The U.S. Men’s National Team opened the new year with a 3-2 loss against #14 Chile in Rancagua, Chile.
Brek Shea and Jozy Altidore scored first-half goals for the USA, but Chile’s Mark Gonzalez countered with two of his own, including the game-winner in the 66th minute. Roberto Gutierrez scored Chile’s other goal.
The match included the MNT debut for three players: Steve Birnbaum who started in defense, midfielder Wil Trapp and forward Gyasi Zardes.
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The USA will now prepare for its first home match of the year when it hosts Panama at StubHub Center in Carson, California. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on ESPN, WatchESPN, UniMas and Univision Deportes Network.
Chile out-shot the USA 12-10 and both teams were even with five shots on goal.
Chile had an opportunity late in the first half to find the equalizer in the opening 45 minutes, but Roberto Gutierrez was just offside when Marco Medel crossed the ball in from the left side. Gutierrez headed the ball into the net, but the chance was nullified.
Five minutes before Chile scored its game-winning goal, U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley unleashed a blistering shot from nearly 30 yards out that hit the crossbar and would have given the USA a two-goal lead at the time.
Chile out-shot the USA 12-10 and both teams were even with five shots on goal.
Chile had an opportunity late in the first half to find the equalizer in the opening 45 minutes, but Roberto Gutierrez was just offside when Marco Medel crossed the ball in from the left side. Gutierrez headed the ball into the net, but the chance was nullified.
Five minutes before Chile scored its game-winning goal, U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley unleashed a blistering shot from nearly 30 yards out that hit the crossbar and would have given the USA a two-goal lead at the time.
Additional Notes:
- The USA is now 3-5-2 all-time against Chile.
- Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann rolled out a 3-5-2 formation against Chile. Anchored by goalkeeper Nick Rimando, the three-man defensive line included Matt Besler at left back, Steve Birnbaum’s senior team debut at right back and Jermaine Jones at center back.
- In the midfield, Brek Shea and DeAndre Yedlin were featured on the left and right side, respectively. Mix Diskerud, Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey played centrally, with Dempsey in the attacking role and serving as the team captain.
- Bobby Wood and Jozy Altidore were paired up front. The game marked Wood’s first MNT started and his sixth cap.
- The USA opened the first half with Lee Nguyen entering for Wood. Dempsey pushed up to play alongside Altidore in the attack.
- Wil Trapp made his senior team debut when he entered for Diskerud in the 61st minute. Trapp was the 2013 U.S. Soccer Young Male Athlete of the Year and a former member of the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team that competed at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
- In the 68th minute, Gyasi Zardes made his MNT debut, replacing Dempsey, who passed along the captain’s armband to Jones.
- In the second half, the USA changed its formation to a 4-4-2 with Shea on the left side, Yedlin on the right and Birnbaum and Besler in central defence.
- Rimando previously had been unbeaten throughout his MNT tenure. Wednesday marked his first loss as he is now 10-1-2 all-time.
– U.S. Men’s National Team Match Report –
Match: U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Chile
Date: Jan. 28, 2015
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Estadio El Teniente; Rancagua, Chile
Kickoff: 6 p.m. ET
Attendance: TBA
Weather: 88 degrees; clear
Date: Jan. 28, 2015
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Estadio El Teniente; Rancagua, Chile
Kickoff: 6 p.m. ET
Attendance: TBA
Weather: 88 degrees; clear
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 2 0 2
CHI 1 2 3
USA 2 0 2
CHI 1 2 3
USA – Brek Shea (Matt Besler) 6th minute
CHI – Roberto Gutierrez (Mark Gonzalez) 10
USA – Jozy Altidore (Mix Diskerud) 31
CHI – Mark Gonzalez (Marco Medel) 66
CHI – Mark Gonzalez 75
CHI – Roberto Gutierrez (Mark Gonzalez) 10
USA – Jozy Altidore (Mix Diskerud) 31
CHI – Mark Gonzalez (Marco Medel) 66
CHI – Mark Gonzalez 75
Lineups:
USA: 1-Nick Rimando; 23-Steve Birnbaum, 13-Jermaine Jones, 5-Matt Besler; 2-DeAndre Yedlin, 4-Michael Bradley, 8-Clint Dempsey (capt.) (20-Gyasi Zardes, 68), 10-Mix Diskerud (6-Wil Trapp, 60), 11-Brek Shea, 9-Bobby Wood (7-Lee Nguyen, 46), 17-Jozy Altidore (18-Chris Wondolowski, 75)
Subs Not Used: 3-Matt Hedges, 12-Sean Johnson, 15-Perry Kitchen, 16-Shane O’Neill, 19-Miguel Ibarra
Head coach: Jurgen Klinsmann
USA: 1-Nick Rimando; 23-Steve Birnbaum, 13-Jermaine Jones, 5-Matt Besler; 2-DeAndre Yedlin, 4-Michael Bradley, 8-Clint Dempsey (capt.) (20-Gyasi Zardes, 68), 10-Mix Diskerud (6-Wil Trapp, 60), 11-Brek Shea, 9-Bobby Wood (7-Lee Nguyen, 46), 17-Jozy Altidore (18-Chris Wondolowski, 75)
Subs Not Used: 3-Matt Hedges, 12-Sean Johnson, 15-Perry Kitchen, 16-Shane O’Neill, 19-Miguel Ibarra
Head coach: Jurgen Klinsmann
CHI: 23-Johnny Herrera; 4-Osvaldo Gonzalez, 13-Jose Rojas (capt.), 17-Juan Cornejo; 6-Gonzalo Espinoza (16-Gonzalo Fierro, 72), 15-Erick Pulgar, 10-Marco Medel (5-Paulo Diaz, 79), 19-Diego Valdes (9-Juan Delgado, 60); 7-Bryan Carrasco, 22-Roberto Gutierrez (18-Andres Vilches, 90+4), 11-Mark Gonzalez (8-Angelo Sagal, 90)
Subs Not Used: 1-Paulo Garces, 2-Sebastian Vegas, 14-Cesar Valenzuela
Head coach: Jorge Sampaoli
Subs Not Used: 1-Paulo Garces, 2-Sebastian Vegas, 14-Cesar Valenzuela
Head coach: Jorge Sampaoli
Stats Summary: USA / CHI
Shots: 10 / 12
Shots on Goal: 5 / 5
Saves: 2 / 3
Corner Kicks: 1 /9
Fouls: 20 / 19
Offside: 0 / 6
Shots: 10 / 12
Shots on Goal: 5 / 5
Saves: 2 / 3
Corner Kicks: 1 /9
Fouls: 20 / 19
Offside: 0 / 6
Misconduct Summary:
USA – Michael Bradley (caution) 36th minute
CHI – Jose Rojas (caution) 43
USA – Bobby Wood (caution) 45+2
USA – Lee Nguyen (caution) 50
USA – Jermaine Jones (caution) 52
USA – Matt Besler (caution) 71
USA – Brek Shea (caution) 88
USA – Michael Bradley (caution) 36th minute
CHI – Jose Rojas (caution) 43
USA – Bobby Wood (caution) 45+2
USA – Lee Nguyen (caution) 50
USA – Jermaine Jones (caution) 52
USA – Matt Besler (caution) 71
USA – Brek Shea (caution) 88