VIDEO USA 1-1 Switzerland: Highlights, Goals; Brek Shea Free-kick Canceled Out As US Concedes Again Late On
Brek Shea’s superb free-kick was canceled out by the concession of yet another late goal as the United States men’s national team drew 1-1 with Switzerland in Zurich. Shea’s strike, curled over the wall and into the net in first-half injury time, put the U.S. in front and appeared to set them on course for a creditable win on the road against one of the seeded nations from last year’s World Cup. But, having seen Jozy Altidore sent off, defensive errors piled up again late on to allow Valentin Stocker to poke in from close range with 10 minutes remaining and make it nine goals conceded in the 75th minute or later in their last eight matches.
Altidore’s sending off, earning two yellows in quick succession for tripping an opposition player and then very clearly directing an expletive in the referee’s direction, will doubtless be used as a mitigating factor for this latest disappointment. Yet it was ultimately familiar defensive shakiness that proved the United States’ undoing. Switzerland’s goal was just one of several chances they created late on as the U.S. struggled in particular to cope with balls directed into the box.
While still an encouraging result, the late goal will come as a disappointment for Klinsmann after what was for the most part a performance significantly improved from the one displayed in a 3-2 defeat to Denmark last week. Bucking a recent trend, Klinsmann made just three changes from the last time out, perhaps a sign that the U.S. coach has recognized the need to build some continuity and cohesion ahead of this summer’s Gold Cup. What he did do, though, was tweak the system. While the U.S. were outnumbered and out-passed so demonstrably against Denmark, this time a midfield diamond was deployed to give more presence in the center, a goal helped by Gyasi Zardes’ movement up front.
The standout player for the U.S., though, was Alejandro Bedoya. Moved into a wider role than against Denmark, the Nantes man excelled and was at the heart of most of his team’s best moments. It was Bedoya’s cross that found Zardes at the back post 15 minutes in, only for the LA Galaxy forward to go for a difficult ungainly volley and fail to control it. It was Bedoya, too, who set up Michael Bradley for an even better chance later on. But the midfielder, playing in a more advanced role, wasted it when shooting over the bar.
The U.S. was still solidly losing the possession battle, but they were creating the best chances. The success of the U.S. should still be taken in the context of Switzerland making six changes from the team that beat Estonia 3-0 last Friday in a Euro 2016 qualifier that, for them, had far more significance than this friendly. Certainly there was some evidence of a lack of intensity from the home side when defending in transition. And the U.S. could have been behind when Admir Mehmedi failed to touch in Xherdan Shaqiri’s cross after one of several errors from Timmy Chandler.
Yet, it was the U.S. that went into the break in front. Given a fresh life in the national team as a left-back, Shea showed the quality he has always possessed when curling a left-footed strike past inexperienced Swiss keeper Roman Burki.
The U.S. brought on William Yarbrough in goal for his debut at halftime, as well as another Mexico-eligible player in Ventura Alvarado, but Klinsmann’s men were still competing well into the second half. It was Altidore’s sending off that changed the flow of the match. At the same time Switzerland added some quality off the bench and began to firmly take the ascendency. While the visitors survived a couple of major scares, with Yarbrough struggling to command his area, the defensive shakiness was to prove costly. From a short corner, both DeAndre Yedlin and Alfredo Morales went for the same ball, leaving a wide open Stocker to touch the ball past an exposed Yarbrough.
U.S. overcomes Jozy Altidore red card, holds on for 1-1 draw at Switzerland
For the sixth time in eight games, the United States men's national team gave away a win in the last half hour of play on Tuesday, having to settle for a 1-1 draw with Switzerland in Zurich.
In their most cohesive and composed performance in months, the Americans were the better team for much of their contest against one of Europe's most promising young sides – which did make six lineup changes after a Euro qualifier on Friday. The USA created the bulk of the chances, exploiting Switzerland's mistakes with swift and savvy breakaways, but lost the firm grip on the game when Jozy Altidore was sent off in the 68th minute.
It was not, however, sparkling soccer. In fact, it looked a lot like the sort of game plans the U.S. has deployed for decades – organize well, absorb pressure, counter-attack. In that regard, head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who was appointed to upgrade and innovate that rudimentary brand of soccer, is showing few signs of delivering. Certainly, he is rebuilding in a post World Cup year, but the performance in the recent string of games had been disconcerting, even if you dismissed the results for having come in friendlies.
At the very least, the Yanks looked like a team on Tuesday. And it took them just a quarter of an hour to forge their first real chance. On a breakaway,Alejandro Bedoya found Gyasi Zardes at the far post with his high cross, but the young forward seemed undecided between heading or volleying the ball and wound up slicing it into the stands.
Just before the half hour, Altidore played Bedoya through the line, who squared for Michael Bradley inside the box. But the first-time captain couldn't get his weight over the ball and skied it over the bar with his left foot.
Five minutes later, Brek Shea marauded forward from his left back position once again and bounced a high cross to Bedoya in the box, but the winger couldn't get enough oomph on his header to trouble goalkeeper Roman Burki.
The much-maligned USA defense had a first shaky moment in the 39th minute, when right back Timmy Chandler totally lost track of Xherdan Shaqiri. The Inter Milan winger gladly strode into the vast space that had been abandoned and sent a low cross into Admir Mehmedi. But the latter, with a totally open net gaping just a yard or two in front of him, somehow stepped over the ball and spared the Americans.
The U.S. capitalized on the brink of half-time, when Shea swerved a splendid free kick from just outside the box over the wall into the near top corner of the goal. That made it nine straight games in which the Americans have scored in the first half, and the seventh time in that stretch that they secured a half-time lead – although they have won just two of those.
Right after the break, Zardes had something of a chance, when he won a header on a badly cleared Chandler cross, but nodded it just wide. And then, in the 68th minute, Altidore committed a foul and then seemed to say something unkind to the referee, whom he had been verbally sparring with all game, which got him sent off.
Reduced to 10 men, the USA would have to face its demons head-up. Going back to June 1 of last year, the Americans had given up 13 goals in the 80th minute or later in their last 14 games, prior to Tuesday's affair. Soon enough, the Swiss offensive came barreling down on the Americans full bore.
Goalkeeper William Yarbrough, making his debut, made a fine save on Switzerland's 18-year-old Breel Embolo, a fellow debutant, when he whipped in a sharp cross. But the cracks were showing. Pajtim Kasami was left wide open for a far-post header a foot from goal but couldn't get his finish down enough. Switzerland continued to threaten. And then, in the 80th minute the Swiss got the goal they deserved on the strength of their second half.
Poor coverage on a corner resulted in a rebound rolling free to Valentin Stockerin the goal mouth. He wasn't marked well either and allowed to poke the ball past Yarbrough from close range, having been left onside by Chandler.
That made it 14 goals conceded in the 80th minute in the last 15 games.
So the Americans' disconcerting inability to close out games reared its monstrous head yet again. But it shouldn't be allowed to obscure the hour that came before it, when the Americans finally showed that they can still play a solid game of soccer. Provided they finish it with 11 men.
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