USMNT & Panama
First game, but hardly a test of new coach and his staff. As we see Kyle Martino, I now know why he was not at the Street Soccer USA event at his place, No One Home in NYC’s Chinatown. A bit of a surprise for me is Sargent as a solo striker, he has the ability but would have chosen another, Brandon. Revenge must be on the agenda for the US for having been beaten on home soil in Copa America,
Into the area early for the US and Robinson is upended as he fed Pulisic who then returned the favor, no call, the right call. Scally, out of Lake Grove with a hard tackle wins the ball drops the player, no call. So early, so many people being put to ground, most with no call, hoping it does not get out of hand, they have not been fouls which may not matter to the players as rough play typically gets worse bit by bit. Sargent to Robinson but the ball in too high for Musah. Recovered by the US and Scally has it on the right, it is lost just below the circle on an errant pass. First touch betrays the US defense and it is lost at the top of the area, they get it wide and play is stopped as a Panama player is down with an arm injury. Light pressure by Panama and the US goes back, now they turn it up a bit and win it in their defensive third, losing it out of touch for a US throw. Robinson open on the far left, loses it recovers, gets it to Sargent and it is cleared out for a throw. The ball of Robinson was across the 6, now on the corner it is into the 6 and the US can’t get on the ball. The US holds and it goes around the field to Pulisic to Robinson and it is back the other way via Scally and again Joe as it goes to the other end Robinson to Aaronson, he gets bodied off the ball in the area. Panama gets well forward, despite being very outnumbered and give back some 80 yards to their half then lose it in the US end. McKenzie with a big foul just beyond the area as he drops Guerrea. The wall is being set, a three man one. The wall does its job and Robinson defends winning a corner facing down Murillo, the former member of the New York Red Bulls. Pressure on the goal kick leads to a long ball lost and twice now to the GK of Panama. A good ten plus passes by Panama but not getting anywhere with the ball. Now they go long and the player is offside and unable to settle the ball that goes out of play. Now the US passing between the back line, get the ball forward. They go long to Musah but the GK of Panama cannot control it a gift of a corner. It is boxed out far by the GK. Scally settles a long ball over the top and lays it back, then to Ream. After a fashion again to Scally and over the half then back again 2x again to Scally. The backline is getting a lot of time on the ball. Panama seems content to let the US just move the ball around, they do not seem to be doing so with a purpose, creating overloads or open people, just moving it about. Busio for Pulisic then Robinson tackles it out in the US third. They go back to the GK, giving back a good 70 yards? Aaronson with steal to Sargent to Musah, too weak of a ball in lost then recovered at the top of the arc Busio with a go, next to tee it up is Pulisic, he is blocked and wins a corner, he will take the restart. GK out to clear it, he misses, Robinson with a shot well off the mark. Halfway through the first half, the US has had the better looks but possession is I am sure pretty even. Long ball over the top and going endline, the ball is snagged by Turner with no difficulty. Now some pressure by Panama and they steal it away then give back 30 or so yards, not back to the GK after winning it near midfield. Robinson steps up to get to it Sargent, he runs away from the ball and Panama get it. Long shot from well beyond the area does nothing, grabbed up easily by Turner. US presses gets the ball, plays it right into the opponent from about 35 yards. A cross pressed by the US leads to a back pass that goes over the endline, it is in the right place, the 67 but no US player there. Busio does well to win the ball it goes inside and is lost then a foul by the US. Ream nods on down Musah just puts his head down and goes, losing it. Pulisic stays down as he took a hard foul from behind. This time Musah pulls it back with no crowd in front of him. Sargent loses it at the top of the area. Pulisic into the area, he shoots it into the shoe of Miller and the US has a throw. A great lead ball for Panama but it is offside. Robinson seeks to dribble through the midfield at about 25 yards loses it. Sargent to Aaronson who shoots it right at the GK. Miller steps on Musah on the wing. A few on the US have it in the area, Sargent goes high with the shot taken, lean over, just meet the ball and redirect it not leaning back and striking it as he did. With 90 seconds in the half US give up a corner. At the near post, McKenzie heads it out of play. Scally turns back Blackmon who brought down a long ball. Then a shot goes high and wide.
At the half, Panama must make more of their chances while I feel the US must get the ball forward, not so much to force the issue as to get it forward to start of an attack, sitting back, an error has the opposition in on goal so deep.
Each teams starts this 2nd second stanza as they did the game. Aaronson loses two, finds Scally now across the back line for Robinson for Pulisic now a ball in to the corner of the 6, Musah has it for Scally his cross, too high and wide. Musah at 49’ some great ball movement, puts the US up 1-0. Over the top Robinson then to Pulisic to Aaronson who puts it out to Pulisic and into the 6, Musah sends it home, highlight reel of a set up the first goal in the USA kit for Musah, NYC native. Sargent with a rocket a minute later and the full extension save by the GK leads to a goal kick. What a save then on the second ball, he is up to the task in a big way. Screened on the first shot, fast to his feet to make the next, great work by the NJ native. Robinson outruns his mark, tackled and wins a corner. The corner into the 6, past the players into a big gap as the GK grabs it out of the air. Ream finds Sargent to Aaronson but a handball called in the area on the USA. A graphic shows the US being 5-2-1 in facing Panama when they score first. Murillo has his shot deflected well over the goal for a corner. Into the top of the area, passed across the area, not shot, then when shot blocked out Panama right back with another shot in the area, and then another, both blocked out and the US gets a whistle. At the hour Panama are not pressing yet on a constant basis just at times, then not. Now the US break the press for a 3 v 4 Busio and Aaronson combine and win a corner. McKenzie gets to that one, but it goes high and he stays down. He was rocked in the face and chest by the GK. The US to make 4 subs, Pepi due in, along with Lund, Tessman & Wright. Panama seems set for the same number of subs. Out come Busio, Pulisic, Sargent & Robinson for the home team. The restart goal kick is played out too wide and lost, Panama then goes well below the circle. Wright the one time Cosmos player, gets his name called for the first time. Now the ball is moving faster for the US and getting forward, many short passes. Morris seeking his forward has it go out of play. A driven ball goes off Pepi, he is down, hit in the head, easily a 60 MPH ball. Great lead ball for Lund but he is flagged for offside. Scally pulls a player down from behind and whistled for it. Wright holds off a defender but his pass is off the mark to two players to his right with a defender or 2 there as well. The ball is shielded to go out, it does not and is lost into the area. Another sub getting instructions on the US touchline. Tillman in for Aaronson at 78’. Just under 10 to play, Panama has just held the ball for a time but did nothing with it , that must change to get pressure in the goal. Just of 20,000 are at the game, not a good figure for a game with a new coach, new expectations. Another sub awaiting for the US , Musah expected to leave, as he does. Fajaroo in the area off a long ball just cannot get to it at 87’ as he was in on goal. A huge sigh of relief for the US I am sure , to have let one in so late would have cast quite the pale on the game which has not been a good game for either but they have the lead. Ramos with a tackle from behind on Wright at this time in a friendly no reason for such a tackle. Another tackle attempt by Panama, studs up and their player was feeling it. Again into the area twice in the last minute of regulation, 4’ of extra time were just shown, not how to finish this one out. The US takes it away, the lead ball played in just shy of Wright. A second goal at this point would be the icing on the cake. Panama is more hungry as the US waits for a ball, they go for it and the white shirted Panamanian comes away with the ball. Murillo holds of Lund with a foul called. Turner for Tillman it gets to Pepi and he scores in his home state at the 94’ minute. Now the US may rest easy. Such a well weighted bass in to Pepi. A late corner for Panama at 95’, sure to be the last play of the day? And it was. Congrats coach on your first win in your first game.