U.S. outclasses Mexico in U-23 win
By Luke Cyphers and Doug McIntyre
ESPN INSIDER
The national team's historic first win against Italy probably wasn't even U.S. soccer's most impressive result of the day.
At FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas -- about 7,000 miles west of Genoa, where the senior squad topped the Azzurri 1-0 Wednesday afternoon -- the U.S. under-23 team that will attempt to qualify for the summer Olympics next month spent 90 minutes thoroughly dominating their rivals from Mexico, riding first half goals from Juan Agudelo and Mix Diskerud to a comprehensive 2-0 victory.
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It was only a friendly, of course. But the Americans' performance was an eye-opener. (For the few who saw it, anyway. The announced attendance was 7,432, and the tilt, which finished after midnight on the East Coast, was relegated to one Spanish-language television network.)
Playing an aggressive 4-3-3 formation, Caleb Porter's team was better than El Tri in every possible way. That the Americans were physically superior was no surprise. What was downright shocking, though, was the way the U.S. controlled the majority of possession against a team that has always been better technically. In short, not only did the Yanks beat Mexico, they out-skilled them, too.
"We've been trying to get possessions and not play back and defensive," Porter told reporters after the match. "I'm very proud of the guys and looking forward to qualifying."
For the hosts, Diskerud may have been the standout performer. The Norwegian-born central midfielder was in the middle of everything, not least on his goal. A minute after Agudelo gave the U.S. the lead by nodding Diskerud's corner kick past Mexican keeper Liborio Sanchez, the 21-year-old couldn't get out of the way of Freddy Adu's 25-yard shot from the right side of field. The ball took a slight deflection off Diskerud's leg and beat a diving Sanchez inside the left post. Diskerud was able to control the tempo of the game in the center of the field mostly with short, intelligent passes. But his defensive work, not known to be his strength, was just as good. He wasn't alone; the Americans high-pressed Mexico all over the field.
When they won the ball back, which was often, much of the attack went through left forward Joe Gyau, who spent his evening torturing El Tri captain Ricardo Mier with blazing, field-stretching speed.
Hertha Berlin midfielder Alfredo Morales and Mexican league striker Joe Corona -- both of whom seemed destined to commit their futures to other national teams just a few short months ago -- supported well on either side of Diskerud just behind the front three, with the physical Morales displaying his Bundesliga pedigree on the ball as well as on several crunching tackles.
And the Americans' college-trained back four of Zarek Valentin, Perry Kitchen, Ike Opara and Kofi Sarkodie -- all but Opara played for Porter at the University of Akron -- always seemed to have things under control despite allowing Mexico eight shots on target.
"We have great chemistry," Porter said.
Again, it was only a friendly, and the win won't mean a thing if the U.S. fails to book its ticket to London next month in Kansas City. At least one of the pieces will be different then; Brek Shea, a starter for Jurgen Klinsmann's team in Italy, will be back. And there is no guarantee that Diskerud, Morales and Gyau will be released by their European clubs for all or any of a tournament that isn't on the FIFA calendar, although their presence in Texas this week is a good sign they'll be available.
In a funny way, U.S. fans should probably be hoping Mexico rediscovers its form by the time qualifying begins; a second-place group finish for El Tri could give the fellow CONCACAF giant a chance at revenge in a one-off semifinal with an Olympic berth on the line. If that happens, we'll really get to see what this American squad is made of.
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By Luke Cyphers and Doug McIntyre
ESPN INSIDER
The national team's historic first win against Italy probably wasn't even U.S. soccer's most impressive result of the day.
At FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas -- about 7,000 miles west of Genoa, where the senior squad topped the Azzurri 1-0 Wednesday afternoon -- the U.S. under-23 team that will attempt to qualify for the summer Olympics next month spent 90 minutes thoroughly dominating their rivals from Mexico, riding first half goals from Juan Agudelo and Mix Diskerud to a comprehensive 2-0 victory.
<offer>
It was only a friendly, of course. But the Americans' performance was an eye-opener. (For the few who saw it, anyway. The announced attendance was 7,432, and the tilt, which finished after midnight on the East Coast, was relegated to one Spanish-language television network.)
Playing an aggressive 4-3-3 formation, Caleb Porter's team was better than El Tri in every possible way. That the Americans were physically superior was no surprise. What was downright shocking, though, was the way the U.S. controlled the majority of possession against a team that has always been better technically. In short, not only did the Yanks beat Mexico, they out-skilled them, too.
"We've been trying to get possessions and not play back and defensive," Porter told reporters after the match. "I'm very proud of the guys and looking forward to qualifying."
For the hosts, Diskerud may have been the standout performer. The Norwegian-born central midfielder was in the middle of everything, not least on his goal. A minute after Agudelo gave the U.S. the lead by nodding Diskerud's corner kick past Mexican keeper Liborio Sanchez, the 21-year-old couldn't get out of the way of Freddy Adu's 25-yard shot from the right side of field. The ball took a slight deflection off Diskerud's leg and beat a diving Sanchez inside the left post. Diskerud was able to control the tempo of the game in the center of the field mostly with short, intelligent passes. But his defensive work, not known to be his strength, was just as good. He wasn't alone; the Americans high-pressed Mexico all over the field.
When they won the ball back, which was often, much of the attack went through left forward Joe Gyau, who spent his evening torturing El Tri captain Ricardo Mier with blazing, field-stretching speed.
Hertha Berlin midfielder Alfredo Morales and Mexican league striker Joe Corona -- both of whom seemed destined to commit their futures to other national teams just a few short months ago -- supported well on either side of Diskerud just behind the front three, with the physical Morales displaying his Bundesliga pedigree on the ball as well as on several crunching tackles.
And the Americans' college-trained back four of Zarek Valentin, Perry Kitchen, Ike Opara and Kofi Sarkodie -- all but Opara played for Porter at the University of Akron -- always seemed to have things under control despite allowing Mexico eight shots on target.
"We have great chemistry," Porter said.
Again, it was only a friendly, and the win won't mean a thing if the U.S. fails to book its ticket to London next month in Kansas City. At least one of the pieces will be different then; Brek Shea, a starter for Jurgen Klinsmann's team in Italy, will be back. And there is no guarantee that Diskerud, Morales and Gyau will be released by their European clubs for all or any of a tournament that isn't on the FIFA calendar, although their presence in Texas this week is a good sign they'll be available.
In a funny way, U.S. fans should probably be hoping Mexico rediscovers its form by the time qualifying begins; a second-place group finish for El Tri could give the fellow CONCACAF giant a chance at revenge in a one-off semifinal with an Olympic berth on the line. If that happens, we'll really get to see what this American squad is made of.
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