Match Report
U.S. Starts Flat, Ends 2014 With 4-1 Loss to Ireland
The United States men's national team ended its 2014 campaign with a whimper, falling to Ireland's B team by a 4-1 score. The defeat raises numerous questions about the direction of the U.S. program.
FOLLOWING FRIDAY'S TIMID SHOWING against Colombia, few expected the United States national team to limp out of the gates against Ireland in its final match of 2014. This was the team's shot at redemption, after all, its chance to end the year on a positive note.
It didn't work out that way. Jurgen Klinsmann's men played with a shocking indifference for the first 35 minutes or so, fell behind Ireland early, and never managed to compete with the No. 61 team in the world. The Americans looked disorganized, indifferent, and overmatched throughout the contest, losing 4-1 to Ireland's B team.
The hosts scored the opening goal before either side had really settled into the match.
In the seventh minute, Alejandro Bedoya made a sloppy pass to Kyle Beckerman, and Ireland pounced on the ball. A few seconds later David McGoldrick delivered a beautifully weighted through ball to Anthony Pilkington, who ran past U.S. defender Matt Besler and chipped the ball over an onrushing Bill Hamid.
Nothing much happened for the next 15 minutes, at which point Fabian Johnson—playing right back this time around—got on a Bedoya short corner and blasted a left-footed shot that bounced off the upright and into touch.
Clumsy defending nearly gifted Ireland a second goal in the 27th minute. A long, seemingly harmless pass turned into a great chance when Besler and Geoff Cameron Keystone Cop-ed the ball to Irish attacker Daryl Murphy. If not for a brave save from Hamid, the United States would have fallen two goals behind the No. 61 team in the world.
And it would have been a fair scoreline. Jurgen Klinsmann's side showed very little desire or technique in the first 40 minutes of the match. The defenders looked lost, the midfield could not maintain possession, and the attackers were all but invisible.
That said, an aggressive defensive play by Mix Diskerud shifted the momentum in the visitors' favor. The midfielder broke up a pass in the Irish half and lifted a pass to Jozy Altidore on the left flank. Altidore floated a pass to Chris Wondolowski. who headed the ball to Diskerud. The floppy-haired No. 10 stabbed the ball on the half-volley and it flew past Irish goalkeeper Shay Given.
The Americans nearly took the lead in the 43rd minute when Bedoya chased down a ball on the right flank and centered it to Altidore, who delivered a left-footed shot that caromed off the crossbar.
If the U.S. took over the momentum heading into the break, it didn't carry over into the second half. Neither team looked particularly inspired immediately after the break, but Ireland seemed woke up first.
In the 53rd minute Pilkington rampaged down the right flank and delivered a dangerous cross into the box. Hamid looked tentative on the play but Johnson made a desperate lunge to nudge the ball away from Murphy, who was waiting on the far post.
The reprieve was short lived, as Ireland's Robbie Brady put the home team ahead just two minutes later.
A Johnson giveaway by the corner flag led to the go-ahead goal. Johnson, who played midfield against Colombia on Friday but lined up at fullback today, tried to maintain possession for the U.S. but ended up giving the ball away deep in the U.S. half. U.S. central defenders Besler and Cameron were nowhere to be found as Brady found himself alone in front of Hamid, and he buried his chance.
The U.S. nearly equalized in the 81st minute when two substitutes, Jordan Morris and Garza, combined for a nice sequence down the left flank. Unfortunately for Klinsmann's men, Irish keeper Shay Given made a strong sliding save.
Less than a minute later Shane Long nearly put Ireland up by two goals when he bombed down the left flank on his own, leaving substitute Greg Garza in his wake. Long then broke in on goal and beat Hamid with a right-footed shot that hit the far post and ricocheted harmlessly away.
Shortly thereafter Ireland put the game away when James McClean's low shot deflected off Cameron's shin and rolled into the back of the net to give Ireland a 3-1 lead.
Three minutes later Brady scored his second of the game on a marvelous 25-yard free kick that curled around the wall and past a sprawling Hamid. Final score: Ireland 4, United States 1.
Thoughts, America? We'd love to hear what you think about this performance.
Nothing much happened for the next 15 minutes, at which point Fabian Johnson—playing right back this time around—got on a Bedoya short corner and blasted a left-footed shot that bounced off the upright and into touch.
Clumsy defending nearly gifted Ireland a second goal in the 27th minute. A long, seemingly harmless pass turned into a great chance when Besler and Geoff Cameron Keystone Cop-ed the ball to Irish attacker Daryl Murphy. If not for a brave save from Hamid, the United States would have fallen two goals behind the No. 61 team in the world.
And it would have been a fair scoreline. Jurgen Klinsmann's side showed very little desire or technique in the first 40 minutes of the match. The defenders looked lost, the midfield could not maintain possession, and the attackers were all but invisible.
That said, an aggressive defensive play by Mix Diskerud shifted the momentum in the visitors' favor. The midfielder broke up a pass in the Irish half and lifted a pass to Jozy Altidore on the left flank. Altidore floated a pass to Chris Wondolowski. who headed the ball to Diskerud. The floppy-haired No. 10 stabbed the ball on the half-volley and it flew past Irish goalkeeper Shay Given.
The Americans nearly took the lead in the 43rd minute when Bedoya chased down a ball on the right flank and centered it to Altidore, who delivered a left-footed shot that caromed off the crossbar.
If the U.S. took over the momentum heading into the break, it didn't carry over into the second half. Neither team looked particularly inspired immediately after the break, but Ireland seemed woke up first.
In the 53rd minute Pilkington rampaged down the right flank and delivered a dangerous cross into the box. Hamid looked tentative on the play but Johnson made a desperate lunge to nudge the ball away from Murphy, who was waiting on the far post.
The reprieve was short lived, as Ireland's Robbie Brady put the home team ahead just two minutes later.
A Johnson giveaway by the corner flag led to the go-ahead goal. Johnson, who played midfield against Colombia on Friday but lined up at fullback today, tried to maintain possession for the U.S. but ended up giving the ball away deep in the U.S. half. U.S. central defenders Besler and Cameron were nowhere to be found as Brady found himself alone in front of Hamid, and he buried his chance.
The U.S. nearly equalized in the 81st minute when two substitutes, Jordan Morris and Garza, combined for a nice sequence down the left flank. Unfortunately for Klinsmann's men, Irish keeper Shay Given made a strong sliding save.
Less than a minute later Shane Long nearly put Ireland up by two goals when he bombed down the left flank on his own, leaving substitute Greg Garza in his wake. Long then broke in on goal and beat Hamid with a right-footed shot that hit the far post and ricocheted harmlessly away.
Shortly thereafter Ireland put the game away when James McClean's low shot deflected off Cameron's shin and rolled into the back of the net to give Ireland a 3-1 lead.
Three minutes later Brady scored his second of the game on a marvelous 25-yard free kick that curled around the wall and past a sprawling Hamid. Final score: Ireland 4, United States 1.
Thoughts, America? We'd love to hear what you think about this performance.
