Honduras 6/3/21

This was the second youngest starting XI the USMNT has fielded in a competitive match EVER.  With that as the backdrop I'm not all that upset about how things played out.  Beyond John Brooks and Christian Pulisic none of the starters had faced a real live CONCACAF match.  Well Honduras took care of that for everyone.  They were diving like crazy early and then completely clowning with injuries late.  They had FIVE freaking stretcher breaks and wasted an EXTREME amount of time. You factor that nonsense in with the heat, altitude, poor refereeing (I'd have lost my mind had it still been 0-0 with only 5 minutes of injury time added) and lack of experience and this is what you get. I know people are annoyed and upset with how we played, but I don't get why most aren't seeing the bright side?  We actually fought and grinded out a win!  Like hello? This is EXACTLY what World Cup Qualifying (WCQ) in CONCACAF will be like for them. To me getting a result in this one is a huge step in the right direction for this young group.

Given all the above BS the first half was generally good for us.  We created enough chances, put out the fires we created and didn't lose our heads when the shenanigans started up.  In the second half we got bogged down a bit, and I think the heat and altitude probably played a role in that.  In the moment part of me was mad at Gregg Berhalter (GGG) for not making subs sooner, but I convinced myself that letting the first choice group grind it out might be worth it.  I know GGG said he expected Honduras to play the way they did (actually trying to attack us rather than just sitting back and looking to counter) but it sure as shit didn't look like it to me.  That said, I saw a few scripted moves during open play and some good set piece ideas, so kudos to GGG for that.

It's been a while since I took notes during a game so I'll try and sprinkle them in (anything with a minute) as I break down the players. 

Zack Steffen - Came off his line and ended up in no-mans land at 26:23.  Other than that he made two great saves at 50:15 and 90.  Gaffe aside, I liked how confident he was in the box and leading his teammates as their captain.

Sergiño Dest - I thought he defended much better than he did against the Swiss.  That said, he wasn't in line with the rest of the back 4 and kept Antony Lozano onside which forced Zack's save at 50:15.  Sergiño looked more comfortable on the right to me but I think we just have to live with (and survive) at least one defensive breakdown from him per match.  Can really say the same thing for Steffen too actually as he is good for 1 blunder a game as well.  Dest was noticeably quiet going forward on the night too

Mark McKenzie - He wasn't as solid as he was against the Swiss, but overall I'd say he did well.  Especially when you consider this was only his 4th cap, 2nd start and first match that meant anything.

Brooks - Had an INSANE cross-field ball at 5:52 as well as some other good distribution.  He was Man of the Match for me.  He set the tone early by being physical and letting Los Catrachos know he wasn't about to be CONCACAF'd by anyone.

Antonee Robinson - He's still fast as hell and allows Dest to play on the right, but Jedi's touch is just...bad.  He had one great cross to Josh Sargent at 29:11 but other than that he was pretty invisible in a good way.  We need his speed to help cover for Brooks' slow-footedness.

Sebastian Lletget - I have him down for three crappy set piece deliveries at 40, 49 and 57:25.  Our midfield was our weakest group in this match by far, and he was definitely part of that.  Any blame placed on the front line needs to be shifted to the midfield IMO.  I know he's a GGG favorite but I wouldn't start him versus Mexico.

Jackson Yueill - Second game in a row where he wasn't good on offense or defense.  I get the pickings are slim behind Tyler Adams but Yueill is approaching Wil Trapp territory for me.  He's not quite there yet, but I'm definitely starting to wonder if he's actually cut out for international level football.  Olympic Qualifying and these last two matches have me leaning towards him being a Gold Cup/B-Teamer going forward.

Weston McKennie - Had a WIDE OPEN header off a set piece at 12:45 that he missed badly.  He missed another one at 70:30 that was exactly like Sargent's miss.  Wes was also open at the back post at 37:40 and no one got him the ball.  But back to his two misses.  If that's Josh he's getting crucified (like he already is), yet somehow McKennie is getting a pass?  I don't get it?  Wes was mostly invisible on the night and once again I was left wanting more from him.  He did provide the assist on the game winner though so I can't be too harsh.

Gio Reyna - Played a great match overall and was our second best player to my eyes.  He seemed to have no problem taking people on and finding spaces to operate.  He was also our most fouled player with 4.  But for all the good he did he missed Sargent for a tap-in at 9:30.  Everyone is goo-goo-ga-ga over how he dribbled through the defense and just missed the shot.  Welp, his good buddy was standing there for an early goal tap-in and he flat missed him.  He also didn't even acknowledge Josh in the game or post-match in his interview.  I know he's only 18, but if Gio wants to reach his Kevin De Bruyne ceiling he's got to get rid of his selfishness.  You think KDB passes that ball to an open Romelu Lukaku?  Of course he does!  Sargent taps that one in and the game is COMPLETELY different.

Pulisic - Overall he did not get on the ball near enough, but in the second half especially.  He missed a wide open Sargent at 29:29 (would have been another tap-in) and Wes at 90+2.  I wasn't really watching him off the ball like I would during a Chelsea match, but apparently Honduras had two men near him at all times.  That is to be expected at this point and one or both of these things has to change going forward.  CP has to DEMAND the ball more and/or GGG has to figure out ways to exploit the attention he gets.  It's not like he won't see constant double teams and fouls once WCQ starts. So figure that shit out now!

Sargent - Here are the aforementioned tap-ins in one 14 second video (scroll down a bit).  At 26:23 he saved the entire team's bacon, most notably Steffen's, with an insane header off the line.  I'm well aware that the fan base is more or less done with Josh already at 21, but if you think Daryl Dike, Jordan Siebatcheu (Pefok), Matthew Hoppe, Gyasi Zardes, Jozy Altidore, etc. are making that play I have news for you.  They are not.  Then the miss at 29:11 off the cross from Jedi.  Should he have done better?  Probably, but his momentum was taking him away from goal (just like Wes's miss at 70:30) and he still got it on target with decent power.  He could have directed it better, and maybe he does if Gio passes him the ball at 9:30. Then right after that miss CP had him on the doorstep at 29:29 and couldn't get it to him (Pulisic might have been shooting too, not sure).  At 58 McKennie played him a nice ball in the box and he got a good scissor kick on it but the ref called him for a foul somehow (he missed anyway).  He did his normal pressing work (great example at 30:55) and his hold-up play was improved from the Switzerland match.

Look, I understand that me being a Josh "stan" (as the kids say) has to be getting super-annoying by now.  In the U17 and U20 WC's he used to make such good runs and find spaces.  I don't know what happened to that, but he lost it at Werder Bremen somehow.  At this point I almost want GGG to start someone else up top so we can all get a taste of what that looks like and then maybe, just maybe, people will appreciate all the little things that Sargent does so well.  Yes, his main job is to score, but doesn't saving a sure goal count for something?  Bueller?

Brenden Aaronson - He worked hard in his 15 minutes but didn't really get on the ball much.

Reggie Cannon - Didn't do much other than commit a dumb foul late in the match in our own half.  Makes me wonder if Robinson is fit to go 90 or play on short rest.

Pefok - He played his role as a late game sub looking to get his head on something in the box perfectly.  By doing his job he saved us from probably losing on PKs.  Now he's the greatest thing since sliced bread and should start against Mexico in the Final?  Um, ok everyone.  Just be careful what you wish for, giving a guy his 5th cap and first start in the biggest match we have played in years.  As much as I want to see the true A-Team against El Tri I'm fine with giving the people what they want just to shut everyone up.  Either way, I'll be happy.  People will either realize Josh's qualities or someone else will step up and score goals.

Kellyn Acosta - He looked better than Yueill in his 10 minutes.  If Adams can't go in the Final then Acosta has to be that guy.

Matt Miazga - Didn't do much in his 2 minutes.

Adams - Didn't play, but still got a yellow card from the bench.  Bravo!

I didn't watch Mexico-Costa Rica but it ended 0-0 with El Tri winning on PKs 5-4.  I assume the Mexican fan base is not happy with that at all.  So if they needed any extra motivation against their biggest rival with silverware on the line, they have it now.  One good thing about playing Mexico is they are the only CONCACAF side that does not try to muck it up against us.  They will actually play real live free-flowing tactical football.  This means our boys will have a legitimate opportunity to showcase their skills on a big stage.  Looking forward to it! 

Here is my XI for Sunday (6:30 Pacific on CBSSN)...

CP Josh Gio

Wes Tyler Yunus Musah

Dest Brooks McKenzie DeAndre Yedlin

Steffen

SUBS: Acosta, Aaronson, Pefok, Lletget, Tim Weah