MOTD: USA 1-2 Colombia

By on November 14, 2014

After watching the USA’s friendly live in London tonight alongside the American Outlaws, I got a clear sense that the attitude regarding the USMNT is changing for the better outside its home soil. Everyone from dedicated journalists at last night’s Football Bloggers Awards (where we were honored to win Best Young Blogger) to local cabbies in London and Manchester spoke with respect for the improvements in both US national team play as well as the broader view that the US is gradually becoming a bona fide footballing nation. These views will likely have been reinforced by tonight’s Columbia match.

The atmosphere at Craven Cottage was top rate for a friendly, though “Fulhamerica” – the USMNT’s bond with Fulham, who have housed the likes of Clint Dempsey, Brian McBride and Carlos Bocanegra over the years – was largely ineffective as a “home pitch” as Colombian fans turned in spades at the match. From our vantage point in the Outlaws section, the US fans seemed outnumbered nearly 20 to 1. Nevertheless, it was the rowdy US fans who stood the whole time, screamed and swore when decisions went against them, screamed more when the US scored, and even screamed when nothing much was happening. They were the rebels. They emulated the team they supported.

The US showed their promise, yet also underlined that they are still quite a bit off from the best sides in the world. Jurgen Klinsmann’s side was never dominant, but after an early penalty conversion led until the hour mark. At the full time whistle Colombia had only won via an eighty-seventh minute goal, but could easily have been on the other end of the scoreline had Bobby Wood converted a far post diving header just six minutes earlier. In the end the US were outclassed, though that should not be shameful considering Colombia were dark horses and fan favorites at last summer’s World Cup and are currently ranked third in FIFA’s World Rankings. The US were also notably missing Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, and Omar Gonzalez, three of the US’ stalwarts. Kyle Beckerman had a great game as he took over in the holding midfielder role at the bottom of the midfield diamond for Jermaine Jones, who was filling in at center-back in the absence of Gonzalez, but Mix Diskerud and Fabian Johnson failed to make an impact on the match. The majority of US attacks went down the left, though in the second half they took whatever meagre chances they got.

By the time Jozy Altidore converted a penalty ten minutes in, after a Colombian handball, Los Cafeteros had already been all the way down at the other end of the pitch for the majority of the match. A half hour in, Carlos Bacca rattled the left-hand post, while Brad Guzan was forced into more work to tip over a Colombia chance following a corner. Jose Pekerman’s side worked the ball around the park with at times brilliant one-touch play, and though the US looked dangerous on the counter-attack they hardly fashioned any other chances of note in the first half.

In the second period Colombia’s dominance only increased, but at the same time the US fashioned some chances on the break as Colombia pushed men forward. However, on balance, it was almost all the South American side. Bacca was the one to bag the equalizer, after the US were caught out waiting for what should have been an offside flag. It has to be said that Colombia’s attack had only started after Rubio Rubin’s ill-advised back-heel went directly to a Colombian player with no American in sight. Guzan was forced to get dirty, and blocked three efforts after Colombia had cut in from the right. The US brought on multiple attacking subs including Wood, who has his chance yet flicked a header wide from point-blank range, yet a Teó Gutiérrez header sealed a win it for Colombia.
Man of the Match: Carlos Bacca

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.