
None - 88.9
None - 88.9
GG Rating - 55.6
How to Beat Panama 1-0 (with Ten Men)
1. Know How to Bring the Ball Out of the Back
2. Have an Outside Back and Winger Play on the Same Club Team (Also Know How to Play 1-2 Balls)
3. Have a Striker Who Can't Hold onto the Ball (Pt. I)
4. Watch Ricardo Clark Get Trucked
5. Have Your Opponent Check for the Referee Before Getting Up After an "Injury"
6. Miscommunication on the Back Four (Pt. I)
7. Have a Striker Who Can't Hold onto the Ball (Pt. II)
8. Get Really Close to Scoring
9. Put Springs in Your Goalie's Cleats
10. Have a Referee Miss a Pretty Blatant Yellow Card11. Have a Goalie Bail Out Sleepy Defending
12. Have a Striker Shoot When He Shouldn't
12. Have a Striker Shoot When He Shouldn't
13. Shoot the Referee with Lasers
14. Have a Striker Who Can't Hold onto the Ball (Pt. III)
15. Miscommunication on the Back Four (Pt. II)
15. Miscommunication on the Back Four (Pt. II)
16. Have an Unfortunate Red Card
:::::::::::::::::::
1. Know How to Bring the Ball Out of the Back - Shea does a great job of pulling the ball back and trusting in his back line. It relieves pressure on the midfield and the US can start without fear.
2. Have an Outside Back and Winger Play on the Same Club Team (Also Know How to Play 1-2 Balls) - It's nice that Loyd and Shea are familiar with each other but they're also just aware of the field. The play goes for squat but it's still a penetrating pass nonetheless.
3. Have a Striker Who Can't Hold onto the Ball (Pt. I) - Bunbury holds the ball, which is what he's supposed to do in a 4-5-1, but he dribbles backwards about five yards and into Panama. (Not what he's supposed to do.)
4. Watch Ricardo Clark Get Trucked
5. Have Your Opponent Check for the Referee Before Getting Up After an "Injury"
6. Miscommunication on the Back Four (Pt. I) - For all the offense Loyd brings to the table he can't be doing this junk.
7. Have a Striker Who Can't Hold onto the Ball (Pt. II) - Ugh, Bunbury.
8. Get Really Close to Scoring - Jones takes a confident shot from 40 yards out and Wondolowski is the only one who feels like following it up.
9. Put Springs in Your Goalie's Cleats - Wow what a bizarre play by Rimando. Just wait for the bounce then play what happens.
10. Have a Referee Miss a Pretty Blatant Yellow Card - Frustrating more so from Panama than the ref.
11. Have a Goalie Bail Out Sleepy Defending - Clark falls down or something. Not sure what he's doing. Rimando makes a leg save to keep it at 0.
12. Have a Striker Shoot When He Shouldn't - Bunbury do something right.
13. Shoot the Referee with Lazers
14. Have a Striker Who Can't Hold onto the Ball (Pt. III) - Pretty confused why Bunbury makes this head-down decision. Was he a spy?
15. Miscommunication on the Back Four (Pt. II) - Cameron is a little high for the other two being so far back... Not sure who that's on.
16. Have an Unfortunate Red Card - The Panamanian Striker takes a slight touch to his right and with Cameron tracking back the two get caught up. Not thrilled about the call.
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