This game had more than a few local ties, Eric Calvillo an ex-NY Coosmos player, Pulisic with his dad out of LI, Berhalter and his Long Island soccer playing wife, like the mother of Reyna, she is an inductee of the Long Island Soccer Player Hall of Fame and of course Musah, Amunt!, born in NYC.
The US team who should have been the overwhelming favorrites, just by looking at the pedigree of their players, their teams, leagues and success there if only the games were played on paper. Early on Weah, speaking of pedigree, WOW, jawing with and showing his frustration with balls from Pulisic, a team leader, not a good look. Ferriera taking a ball off the outside of his right foot, of course went off target, square your body, use the inside of that foot or let it go across your body for the insde of the left? Yes, the US had the better of the game, but a one goal win is one touch of the ball from a tie, to close of a margin. Thee weather did not seem to affect either team, if it hurt ES, good thing it was not a warm weather city, who is good with that climate, who plays in that on a regular basis? The chances wee there for the US, they did however neglect to put them a way, taking zero away from the so well taken, first time strike by Robinson.
True that national teams are not together much to really develop much cohesiveness, this was beyond that, simple lead passes not connecting, missed runs, just basic soccer moves not getting worked out together. If they play like this in Canada, very simply, they lose.
Should the US make the World Cup, yes, will this level of play get them there, nope. They need to earn it, it is not a cake walk the rest of the way, get your spot, then take the foot off the pedal and work on specific things for the Cup in the desert. Do not back into the largest sporting event on the planet, qualify early, take the pressure off. To miss 2 in a row yet hosting the following tourney would hardly be a good luck.
The defense held strong, yet were not challenged much, a good thing given there was but a one goal cushion. The midfield did well getting the ball forward, that's where it fell apart. Do the mids have to keep possession as the frontline may not be able to put the ball in the back of the net, not what should happen, but rather, build a lead. The lack of finishing was abysmal and must improve.
Up next, the Canadian team which should not be but may very well be a challenge, should there not be at least a 30% improvement, I expect a loss.