MUSES ATHLETS OLYMPIC GAMES

USA-Iceland International Friendly Player Ratings

USA-ICELAND EXPRESS
Jan. 31 in Carson, Calif.
USA 3 Iceland 2. Goals: Altidore 20, Orozco 59, Birnbaum 90; Steindorsson 13, Sigurdarson 49.
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The USA responded both times Iceland took the lead and surged late in the game with five subs on the field to open 2016 with a 3-2 win thanks to a last-minute header from Steve Birnbaum, who was making only his second U.S. appearance.

Starters
RATING PLAYER (CLUB) GP/G
5 Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls) 2/0
Had no chance on Kristinn Steindorsson’s shot that changed direction when it deflected off Orozco. Aron Sigurdarson’s from 15 yards shot curled into the far corner.

5 Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders) 25/1
Right back had no difficulty keeping Iceland from attacking down the left wing. Subbed at halftime

4 Matt Besler (Sporting KC) 29/0
Flubbed a headed clearance that led to Iceland’s first goal.

6 Michael Orozco (Tijuana/MEX) 21/4
Played in the central defense in the first half and right back in the second. Always secure on the ball. Scored the 2-2 equalizer. Was part of the snafu on the second Iceland goal.

4 Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas) 1/0
The 20-year-old debutant could have made more of an effort to block Steindorsson’s shot. Ventured into attack frequently although without impact.

3 Ethan Finlay (Columbus Crew SC) 1/0
Ineffective on the right flank and twice shot way high.

7 Michael Bradley (Toronto FC) 110/15
He had his lesser moments -- liked when he looked to be chatting with the ref as Iceland launched an attack, after winning a free kick, which led to its second goal. But he set up Jozy Altdore’s equalizer with a superb pass and delivered the free kick for the gamewinner after sparking many of the USA’s late forays.

6 Jermaine Jones (unattached) 57/3
Covered plenty of ground in midfield. His long-range passes were often just off but his sharp ball to Gyasi Zardes started the sequence on the USA’s first equalizer.

6 Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution) 8/0
Many of his passes found the forwards, including a perfect cross that Zardes squandered. Faded late in the game.

5 Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy) 20/3
Blew first big U.S. chance when he headed poorly from five yards. Failed to beat defenders one-on-one, but was part to the passing sequence on first U.S. goal.

6 Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC) 90/32
Misplayed a couple through-balls but finished the USA’s first goal nicely with a left-footed chip past keeper Ogmundur Kristinsson.

Substitutes
7 Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United) 2/1
The central defender failed to stop Sigurdarson on Iceland’s second goal but gets credit for the 2-2 equalizer -- his excellent header nodded in by Orozco -- and scored the gamewinner with a fierce header.

6 Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers) 3/0
Helped U.S. keep midfield possession and made a key play that led to the gamewinner: Beating two Icelanders in the U.S. half before sending the ball to Kiesewetter on the right wing, where Kiesewetter was fouled, giving the USA a final chance.

5 Tony Tchani (Columbus Crew SC) 1/0
Handled Jones’ defensive midfield chores without difficulty.

7 Jerome Kiesewetter (VfB Stuttgart II/GER) 1/0
Became USA’s most lethal attacker when he entered in the 75th minute and flew down the right wing, serving two dangerous low crosses and drawing the foul for the free kick that set up the gamewinner.

6 Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders) 8/1
Troubled the Icelandic central defense on three occasions. Couldn’t get off a clear shot but won a corner kick.

TRIVIA: Michael Bradley’s two assists moved him ahead of Claudio Reyna to third among all-time USA leaders with 20. Bradley now trails No. 2 Cobi Jones (22) and leader Landon Donovan (58).

Jan. 31 in Carson, California

USA 3 Iceland 2. Goals: Altidore 20, Orozco 59, Birnbaum 90; Steindorsson 13, Sigurdarson 49.

USA -- Robles; Evans (Birnbaum, 46), Orozco, Besler, Acosta; Bradley, Jones (Tchani 71), Finlay (Nagbe, 61), Nguyen; Zardes (Kiesewetter, 75), Altidore (Morris, 75).

Iceland -- Kristinsson; Saevarsson, Jonasson (Hermannsson, 46), Fjoluson, Skulason (A.I. Johannesson 84); Thorarinsson (D.Johannesson, 46), Sigurdarson, Sigurjonsson, Smarason, Steindorsson (Prandarson, 46); Gudjohnsen (Finnbogason, 71).

Referee: Jeffrey Solis (Costa Rica).

Att.: 8,803.

Late header gets USA off to winning start in 2016 against Iceland

• USA 3-2 Iceland
• Steve Birnbaum clinches victory against Euro 2016 finalists

USA took a step toward shaking off the ghosts of 2015 with an aggressive effort in rainy Carson, California, on Sunday to equalize twice and eventually edge outIceland, 3-2.

It was the late heroics from defender Steve Birnbaum in his second USAappearance that kept a sloppy defensive team performance from overshadowing a strong attacking effort. He nabbed the equalizing assist and game-winning goal, both on set pieces.

In the 90th minute, Birnbaum rose to connect with a Michael Bradley set piece, to head past goalkeeper Ögmundur Kristinsson. Centre-back Michael Oroczo pulled the US level for a second time in the 59th minute, finishing a header from Birnbaum off a Bradley corner.

Iceland were missing key personnel in attack, but still made the US pay dearly for defensive mistakes. Debutant Aron Sigurðarson scored Iceland’s second goal from a long-range, curling strike in the 66th minute after the American defense was caught off-guard.

USA coach Jürgen Klinsmann yet again experimented with a new defensive four, which had a rocky start, leading to an early Iceland goal in front of a sparse crowd at the StubHub Center. A weak clearance in the 12th minute landed at the feet of Kristinn Steindórsson, whose deflected shot left goalkeeper Luis Robles with no chance to save. Orozco was a late addition to the US training camp, with Klinsmann calling him in Friday after the squad had been training together for two and a half weeks.

As shaky as the USA defense looked when tested, the attack was strong, holding possession and out-shooting Iceland 16 to six. Jozy Altidore pulled USA level for the first time in the 20th minute after a nice sequence that started with Jermaine Jones in the Americans’ own half. Jones passed upfield to Gyasi Zardes, whose first time ball to Bradley was slipped into Altidore for a chip finish.

“It’s the first game of the year – we’re trying to get our legs under us still,” Altidore said. “We’re working really hard in training and it’s nice to play against a real opponent and gets a few minutes.”

“We have to get fitter, but that’s normal this time of the year,” he added. “We just need to be a little bit sharper. Sometimes that final pass wasn’t there, that first touch wasn’t there, but it will come in due time.”

Though Sunday’s affair was only a friendly, Klinsmann will be keen to put a rough 2015 behind him. The US crashed out of the Concacaf Gold Cup for their worst finish since 2000 and then lost a playoff against Mexico for a berth in next year’s Confederations Cup. The under-23 squad failed to guarantee a spot in this summer’s Olympics after losing to Honduras in the semi-final of the Concacaf qualifying tournament, a competition Klinsmann named as a top priority for last year.

Klinsmann took a different tact with his January camp leading up to Sunday’s match by calling in a mix of senior team and under-23 players that will face Colombia in a last-chance play-off for berth into the Rio Olympics. The senior squad, meanwhile, has 2018 World Cup qualifying and Copa America on the calendar later this year.

Iceland represented a strong first opponent of 2016 for the US, having recently qualified for Euro 2016, the smallest country ever to qualify for the tournament. But key absences in Sunday’s starting line-up included strikers Gylfi Sigurðsson, Alfreð Finnbogason and Kolbeinn Sigþórsson. Sunday was the first meeting between Iceland and the US since 1994, having previously gone 2-2-2 in six matches.

Klinsmann’s line-up showed an eye to the future as he handed out first caps while continuing to start a mix of veteran players like 34-year-old Jermaine Jones. Both Ethan Finley and Kellyn Acosta earned their first caps for the senior team and Lee Nguyen earned his first start after seven previous caps. Cameroonian-American Tony Tchani and German-American Jerome Kiesewetter both made their US senior debuts as a second-half substitutes.

The US will return to the StubHub Center for another friendly on Friday against Canada. Qualifying for the 2018 World Cup resumes in March against Guatemala.

MLS Preseason: Training camp and friendly schedules

Jose Villarreal scored two goals off the bench to give the LA Galaxy a 2-1 win over FC Shirak of Armenia on Saturday night. 

The game marked the Galaxy debuts of starters Dan Kennedy andEmmanuel Boateng and return of Mike Magee. Neither of its two new foreign signings, Ashley Cole or Jelle Van Damme, dressed.

Galaxy coach Bruce Arena credited Villarreal for two good goals.

"You could see his fitness has to get a little bit better, that is always a challenge for Jose," he said, "but he is a good player, he is a player that we think has a future with the Los Angeles Galaxy. We keep pushing him every year to get him a little better, last year was a difficult year for him. He started off well and just suffered a series of injuries throughout the year so that kind of put him out last year. We are hopeful he can stay healthy and get some experience this year."

SUNDAY. The New York Red Bulls split a pair of games, defeating the NASL's Jacksonville Armada, 5-2, and losing to Montverde Academy, 1-0, with its third team. Goals came from Bradley Wright-Phillips,Sacha Kljestan, Sean Davis, Stefano Bonomo and Connor Lade.

SATURDAY. The San Jose Earthquakes, Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City all won scrimmages while Toronto FC drew against amateur or collegiate competition.

FRIDAY. D.C. United played the first international friendly of the 2016 preseason, falling to Sweden's IF Elfsborg, 1-0, on Viktor Claesson's goal in just fourth minute.

Chicago Fire
TRAINING CAMPS:Tampa, Florida: Jan. 31-Feb. 11
Portland, Oregon: Feb. 19-27
FRIENDLIES:Feb. 6: USF
Feb. 11: Philadelphia Union
Feb. 21: Vancouver Whitecaps (Simple Invitational)
Feb. 24: Minnesota United (Simple Invitational)
Feb. 27: at Portland Timbers (Simple Invitational)

Colorado Rapids
TRAINING CAMPS:San Diego, California: Jan. 31-Feb. 9
Tucson, Arizona: Feb. 15-28
FRIENDLIES:
Feb. 13: at Sacramento Republic FC
Feb. 17: Swope Park Rangers (Desert Diamond Cup)
Feb. 20: Houston Dynamo (Desert Diamond Cup)
Feb. 24: Sporting KC (Desert Diamond Cup)
Feb. 27: TBD (Diamond Desert Cup)

Columbus Crew SC
TRAINING CAMPS:
Lakewood Ranch, Florida: Jan. 23-Feb. 5
Tucson, Arizona: Feb. 15-28
FRIENDLIES:
Feb. 17: Sporting KC (Desert Diamond Cup)
Feb. 20: Real Salt Lake (Desert Diamond Cup)
Feb. 24: Swope Park Rangers (Desert Diamond Cup)
Feb. 27: TBD (Diamond Desert Cup)

D.C. United
TRAINING CAMPS:
Bradenton, Florida: Jan. 23-Feb. 6
Clearwater, Florida: Feb. 11-21
FRIENDLIES:
Jan. 29: 0-1 IF Elfsborg (Sweden)
Feb. 2: Jonkopings Sodra IF (Sweden)
Feb. 5: Brann (Norway)
Feb. 13: at Tampa Bay Rowdies
Feb. 17: Philadelphia Union (Rowdies Suncoast Invitational)
Feb. 20: Montreal Impact (Rowdies Suncoast Invitational)
CCL:
Feb. 23: at Queretaro

FC Dallas
TRAINING CAMPS:Casa Grande, Arizona: Feb. 1-8
Medellin, Colombia: Feb. 13-22.

Houston Dynamo:
TRAINING CAMPS:Tucson, Arizona: Feb. 1-11
Tucson, Arizona: Feb. 17-28
FRIENDLIES:Feb. 3: Portland Timbers
Feb. 6: New England Revolution (Desert Friendlies)
Feb. 9: Vancouver Whitecaps (Desert Friendlies)
Feb. 13: Houston Baptist University
Feb. 16: Rayo OKC
Feb. 20: Portland Timbers (Desert Diamond Cup)
Feb. 24: New England Revolution (Desert Diamond Cup)
Feb. 27: TBD (Desert Diamond Cup)

LA Galaxy
FRIENDLIES:
Jan. 30: 2-1 FC Shirak (Armenia)
Feb. 6: Toronto FC
Feb. 9: Tijuana (Mexico)
Feb. 13: San Jose Earthquakes (in Las Vegas, Nev.)
Feb. 17: Seattle Sounders
CCL:
Feb. 24: Santos (Mexico)

Montreal Impact
TRAINING CAMPS:
Orlando, Florida: Jan. 26-Feb. 5
St. Petersburg, Florida: Feb. 15-28
FRIENDLIES:Feb. 4: NY Red Bulls
Feb. 13: FC Montreal (in Montreal)
Feb. 17: New York City (Rowdies Suncoast Invitational)
Feb. 20: D.C. United (Rowdies Suncoast Invitational)
Feb. 24: Toronto FC (Rowdies Suncoast Invitational)
Feb. 27: at Tampa Bay Rowdies (Rowdies Suncoast Invitational)

New England Revolution
TRAINING CAMPS:
Casa Grande, Arizona: Jan. 26-Feb. 7
Tucson, Arizona: Feb. 14-27
FRIENDLIES:Feb. 3: San Jose Earthquakes (Desert Friendlies)
Feb. 6: Vancouver Whitecaps (Desert Friendlies)
Feb. 17: Sporting KC (Desert Diamond Cup)
Feb. 20: Real Salt Lake (Desert Diamond Cup)
Feb. 24: Swope Park Rangers (Desert Diamond Cup)
Feb. 27: TBD (Diamond Desert Cup)
New York City FC
TRAINING CAMPS:
Bonita Springs, Florida: Jan. 22- Feb. 1
Bradenton, Florida: Feb. 5- 28
FRIENDLIES:
Jan. 31: 1-0 at FGCU
Feb. 17: Montreal Impact (Rowdies Suncoast Invitational)
Feb. 20: HB Koge (Denmark) (IMG Suncoast Pro Classic)
Feb. 24:  FC Cincinnati (IMG Suncoast Pro Classic)
Feb. 27:  Reykjavik FC (Iceland) (IMG Suncoast Pro Classic)

NY Red Bulls
TRAINING CAMPS:
Orlando, Florida: Jan. 24-Feb. 5
Orlando, Florida: Feb. 15-28
FRIENDLIES:
Jan. 28: 3-1 USF
Jan. 31: Jacksonville Armada & Montverde Academy (split squads)
Feb. 4: Montreal Impact
Feb. 17: Orlando City SC 
Feb. 24: Philadelphia Union (Rowdies Suncoast Invitational)
Feb. 27: at Jacksonville Armada

Orlando City
FRIENDLIES:
Feb. 13: at Jacksonville Armada
Feb. 17: NY Red Bulls

Philadelphia Union
TRAINING CAMPS:
Jacksonville, Florida: Feb. 2-5
Clearwater, Florida: Feb. 7- 12
Clearwater, Florida: Feb. 16-28
FRIENDLIES:Feb. 6: at Jacksonville Armada
Feb. 11: Chicago Fire
Feb. 17: D.C. United (Rowdies Suncoast Invitational)
Feb. 20: at Tampa Bay Rowdies (Rowdies Suncoast Invitational)
Feb. 24: NY Red Bulls (Rowdies Suncoast Invitational)
Feb. 27: Toronto FC (Rowdies Suncoast Invitational)

Portland Timbers
TRAINING CAMPS:Tucson, Arizona: Jan. 29-Feb. 12
FRIENDLIES:  
Jan. 31: 0-1 at FC Tucson
Feb. 3: Houston Dynamo (Desert Friendlies)
Feb. 6: Seattle Sounders (Desert Friendlies)
Feb. 11: Real Salt Lake (Desert Friendlies)
Feb. 21: Minnesota United (Simple Invitational)
Feb. 24: Vancouver Whitecaps (Simple Invitational)
Feb. 27: Chicago Fire (Simple Invitational)

Real Salt Lake
Oceanside, California: Jan. 24-Feb. 3
Tucson, Arizona: Feb. 7-20
FRIENDLIES:
Jan. 30: 1-0 San Diego State Univ.
Feb. 2: at Tijuana (Mexico)
Feb. 17: New England Revolution (Desert Diamond Cup)
Feb. 20: Columbus Crew SC (Desert Diamond Cup)
CCL:
Feb. 24: at Tigres (Mexico)

San Jose Earthquakes
TRAINING CAMPS:
Tucson, Arizona: Feb. 1-10
FRIENDLIES:
Jan. 27: 8-0 San Jose Earthquakes academyJan. 30: 8-0 San Francisco Stompers FC
Feb. 3: New England Revolution (Desert Friendlies)
Feb. 6: Houston Dynamo (Desert Friendlies)
Feb. 9: Seongham FC (South Korea)
Feb. 13: LA Galaxy (in Las Vegas, Nev.)
Feb. 20: at Sacramento Republic FC
Feb. 27: New York Cosmos

Seattle Sounders
TRAINING CAMPS:
Tucson, Arizona: Jan. 28-Feb. 10
Walnut, California: Feb. 13-18
FRIENDLIES:Feb. 3: Vancouver Whitecaps (Desert Friendlies)
Feb. 6: Portland Timbers (Desert Friendlies).
Feb. 9: Celaya (Mexico) (Desert Friendlies)
Feb. 14: TBD
Feb. 17: LA Galaxy

Sporting KC
TRAINING CAMPS:
Tucson, Arizona: Jan. 24-Feb. 8
Tucson, Arizona: Feb. 14-28
FRIENDLIES:
Jan. 30: 4-0 at FC Tucson
Feb. 3: at FC Tucson (Desert Friendlies)
Feb. 17: Columbus Crew SC (Desert Diamond Cup)
Feb. 20: New England Revolution (Desert Diamond Cup)
Feb. 24: Colorado Rapids (Desert Diamond Cup)
Feb. 27: TBD (Desert Diamond Cup)

Toronto FC
TRAINING CAMPS:
Irvine, California: Jan. 25-Feb. 7
Orlando, Florida: Feb. 14-28
FRIENDLIES: 
Jan. 30: 2-2 at UC Irvine
Feb. 1: Cal State Fullerton
Feb. 3: Ventura County Fusion
Feb. 6: at LA Galaxy
Vancouver Whitecaps
TRAINING CAMPS:Tucson, Arizona: Jan. 31-Feb. 10
Portland, Oregon: Feb. 19-27
FRIENDLIES:Feb. 3: Seattle Sounders (Desert Friendlies)
Feb. 6: New England Revolution (Desert Friendlies)
Feb. 9: Houston Dynamo (Desert Friendlies)
Feb. 21: Chicago Fire (Simple Invitational)
Feb. 24: at Portland Timbers (Simple Invitational)
Feb. 27: Minnesota United (Simple Invitational)