U.S. Men’s National Team v. Canada, Houston, 1.29.13

 

In some ways, last Tuesday’s U.S. men’s national team friendly against Canada was very different from last June’s friendly against the same squad. For one thing, last June’s game was in Toronto, whereas last Tuesday’s game was on U.S. soil, in Houston, at the Dynamo’s BBVA Compass Stadium. More significantly, the U.S. lineups on the two occasions were almost totally different. Back in June, in anticipation of a semifinal CONCACAF qualifier against Antigua and Barbuda, U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann started A-listers such as Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Landon Donovan, Tim Howard, Jose Torres, Carlos Bocanegra and Herculez Gomez.

By contrast, last week’s starting lineup consisted entirely of MLS players, many of whom had never worn a U.S. shirt. Three out of the four starting U.S. defenders, for example, earned their first caps. The names of at least two of those defenders—Tony Beltran and Justin Morrow—likely sent even some MLS followers online to refresh their memories about what club teams they play for (Real Salt Lake and the San Jose Earthquakes, respectively, in case you’re wondering). We are, after all, at the tail end of the MLS offseason. And if you happened to miss this game, rest assured that it had all the vibrancy, quality of play, and sheer entertainment value of an MLS preseason match.

Which is to say the match was excruciating. Even the ESPN game commentators—MLS enthusiasts Glenn Davis and Taylor Twellman—spent a good deal of the second half essentially apologizing for the tedium of the event. That drab play, and the final 0-0 score line, made last week’s match a virtual replay of last year’s Canada friendly, despite the different locations and lineups. Canada players spent most of the game patrolling their own end, clogging the U.S. final third, and looking to counter. The U.S. held the ball 65% of the time, but the possession was mostly in the middle third, and the U.S. failed to create more than one or two decent chances on goal. In fact, and as was the case last summer, Canada actually created more and better chances, including a memorable volley in the 6^th minute by Dwayne De Rosario, who was much the most exciting and dangerous MLS player on the field.

Those struggling to find bright spots for the U.S. side will probably point to a relatively dynamic effort by substitute Josh Gatt, who played the entire second half and brought some much-needed energy to the match. Unfortunately, his fire wasn’t contagious. In the 67^th minute, for example, he raced through the midfield and dished to U.S. forward Eddie Johnson, who simply looked tired when he received the pass. Whatever happed there with Johnson (whose night wasn’t all bad), the U.S. attack fizzled as usual.

Another second-half substitute, Benny Feilhaber, also had his moments. Feilhaber’s pass to Johnson in the 53^rd minute ultimately led to a decent chance, but Brad Davis’s shot took a deflection and bounced well wide. Feilhaber’s composed pass over the Canada defense in the 60^th minute led to another shot, and his quick and deft give-and-go down the right sideline with Alejandro Bedoya actually looked like something out of a mid-season game. U.S. fans must hope for more of that kind of play on Wednesday, when a (presumably) stronger lineup takes the field against Honduras in the U.S.’s first final-round World Cup qualifier.