Welp, Berhalter ball is back, y’all. After some promising performances under interim coach Anthony Hudson, and some downright exciting ones under BJ Callahan, who probably should have been offered the full-time gig, the team was back under the stewardship of World Cup coach, Gregg Berhalter. The results were about what one who pays attention would expect. The 3-0 scoreline in favor of the US, the least they should probably have expected, flattered the hosts. An early goal by Tim Weah started the US off hot, but instead of putting their stamp on the game, the scrappy Uzbeks had several opportunities to level the score before a couple of late tallies secured the win for the home side. Let’s see how our individual performers did. As always, we’ll use a 1-10 rating system with half points when I can’t make up my damn mind.
GK Matt Turner – 7.5
The US and Nottingham Forest number 1 didn’t have a ton to do, but was sharp when called into action, stopping two breakaways as well as a clever effort at the near post that certainly would have gone in if not for his intervention. Importantly as well, Turner was solid with the ball at his feet. He’ll never look comfortable in that role, but his control was good and his passes were accurate. Was cleanly beaten by one clean strike that rattled the crossbar, but not sure any keeper in the world was getting anything on that.
LB Jedi Robinson – 6.0
Typical workmanlike performance from the first choice left back. Plenty of marauding runs up the left flank that ultimately were let down by his poor final ball. On a night where most of the US defenders didn’t close down on attackers well, Robinson was pretty responsible on that front and kept his side clean. One of these days the hope is he’ll really put it together and be a threat. Tonight wasn’t that night, but he was certainly solid enough.
LCB Tim Ream – 4.0
Woof. The usually dependable captain had a nightmare of a first half. Got caught in possession that led to a breakaway which was ultimately thwarted by Turner. Made several poor passes to the wrong point in the Berhalter triangle which led to turnovers. Didn’t close on the shooter on the aforementioned shot off the woodwork. He improved to his usual standard in the second half with timely interceptions, aerial dominance in defense, and better passing, but by then he’d dug himself such a hole that short of scoring a goal, this was the best rating he would get.
RCB Chris Richards – 6.0
The criminally underappreciated – both by USMNT fans and at Crystal Palace – Richards cuts a hulking figure in defense but plays with a comfortable grace that belies his physical presence. Where Ream was calamitous early, Richards was calm and collected throughout. Could probably have been rated higher but was a complete non-factor on set pieces at the other end. Some of that is poor delivery, but it’s an area where he should be involved.
RB Sergino Dest – 5.5
Another one of the defensive crew who didn’t close down well enough early on. Also committed a poor foul in a dangerous area that a good right back wouldn’t commit. As always, he was active on the wing and willingly incisive in the attack. The final product, much like his left sided counterpart, just too often lets him down. One spectacular run near the end could and should have ended in a goal if not for a shanked finish. Certainly not awful from Dest today, but not particularly great either.
DCM Luca De La Torre – N/A
Went off injured early with what appears to have been a broken nose. Tough luck for the dude because this was the ideal opportunity for him to showcase his ability in the Tyler Adams role, but it wasn’t to be.
LM Yunus Musah – 6.5
I think we’re just beginning to see the blossoming of this young fella into the player he can become. Committed on defense, increasingly aggressive on offense, it seems to be coming together. Stop me if I sound like a broken record, but plenty of good moments with serious potential ended with a pass that narrowly missed connecting, or an errant shot attempt, but overall, he’s done well here and shown the world he’s ready to make his mark. AC Milan will be delighted they have him.
RM Weston McKennie – 6.5
Delightful bit of individual skill to set up Weah’s opener. Good in possession and reliable in tracking back on offense. On an afternoon where the US attack sputtered more than hummed, most promising US endeavors in the Uzbekistan end involved him. We’ll see if he truly gets a second run in the Juventus side this season, but he seems to be in solid form. One knock on him, and we saw it today, if some of the play around him isn’t good, he’s not really the type to create much individually. Oh well, not everyone is Messi.
LAM Christian Pulisic – 5.5
Well, he bagged a goal on a penalty kick late on. That’s about it. He wasn’t necessarily poor today, but Berhalter ball just doesn’t suit him. Uzbekistan, while far from a powerhouse, isn’t a lousy side by any stretch, but you would have expected Pulisic to make his mark on the game. And he just didn’t. Had one decent opportunity in the second half but his tame header from six yards was easily saved. The penalty was well-taken, so there’s that at least.
RAM Tim Weah – 6.0
His goal in the fourth minute was a thing of beauty. Set up by McKennie, he lashed a beautiful bullet into the far post side netting to start the US off on a good note. Then it was like someone replaced his Energizer batteries with some shitty knock off brand. It’s not that he quit trying. He’s always enterprising, but today his first touch was atrocious, and he never took it upon himself to run at anyone in the 18-yard box. I guess it’s a testament to his quality that he can have a mostly anonymous match and still muster a moment of brilliance, but when you start off like that, it leaves fans hoping for more.
ST Folarin Balogun – 6.0
The US has never had a striker like Balogun. Today wasn’t his best day, but on multiple occasions he showcased how he can be an absolute nightmare for opposing defenses. Was a little unlucky to head off the post from six yards with the goal gaping in front of him and didn’t hit his shot particularly well after some nifty footwork allowed him to create space amongst multiple defenders, but he sure is exciting to watch. Subbed off at the break for Pepi.
The Subs
Tanner Tessman – 3.0
Came on for De La Torre midway through the first half. Best that can be said about him today is that he didn’t get sent off. An awful back pass led to a breakaway that was kept out by Turner. Multiple errant passes that should have been easy completions led to Uzbeki counterattacks. Frustratingly to me, Tessman is huge yet absent in set pieces both on offense and defense. You’d think he could use that size to become a problem. He did showcase some talent today, with a couple of pinpoint 50-yard floating passes, and that’s great. But when you’re playing in a CDM role, you can’t be turning the ball over like he did. Poor, but maybe there’s some potential?
Ricardo Pepi – 5.5
Scored a nice goal with a powerful shot from the top of the box with the goalie partially screened. Other than that, he was entirely anonymous. I’ve said this before, but you don’t need your center forward to be sublimely skillful. You just need him to smash goals in when the opportunity presents itself. I guess he did that once today but for a guy who played 45 minutes, the hope is his name is mentioned by the announcers more than three times. On the plus side, he’s a willing helper when defending from the front.
Brenden Aaronson – 6.0
Set up Pepi’s goal with a nicely weighted pass in traffic. Hustled relentlessly to help on defense. And honestly, I’m never happy when his name is announced but he played fairly well the final 25 minutes or so today. He’s just… not very good. He can’t get a cross past the first defender. Despite his work rate and plus speed, he’s just not willing to run at defenders in the box, and I don’t freaking get it. More on why that’s important later, but in fairness to BA there was more good than bad today.
Mark McKenzie – 6.0
Another guy I’m not personally high on, but he was solid in relief of Richards today. One notable contribution was bailing out Tessman after a brutal back pass with some alert reactions. Responsible in distribution. A non-factor on offense but that’s fine when you’re solid on D.
Kristoffer Lund – N/A
First cap for the recently committed dual national. He didn’t trip over the furniture in his brief time on the pitch and didn’t look out of place, but there’s not enough of a sample size from today’s ten minutes or so to drop an accurate rating.
Malik Tillman – 7.0
Only on for the last ten minutes, and maybe it’s a coincidence but the US looked like a completely different team after he came on. Maybe it was a formation change as well, but Tillman looks capable of being a menace. His most telling play was winning the penalty in stoppage time with a darting run into the box, right at a tired defender, drawing a clear foul on a clever hip and head fake that sent the defender in the wrong direction. This was exactly the blueprint of what Aaronson needs to do when coming on late. Tillman deserves a longer look next game to see if what we saw these ten minutes translates over a longer period. Nicely done, sir.
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