Author: Marc Serber
The U.S. Men’s National Team closed out the grueling January camp in style in front of a ruckus crowd of 20,271 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. Goals from Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey were enough to assert the Stars and Stripes dominance over their Central American rivals.
Here is a look at the ratings for each player with their caps and goals in brackets:
GK 1- Nick Rimando (International Caps/Goals: 18/0) 45 Minutes: 7- Rimando was his usual solid self. He started the game with a decent punch out. The Real Salt Lake net-minder then pulled off a stunning save in the 14th minute, flying across his goal and sprawling out at the back post to swallow up a well-struck volley. Five minutes before halftime, Rimando’s foot skills were on display as he calmly dribbled through three Panamanian attackers after a dodgy back pass put him in an awkward situation.
RB 2- DeAndre Yedlin (12/0) 72 Minutes: 5– The freshly minted Tottenham man looked off the pace early on. Yedlin’s radar was off as he gave the ball away on a few occasions and was caught ball watching as he left Éric Davis all alone at the back post, forcing Rimando to spare his blushes. Five minutes later, he conceded a foul in a dangerous position from which Panama should have done better.
It was a different story in the second half as the former Sounder made a great run underneath Gyasi Zardes and did well to take down a delightful ball from Jermaine Jones which resulted in a corner. He was off and running again in the 54th minute, whipping in a solid cross. Clint Dempsey was unable to connect, however, as he tried an audacious volley. Yedlin’s last action was to play a nice combination with Zardes, but was wiped out by a Panamanian defender as he overhit his cross. That was Yedlin’s last action as he could not continue and was replaced by Matt Hedges in the 72nd minute.
CB 5- Matt Besler (25/0): 5.5- Besler was solid for the most part. He was safe with his clearances and played simple passes out of the back. It was his turnover though that should have led to Panama equalizing before halftime, but Blaz Pérez blazed his effort over with the goal gaping. While solid, Besler still hasn’t added the element of carrying the ball out of the back or playing outlet balls to spring attacks to life, but his positioning was decent and he wins the majority of his battles.
CB 13- Jermaine Jones (50/3): 7.5– Despite a terrible pass in the very first minute, Jones recovered quickly with acrobatic tackles and some crucial clearances. Especially in the seventh minute, when he tracked back to break up a very dangerous counterattack. Although he sometimes strayed out of position, Jones often recovered well. The New England Revolution midfielder also did very well to come over in cover whenever Yedlin or Brek Shea were caught to far up the flanks.
In addition, the former Schalke stalwart played some gorgeous balls over the top. One was a perfectly weighted pass for Miguel Ibarra in the first half. The other was a delightful ball into the path of Yedlin who overhit the resulting cross. Jones could have added to the score sheet. He did well to latch onto Michael Bradley’s free-kick, only to put his header right into the arms of Jaime Penedo.
LB 11- Brek Shea (29/3): 7– Shea continued to look rejuvenated. He tracked back well in the 25th minute to stop what should have been the game’s opening goal. Two minutes later, he won the corner kick that led to Bradley’s opener at the other end. Shea played some nice balls down the line and looked to of had a good understanding with Ibarra, playing some intricate combinations. Shea also showed his confidence in taking on players. He should have registered an assist in the second half. The new Orlando City man got forward at pace and played a perfectly weighted first time ball behind Panama’s back four. Chris Wondolowski got on the end of it but was unable to reward Shea for his efforts.
RW 20- Gyasi Zardes (2/0): 8– As the game went on, the 23-year-old got better and better. The defining moment came in the 37th minute when he picked off Luis Ovalle’s pass and ran right at the back four before sliding in a perfect pass for Clint Dempsey to finish off the counter attack. In addition, Zardes showed his technique and composure. Just before halftime Zardes smartly chested Jozy Altidore’s long cross right to Michael Bradley, who should have finished. He also found some chemistry with Yedlin, allowing him to be a menace on the flank as well as cutting inside to connect with the likes of Bradley and later Luis Gil.
DM 4- Michael Bradley (93/13): 7– Bradley looked much more comfortable sitting in a bit of a deeper roll which allowed him to see the field and send runners through by playing balls over the top. He had already clipped two dangerous balls into the back post to no avail, before scoring directly from a corner in the 27th minute. Bradley was dangerous from set pieces. The midfield general floated in two gorgeous free kicks from almost the exact same central position. The first was headed by Jones right at the keeper and Zardes could have latched onto the second only to be hauled down. Bradley should have added to his total before halftime, but he shot straight at Penedo after a clever layoff from Zardes. Not only was Bradley spraying the ball all over the field, but he was working hard to win the ball back quickly and plug up holes in midfield. This allowed Mix Diskerud the freedom to roam.
DM 10- Mix Diskerud (27/5) 72 Minutes: 6.5– Mix was not flashy, but he was smart in his distribution. Working in a bit of a free role, NYCFC’s recent signing contented himself with simple passes to keep possession in midfield. He showed his cerebral side of the game at the start of the second-half. Receiving the ball at the top of the box, Mix wanted to shoot, but saw Bradley out wide as a better option. The resulting cross should have been tucked home. He also showed his range of passing wasn’t constricted to ten to 15 yards with gorgeous long balls in the 53rd that almost opened up a chance for Dempsey, and a great ball just after the hour mark to pick out Wondolowski’s diagonal run.
RW 19- Miguel Ibarra (2/0) 79 minutes: 8.5- The Minnesota United winger put in a brilliant shift. He showed his ability to take on players when he escaped his marker with a bit of magic just two minutes into the game. A minute later, Ibarra showed he wouldn’t neglect his defensive duties by hustling back to win a ball that he had lost. There were times where Ibarra would hesitate before making the right run. He did just that when Jones played him into the channel in the 31st minute. Ibarra went too late but made up for it by hustling to block the clearance, pinning Panama in its own end. In the 43rd, Ibarra set off on a mazy dribble and played a great ball into Dempsey who was able to get a cross off into a crowded box.
The Lancaster, California native did well to work with Shea, knowing when to take the inside channel in order to free up the outside route. If anything, Ibarra needs to believe in his runs and pay a bit more attention defensively as one or two times, he was still standing on the far touchline as Panama had possession all the way on the other side of the field. Despite the issues that come with being a player new to the international game, Ibarra’s intuition, creativity and work rate led to many getting out of their seats at the StubHub Center to applaud him as he was replaced by Lee Nguyen.
Dempsey was on target for the USA
CAM 8- Clint Dempsey (112/40) 81 Minutes: 7.5– Playing just behind Altidore as more of a second striker in what Jurgen Klinsmann described as a 4-2-3-1, Dempsey showed his quality. When brought into the play, Dempsey’s skill and ability to run at defenders to create opportunities had the fans on the edge of their seats. He took his chance brilliantly timing his run to perfection and rounding Penedo before sliding the ball into an empty net for his 40th goal in a U.S. jersey. Dempsey showed his ability to check back to the ball and know when to turn and when to play combinations. He was also electrifying in full flight. Just before the hour mark Dempsey galloped off into space and was ready to take on three retreating Panama defenders, before Aníbal Godoy brought him down from behind. A challenge that should have seen Referee Henry Bejarano reduce Panama to ten men.
F 17- Jozy Altidore (78/26) 45 minutes: 5.5– Altidore once again showed that one can be a huge asset as the striker without scoring goals. His hold up play brought others into the attack and he combined well when checking back to the ball. He also worked hard to keep Panama from getting out of its own end. There were times where you could see that his last spell at Sunderland had taken its toll. There were a few instances where Altidore looked hesitant to take defenders on 1 v. 1.
He did show his strength in the 21st minute to ride a heavy challenge and skip by another defender before being bulled over just outside the box. His ability to hold the ball in tight spaces was also on display, which led to a few corners. He also combined well with Bradley, who saw his shot partially blocked. Altidore created another scoring chance with a gorgeous cross for Zardes, but Bradley was unable to finish off that move as well. Toronto FC’s new forward said he felt soreness in his right hamstring and was withdrawn at halftime as a precaution.
Substitutes:
F 18- Chris Wondolowski (27/9) 46th minute sub: 4.5– While Wondolowski worked hard, coming back to help in midfield, hassling the defense, and checking into the right areas, the San Jose marksman could not take his chances. None more so then the ball that was served up for him on a golden platter by Shea. In Major League Soccer “Wondo” would have buried such a chance, but his effort looked rushed and lacked confidence.
He did make a solid early diagonal run to get on the end of a Diskerud long ball and smartly laid it off to Dempsey as his space was closed down. His extracurricular activity with his opponents away from the ball and his inability to make a real impact, however, means Wondolowski is going to need a stellar start to the new MLS season if he is going to be considered for the next camp.
GK 12- Sean Johnson (5/0) 46th Minute sub: 5– Johnson’s first clearance from a clean back pass was terribly sliced out of bounds. The next ball played back to him, was a bit more suspect with Panamanian attackers lurking, but Johnson showed that his first involvement was a fluke as he calmly played a very clever ball right into the feet of Bradley in the center of the park. Other than that, Johnson didn’t have too much to worry about on the occasion of his fifth cap.
DM 15- Perry Kitchen (1/0) 72nd Minute sub: N/R– It was a strong first showing from Kitchen who, for the most part, held his position well. The first time he had the ball at his feet he played a gorgeous cross field pass that Ibarra just missed.
RB 3- Matt Hedges (1/0) 72nd Minute sub: N/R– Hedges was composed and often played the right ball to releave pressure.
LM 7- Lee Nguyen (6/0) 79th Minute sub: N/R– Nguyen was involved in some good combo play to win a free-kick in a dangerous position right after coming on as a sub. Otherwise, the 28-year-old made sure to play on both sides of the ball and was simple with his distribution.
CAM 14- Luis Gil (2/0) 81st Minute sub: N/R– Gil showed his desire to move around and find the ball. He made a great run to get on the end of a pass from Zardes, and almost beat three defenders, but ended up running out of real estate as the ball rolled out for a goal-kick
Related Stories:
USA 2 : 0 Panama (in pictures)
Zardes proves himself in front of home crowd
USA puts it all together against Panama
Larger than life: My challenge depends on how much of a pain in the neck Clint is!
Omar Cummings nets for Timbers in Houston tie.
