USA-Ecuador Copa Centenario Player Ratings
- by Ridge Mahoney @ridgemax, Jun 17, 2016
June 16 in Seattle
USA 2 Ecuador 1. Goals: Dempsey 22, Zardes 65; Arroyo 74.
Red Cards: USA -- Jones 52; Ecuador -- A.Valencia 52.
Att.: 47,322.
The USA opened up a 2-0 lead on Ecuador with goals by Clint Dempsey and Gyasi Zardes, then rode out the final minutes after Ecuador got a goal back to win, 2-1, and move into the semifinals of the Copa Centenario.
A goal conceded in the 75th minute ended the USA’s Centenario shutout streak at 303 minutes but Ecuador could not get the second goal.
In the semifinals, the USA will play either Argentina or Venezuela, which play on Saturday.
U.S. Player Ratings:
Starters
RATING PLAYER (TEAM) GP/G
6 Brad Guzan (Aston Villa/ENG), 49/0.
Held his ground to deny Michael Arroyo from a sharp angle in first-half stoppage time then claimed a cross in traffic to kill off the threat. Handled all of this duties well, kept his defenders tuned in, and didn’t have a chance to stop the goal. Came flying off his line to grab a ball with Arroyo in pursuit.
6 Matt Besler (Sporting KC), 34/0.
Stepped into the left-back slot so Johnson could move over to the right side. Lofted a great back post ball that led to the second goal. Held his corner secure for most of the game and also connected with a few short passes that relieved pressure.
6 Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/ENG), 44/4.
An overall good game teetered when Ecuador forced its way back into the match. He and Brooks lost track of Enner Valencia in the final minutes but weren’t punished. Beaten by ball over his head to Valencia, who headed over the crossbar.
6 John Brooks (Hertha Berlin/GER), 25/3.
His ball up the left wing set up the scoring sequence on second U.S. goal and again he was an invaluable defensive presence, getting in tackles and heading balls clear. Fought through fatigue in the final minutes but managed to finish out the match.
5 Fabian Johnson (Borussia M'Gladbach/GER), 47/2.
Kept his flank secure most of the time and didn’t allow Ecuador much space. Lost a duel with Montero near the byline that might have been costly late in the first half, and lost track of him twice when he crossed balls that Enner Valencia headed wide. Thwarted him with a well-timed tackle in the 84th minute.
5 Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), 119/15.
Played a solid hour or so, faded a bit in the late stages when Americans lost their foothold in central midfield. Hit too many intercepted passes in his own half of the field.
6 Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), 64/4.
Hit great first-time cross that Dempsey headed home for first goal. Marshaled a resilient defensive effort and was a bit unlucky to be sent off for pushing Arroyo in the face.
5 Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes/FRA), 52/2.
Dispossessed by Mina on a break when teammates were open the middle minutes after fluffing a great feed from Dempsey. Gave away free kick that Ecuador turned into its goal. Worked hard and contributed at both ends of the field but will miss semifinal with second caution of the competition.
7 Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy), 29/6.
Played setup man and finisher on the same play by heading a cross to Dempsey and tapping in the return pass. Played well defensively until the final minutes when Arroyo ran right by him into the penalty area and was stopped by Brooks.
6 Bobby Wood (Union Berlin/GER), 23/6.
Contributed another strong display of heart and workrate. Was wide open on the play where Dempsey set up Bedoya instead. Played the ball that Besler chipped into the middle for Jones to chip. Stupidly took a needless caution that rules him out of the semifinal.
7 Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders) 129/52.
Snap header opened the scoring, put another shot on frame that required a decent save, slipped nice ball that Bedoya failed to put away, pushed ball across the goalmouth that Zardes banged home for the winner.
TRIVIA. The USA posted a knockout win for the first time in a non-Concacaf competition since beating Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup. Its only other wins came against Mexico in the 1995 Copa America quarterfinals and 2002 World Cup round of 16.
Substitutes
4 Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), 56/1.
Struggled to match the pace of the game but plugged a few holes in the middle.
NR Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City), 39/5.
Ran a couple of balls out of pressure in final minutes.
NR Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United) 6/1.
Helped nail down the victory
June 16 in Seattle
USA 2 Ecuador 1. Goals: Dempsey 22, Zardes 65; Arroyo 74.
USA -- Guzan; Johnson, Cameron, Brooks, Besler; Bradley, Jones, Bedoya (Zusi 81); Zardes (Birnbaum 90+4), Dempsey (Beckerman 75), Wood.
Ecuador -- Dominguez, Mina, Erazo, Paredes (J.Ayovi 82), W.Ayovi, Arroyo, Gruezo (Ramirez 72), Noboa (Gaibor 62), Montero, A.Valencia, E.Valencia.
Yellow Cards: USA -- Wood 52, Bedoya 73, Guzan 84; Ecuador -- A.Valencia 37, A.Valencia 52, Paredes 64.
Red Cards: USA -- Jones 52; Ecuador -- A.Valencia 52.
Referee: Wilmar Roldan (Colombia).
Att.:47,322.
(Ratings: 1=low; 5=average; 10=high.)
12 comments about "USA-Ecuador Copa Centenario Player Ratings".
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Great job USMNT!! However, it is utterly MADDENING to constantly see Bradly give up easy and soft passes from his positions, and it seems as if he's forgetful of the speed of the opponents, and how they're just able to read him very well. Lucky for us, he had some strong supporters, and that Ragin' Ridge gave him a 5, Mahoney may have also had a lapse in judgement. Lastly, here I go again, wondering just why in Sam hell is Ragin' continues to give the same rating, e.g. Beckerman who subbed for Il Duece, as the guys that played a full match, and yet issues NR's to the two guys that also subbed in??? Good game guys, now let's take it to the Gauchos from Argentina!!!
Hi Ric: I think that Mahoney doesn't rate players that are subbed after the 80th minute. What perplexes me is why Jones is rated higher for playing half a match and drawing a straight red than some of the players who had to finish out the match with only 10 men. I think Jones played great while he was on the field, but his great contribution just makes his ejection all the larger burden to bear. Grueling.
Wow, wow, wow. One of the best US performances I've seen By our national team, including Klinsmann. My man of match was definitely Dempsey, a goal and a assist, defensively Brooks and Cameron were exceptional. Klinsmann to his credit made some good tactical subs bringing in Zusi whom aided Johnson v Montero battle on the wing and help close the game out.
Cisco, it was a great win inspite of our panicky play at times. You have to bbe honest that we were fortunate they didn't finish some good chances. But we did create our fortune. Question. Did you question at all, the subbing of Deuce and the real possibility of going to PK's without him?
Amen, Cisco! I don't understand Ridge's ratings at all, this time. He rated the majority of the players as average. They just beat Ecuador, for gosh sakes!!! As a team, "the sum total was greater than its parts"! Even taking that into consideration, most of our players should have rated at least one point higher. Last night, and for the last couple of games, we have seen the USA team of old resurrected with a bunch of scrappy, united players! If most of them are just average, how would Ridge rate the Ecuador players? Threes and fours? JK recognized something in our team playing Columbia that I'm not sure any of us saw. Perhaps it was a spark of the old American spirit. Whatever, he stuck with that group and, once more, it made him look like a genius. Hey, Mexico and Argentina were expected to get to the semifinals. We weren't! So here we are, short some players that we really could use, but I'll take that over a loss and being bounced out of the quarter finals any day! Doed JK have one more rabbit in his hat? Go USA!
I am so used to seeing "6" as the average rating that I can't ever consider Ridge's ratings. Everything just feels too low. I have never seen a "5" considered average.
Wooden, I am the biggest critic of Klinsmann, his decisions were spot on and when you are winning 2-1 and Montero is winning his battle against Fabian Johnson on the wing, it was a good idea to bring in Zusi to help alleviate pressure. Moreover, if your a coach playing 10v10 and winning 2-1, you need to make defensive changes to counter the pressure, taking off Dempsey for Beckerman clogs the midfield and bringing in Zusi help Johnson. In hindsight it was the correct decision because we won. Not many coaches think about penalties until they are in overtime.
Definitely agree with the defensive help. I was certain Ecuador was going to equalize and then I wanted my best PKer on the field. Glad I was wrong.
I think JK made the right calls, Dempsey has played with more pace even helping out defensively in the last three games, maybe knowing that he has to only last to the 70th minute or so. Bradley deserves the middle rating, he was far from perfect, but made some good plays and then let some passes go astray. It's always better to put pace on the ball, but that does expose the USA weaknesses with their first touches. We played better than the opponent and won, that cannot be always said. Can we play better than Argentina or unlikely Venezuela?
Solid first half team effort. Ecuador defense exposed a number of times...ball did most of the work and the cohesion and simplicity of play paid dividends.
Hard to rate the players (and the team), since it was essentially two games (before the red card and after). Woods was a beast in the first half, disappeared in the final 15 mins. I like taking Dempsey off (especially with the lead) since I do think he tires, though he would have been helpful holding the ball in the last 15 mins (though his defense is usually half-hearted, though not so far in the tournament). I might have put Nagbe in for Dempsey (he can hold the ball, and he's quicker and much more aggressive defensively, while still somewhat of an offensive threat).
Would love to have seen Nagbe as well ... Wood & Jones cards quite annoying; grow up! JJ has always been on the edge. Bradley's giveaways and a few defensive miscues ... bullets dodged. That said, mighty proud to have a match to get crazy about on Tuesday.