First game of the year, first game roster for NYRB defender John Tolkin, first game without a fulltime HC since the last fulltime HC, GGG.
A big TIFO in honor of the late, great Gant Wahl is at the stadium.
A moment of silence for Kevin Payne, Pele & Grant Wahl, a very nice touch. We were of course fortunate enough to have spent time with the late trio.
Serbia got forward from the opening kick, the US recovered the ball and were more than content with numerous passes in their defensive half before giving it up on an unforced error in playing it out of touch very poorly. Their next possession similarly ended by an errant pass with no pressure. At 4’ a corner lands in the 6 box off being headed on by Bosnia, the player it falls to needs an extra touch to shoot near post and it is just blocked over the end line. The ball is dummied by Serbia but there was not a soul in a white top to send home from well in the penalty area. The first US corner comes a 10’. Vasquez strips the GK, finds Cowell, who returns it and he is wide from 15 yards. Cowell with a great shot from the top of the box, was leaning a bit to his right and that is right where the shot went wide. A 3v2 for the US, it ends with a distant shot by Morris which leads to a corner. Gressel from a distance to Vazquez who heads it in 1-0 at 29’. Now Serbia has a 3v2, a pair of saves by the GK who is now down saved a goal both times. From the ensuing corner a good deal of pressure is absorbed by the US backline until they get a goal kick. At 36’, a perfectly executed give and go by Serbia in the area winds up with a shot off the chest of the GK. A Cowell mishit and a trio of misses in the 6 lead to another squandered opportunity for this young US team. A common lament is about “away” games for the US within its’ borders, that has been solved by taking on Serbia, the chants are in Spanish. Cowell into the 6 for Pomykal who while falling is unable to cut it back enough as the GK gobbles it up. The DFK from 20 yards goes between a gap in the wall as Serbia knots it up at 44’. Hardly the way to close out a decent first half. A promising US attack stymied as a 2nd ball winds up on the field.
What is apparent in this first half is that the US are not fit as yet, their touch is lacking as it is preseason. Further evident is that these players have not spent much time together, many balls played into space at the wrong pace, many runs did not get there and many balls played where the player was not. These things are not going to be fixed during halftime but should be a bit better in the coming game with Colombia.
46’ Serbia strikes to open the 2nd stanza, a lost clearance, a misplayed back pass and a clinical finish by Simic, 2-0 away team. Two goals allowed in 7’ over each half not a good sign at all. A clearing ball from the gk is grabbed by the US , not only do they bring it to their defensive end some 40 yards back, they lose it for an offside goal by Serbia, dodging that bullet at 52’. Such chances should go in one direction, right back on the goal from which it was played. A long ball finds Cade, he goes end line plays it into the 6 and It bounds out of it. Well out of his goal, Slonina makes a diving header to move the ball up field. Cowell steals a pass, a quick shot pings the far post. Just seconds later, he again hits the frame, now near post. Cowell again, this time from 20+ yards, a few feet wide but oh so dangerous. Cowell from wide looking for the head of Zendejas, earns a corner. His corner headed by the newly shorn head of Aaron Long in his new state to play club ball, CA. A ball the US has at the top of the D winds up at half field and lost. Arriola on for the best, most offensive minded player on the field, Cowell gets a good shot on goal. Zenedjas steals the ball and is well wide on the goal. A US defender hesitates on the ball and loses it. A great first time shot by Williamson is just high from the top of the area. Terrific slide tackle by Williamson leads to a close shot by Arriola played over the end line by the net minder. Jones goes end line, a Serbian player cramps up and the US has a corner off the slide tackle. Jones sends in a worm, burner, it gets to Zendejas who goes wide left with his effort. Acosta and Long off by a foot at the end line as regular time ends, 5’ of extra time to come.
As stated at half time, there were many miss ques, one of which cost the US the tie, the wall. It did not stay together as the ball found the gap left between players and into the net. That is not a unique thing but rather a very basic soccer thing, the GK is not to worry about the wall being beaten, over it covered , under a player on the ground but he was outleapt but through it no.