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Player Ratings

Brek Shea, John Brooks, Alejandro Bedoya Lead U.S.

Yes, the U.S. gave up another late goal, but this time around there were some encouraging signs from a team desperately in need of good news. Brooke Tunstall shares his player ratings below. 
BY Brooke Tunstall Posted
March 31, 2015
4:45 PM

WELL, AT LEAST THERE WAS IMPROVEMENT. Against a solid Switzerland side in the midst of European Championship qualifying, the U.S. national team continued its frustrating and dangerous habit of giving up late goals in a 1-1 draw in Zurich.

But as maddening as blowing the late lead was, especially since it came after going down a man after a childish outburst by Jozy Altidore led to his ejection, the U.S. was better at both ends of the field against the Swiss than it was in last week’s 3-2 loss to Denmark. 

Alejandro Bedoya was consistently dangerous, John Brooks was error-free defensively, and Brek Shea, a last-minute insertion at left back for a flu-ridden Fabian Johnson, justified Jurgen Klinsmann’s continued faith in him with a superbly hit free kick just before the halftime whistle to put the Americans on the board. 

The improvements will help the mood in the U.S. camp heading into next month’s friendly with arch-rival Mexico but the team, and its fans, will come away from this match feeling as if this one could have been a better result.

STARTERS

Nick Rimando—Wasn’t asked to make any saves so hard to rate him there. His distribution, usually a strength, was subpar and led to two giveaways in his 45 minutes that on another night could have been costly so he gets dinged there. Rating: 4.5

Brek Shea—Even without the goal, this was one of Shea’s better outings in a U.S. uniform as he was solid—not perfect but very good—defensively and hit some nice crosses. The free kick he hit was sublime. Rating: 7

John Brooks—Arguably his best performance in a U.S. shirt. Won several 1-v-1 battles on the ground and almost everything in the air. Most importantly, he rarely got pulled out of position and he eliminated the mental lapses that have plagued his previous national team performances and got better when the U.S. went down a man. Rating: 6.5

Michael Orozco—A tidy 45 minutes as the Swiss got no shots on frame while he was on the field. A nice interception in the sixth minute, won an aerial battle minutes later, and was alert to break up a counter in the 37th minute. Rating: 6

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Timothy Chandler—An up-and-down performance. Got forward frequently and hit some nice crosses. Also pinched in well defensively several times for some key break-ups. But he was also out caught out of position a couple of times and completely lost Xerdan Shaqiri once in the first half, leading to a dangerous Swiss chance, was fortunate not to be called for a hand-ball in the box and kept Valentin Stocker onside when he was slow to push-up on the Swiss goal. Rating: 4.5

Alfredo Morales—A solid performance undone by shoddy marking on the Swiss goal. Was active defensively most of the match, showed well as an outlet to relieve pressure, and did well to cut-in with the ball just before halftime to draw the foul that led to Shea’s free-kick goal. But he botched his chance to clear the corner on Switzerland’s goal and that’s a key error. Rating: 5 

Danny Williams—Most of his previous caps came with him out of position as a wide midfielder. But playing defensive midfield, where he plays at the club level, Williams did a lot of grunt work in front of the back four, breaking up attacks and linking with Michael Bradley—though he didn’t add much to the attack. Rating: 5.5

Michael Bradley—Not his best game, as he blew a golden chance for a goal in the 27th minute and had a couple of mis-hit passes on U.S. counterattacks that usually find their target. At the same time, he was the most active U.S. player and was constantly involved at both ends and stepped up defensively late in the game to help the U.S. hang on. Rating: 5.5

Alejandro Bedoya—Playing as right-mid but often pinching in centrally, he was the most dangerous U.S. attacker, creating a couple of very nice chances that should have resulted in a goal. He made a nice run for a header in the first half that he’ll regret not getting more on. Rating: 6.5

Gyasi Zardes—Playing forward after two straight games for the U.S. at wide midfield, he squandered a great Bedoya cross with a poorly hit volley in the 15thminute. Showed good hops to win a header in traffic that just trickled wide in 49th minute. Rating: 5

Jozy Altidore—A frustrating, workmanlike performance that was undone when he lost his cool. Got little service but tracked back well and did a lot of grunt work and helped create a golden U.S. chance with a nice pass to Bedoya in the first half. But he lost his mind after not getting a call and committed a silly foul then dropped some F-bombs at the ref and got tossed to put the U.S. on its heels and likely cost his team a win. Putting his team down like that for a verbal outburst is inacceptable, especially for a veteran player. Rating: 3.5

SUBSTITUTES

William Yarbrough—In his first U.S. cap he did not look out of place. Was active, made a nice save midway through the first half after Ventura Alvarado got badly burned, and commaned his box well. Arguably could have caught instead of punched out of bounds a cross that preceded the Swiss goal, a shot few goalkeepers in the world would have stopped. Rating: 5.5

Ventura Alvarado—Looked alert and composed most of the game but was caught ball-watching in the 75th and got turned badly by Breel Embolo, leading to a dangerous Swiss chance. Rating: 4.5

DeAndre Yedlin—Brought on for Bedoya to help protect a lead, he and Morales botched a clearance on the Swiss goal and left Stocker wide open. When you’re brought on for defense and make a key defensive blunder, it’s never good. Rating: 4

Tim Ream—Came on late for a token appearance, had one or two touches. Rating: N/A

Jordan Morris—The current Stanford student had a couple of touches in a cameo but will have some cool stories to tell back on campus. Rating: N/A

THE COACH

Jurgen Klinsmann—The reality is that a tie on the road against a good European team isn’t a bad result. The U.S. got some good individual performance and the team’s overall play was improved—as were those of several individual players. At the same time, the U.S. still ceded the majority of possession and can’t stop giving up second-half goals to blow leads. At some point that is on the coach. Rating: 5

Brooke Tunstall is an American Soccer Now contributing editor and ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter.

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