USMNT v Japan
I would say that Japan is a far stronger side than is Korea who dispatched the US a few days ago without much of an issue. Some new pieces, 5 in the starting lineup may help with that? Japan have a totally new lineup from their last game. We shall see but I am salivating if I am with Japan. Having just freed up during the national anthems, I did not get to see the colors being worn at the home of the Crew to see how the crowd is but in the early going the crowd noise will make that clear, it was a sea of Red in NJ. Unless it is a late arriving crowd it will not be a sellout.
The US is holding the ball well and now too long for Freeman. Earlier Ream passed a ball so hard, right into the feet of a Japanese player that it bounded away. Richards loses a foot race and Japan have a corner at 3’. Ream nods it well beyond the area. Ream again breaks it up and the US lose it in their half. to an open player on the wing forward, too much and offside. Freeman taken down, hard, you could hear him cry out in pain. Freeman, not a good angle on the ball for Zendejas of Club America. He did get the ball between the defenders but far too forward for his player. Again on the right go Japan, a ball in, taken by Adams, the past Red Bull, Roldan the recent Leagues Cup winner then gets it. Ream leads Balogun and the GK has it. Balogun leaves for Pulisic and the 2nd gen pro was high from the top of the arc, his father Mark, from just a few miles away from us, in Centereach. Freese goes to ground for a save, 2nd ball and a whistle. The player was off from the first ball alone and it was off the mark by a tad. Fujita gets Adams well, he is in pain holding his knee there will not be a card here. Called offside by one of the talking heads, but Japan get a throw in? Melissa Ortiz with the skinny on the touchline, Pooch is happy with more effort and team work. Adams gets a misplayed ball and now fast to Freeman below the area, seeking Zendejas and Japan are fouled. Zendejas pulled a player down. Some nice ball movement, a hard tackle, play on and the US lose it. Japan with a nearly 50 yard back pass to the ‘keeper, this is not only done here? Again, to the netminder, USA is pressing but not successfully. Martino states this is a 2nd team by Japan offered up here and the US is not looking so good against them. A poorly received ball is lost in the US third, Suzuki over the top and it is headed on goal no issue for Freese. Japan presses and win a throw in from their offensive third, into the area but only a white shirt there to usher it out over the endline. Richards takes the air out of the ball to his player’s foot now a number of passes and he gets it back, in the backfield twice over, he goes to goal now. Ream beaten bad, turned back and not a good ball in. Balogun a few shots blocked after the ball from Zendejas, maybe a first time shot? Roldan seeks to release pressure to the GK but it then goes to Ream and the pressure remains, they handle it and get to Adams on the wing in space, he and Freeman exchange the ball Richards onto Ream and back to the Crystal Palace man again. Pulisic gets back for the ball and still Richards and Ream too much time on the ball as Richards gets it, then Ream yet again. Seeking Pulisic, it is headed away and Japan get forward with Suzuki. Into the area and half cleared, Japan hold into the area and from the top of the area headed down but again easy for Freese on the challenged header by Ream. Balogun and Pulisic, he leaves for Zendejas into the defender and Balogun cannot reel it in. US gets it, by way of Zendejas to Freeman, now Adams gets to Roldan and Japan steal at about 25 yards. Zendejas not happy with a call, he got the ball with the lead leg and the body big time with the trailing leg and issued a caution at 23’. Ream ran through and the ref blows it down. Richards to Ream, to a player covered and it is lost. Japan holds but go to their half from a very deep position. Way back again by Japan. The visitors are finding the open player with ease. Players free to both sides, Suzuki goes to the near wing and gets it back, Richards breaks it up at the top of the area and not held, Japan from afar is far off the mark. A shot with not much on it at Freese and he dishes to Ream, now a long ball in is too long, the GK has it, Blackmon turns away a ball on the ground and corner #2 for Japan. Japan 33-3 in all qualifiers, wow, they are the top team in their region. Top of the 6. Freese parries it out of touch at about 25 yards. Quickly across the field and Freeman shows his speed, he has his shirt pulled all but falls and no whistle. Poor first touch and US is in the area with Balogun back to Roldan and again back to Richards, Richards outside to Arfsten and what a strike out of the air by Alex and he buries it with a rocket. That was a goal and a half. He just meets the ball does not over power it and goes far post so well. Great build up on the goal off a steal, if they make an error, punish them. First half hour a card and a goal, all he needs now is an assist. Pressure by Japan then a foul deep in the US end. Over the top for Freeman as the GK steps up and nods it out of play at about 25 yards not into the circle, why give up all this space. Zendejas for Balogun and his cross, too far for Pulisic Freeman backing up, Pulisic draws a crowd then clears Freeman for Adams in the area it is lost. Ogawa the striker called for a foul as they go airborne. Freese snuffs out a decent look on goal as the player was going down. Pulisic leads the charge to Arfsten, a distant poor angle of a shot is right at the GK. US moves the ball upfield in a few passes now they give most of that back as they go to their backfield. A ball forward goes to the GK. Pulisic carried around the defender, got off a shot deflected out for a corner at 39’, they want another. He goes short and the return ball is all but out and Arfsten goes to help, it is lost, but to Roldan. Pulisic with a hopeful ball for Balogun, too high but gets a thumbs up from him. US is moving the ball, no choice with the pressure but they keep going back and lateral. Freeman the target, heads it on, too much and despite his speed, unable to run it down. Japan getting forward to the center and a good shot down the middle of the goal is blocked well out by Richards. Back into the area, Richards again this time out of play for a very deep throw at 45’. Suzuki once more involved in the offense and a great shot at Fresse is off him for a corner, no mention of extra time yet and we are at 45:30. The corner goes out of play and the whistle ends the half.
Japan needs to keep up the press it will work and the US needs another goal to get breathing room, get the shots off.
A ball in headed right at Frees, a good look on the goal. Pulisic into the area and lets one rip defended out for a deep throw. He had a great Gold Cup a true revelation for me. Pulisic taken down and hard just beyond the area. They try a quick restart as the ref was involved with the wall, it was called back. Zendejas for Pulisic, he it into the area and headed out, the US holds, back to Freese who feeds Adams. Again to Matty now Richards. Again to Freese. Richards for Blackmon now Pulisic gets around a player feeds Freeman who tired to play it in denied now to the other side by the home side. Roldan to Ream and looking forward Pulisic on it and upended, Japan throw. Japan with a chance as the US back line takes it away. Over the top and wide for an offside Freeman, Roldan and Zendejas combine a US corner coming up. Zendejas to take it, top of the 6, far side and cleared out, they recovers it and an unforced error as Freeman passes it out of play. A poor long ball by Japan to Ream he gets Balogun fast not Pulisic he shoots right to the GK’s feet. Japan with a restart and are waiting for their player to tie his shoe, the crowd boos, let them waste time they are trailing. Tom Byer gets a mention at 55’ by Martino, credited with increasing the level of Japan. Pulisic plays it forward, but not a soul there. Blackmon down the line wins a foot race gives up a deep throw. To the area and he heads one away, Zendejas taken down a whistle given. Balogun for Freman on the right wing in and out for Roldan to the foot of Arfstan, the defender absolutely snuffed that shot on his foot, great positioning by the back. Japan across the area, they run it down and hold on the side, a lead ball defended out for a corner by Freeman. A bit of nervous times from the corner but a weak ball in gets to the breadbasket of Freese. USA holds in the neutral zone then lose it but a foul called on Suzuki kills their run. Subs of three are up for Japan. Kamada on Suzuki off Mitonma on and Fujita off. These are players of a higher level, Japan wants the game. Japan to the endline and pull it back now inside and out of the area a high ball grabbed by Freese with no pressure on him. Pulisic releases to Balogun in the area and his first time effort beats the GK. After the goal McGlynn and Luna are in Adams is out as Dest in also Pulisic sits down to huge applause, Del La Torre in Christian assisted the Balogun goal, Arfsten is out. At 66’. All but the whole field the US have the ball only to play it to their GK, his ball goes to the other GK. Wholesale changes by the US as Japan upgrades. McGlynn lays it off a ball I is taken by Luna to Luna and Ito fouls Del La Torre the restart to be taken by McGlynn or Roldan, yes there is that much of a height difference. Gottschee finds the head of Richards, but it goes high. Of the cross bar go Japan from a distance a right footed rocket dipping and Freese had a great view as it seemed to hit the upper corner. The corner taken by the US, Balogun seeks McGlynn but Japan heads the ball back and out for a US throw. More subs for the visitors coming up. The US presses a bit and don’t get the ball, it comes back to the GK of Japan, they are over midfield into their offensive end and to the top of the area the lead ball is out for a goal kick. A pair for Japan as Machino enters with Sugawara out. Japan to the GK a bouncing ball is cleared out by him. US get it in their offensive half and Luna gives it away. A poor pass across the area, had the US pressed… Turned back to their GK again are Japan to the top of the area then back to goal and returned now they get forward, how that player was not covered I cannot say. Freese holding the ball and then distributes it is challenged and a foul on the US at 76’. Ito with the restart as Freese sets his defense. A high ball and Jack clears it to midfield. Balogun presses in the other half. Downs ready to enter for the US as they give up a corner on a poor long ball that went over the endline. Ito with another restart and Blackmon this time sends it well beyond the half. Jack for Balogun to Roldan Dest goes in for De La Torre and McGlynn with a curling shot that is parried out for a corner. Balogun out at 79’. Shy of the 6 and cleared out, Japan keep it into the US defensive third and get a deep throw. Freeman holds off the attacking player goes down but gets the goal kick. Blackmon goes down, heads the ball, the pressure causing all sort of problems Jack is able to get if forward to Del La Torre and the US have Dest in for the US. Blackmon heads it while down and gets kneed in the face, he was literally on the floor when he headed it. Jack rattles the cage what an impact with a number of minutes to go. Blackmon out for Harriel. Way too much on the ball for the US in their defensive end they win a throw from very deep in their end. Here they come with Freeman and Downs does not get the shot off McGlynn, Luna with Downs letting one go and a great save . McGlynn wants a goal as his shot is very wide. Dest has some room with Downs in the center Dest with a great save, McGlynn feeds Downs and now Roldan collides with a defender, staying down. What an effort by Dest, the GK was better. Roldan takes a ball in clears it but right back into his area. A high but not far clearance and Japan keep it in their offensive half. A ball in is missed and Japan again has it, Japan with a header well over the net. Three minutes of extra time as Japan get a deep throw, of curse, they go back with it, then square twice with a back pass in the middle . Japan with a number of passes, cleared by Dest, but they get it back and forward. To the area and taken away, not fully cleared but they keep it. Cleared to the half, still held by Japan. They may just get the last look on goal. Down the line and a sliding Harlei puts it out for a throw at about ten yards, Jack a long ball for Luna not even close and a US throw near midfield at 93’.
Yes, a better looking game for the US but with a B team, what does it really mean. It was a far closer game than the scoreline would indicate and the Japan GK did make some astounding saves, Freese the NYCFC netminder gets the shutout.