Commentary
USA-Panama Men's Friendly Player Ratings
- by Mike Woitalla @MikeWoitalla, Nov 16, 2020
Nov. 16 in Wiener Neustadt, Austria
USA 6 Panama 2
Goals: Reyna 18, Gioacchini 22, 26, Soto 83, 90+1, Lletget 87; Fajardo 8, 79.
Att.: behind closed doors.
Coach Gregg Berhalter's next generation project continued four days after the scoreless tie at Wales with a 6-2 win over Panama in Austria. The USA reacted quickly after falling behind 1-0 to Los Canaleros in the eighth minute, had 70 percent of the first-half possession, and took a 3-1 lead into halftime. The Americans lost their rhythm in the second half, but after their lead shrunk to one goal, pumped three more into Panama's net.
USA Player Ratings
(1=low; 5=middle; 10=high.)
GOALKEEPER
Zack Steffen stayed on his line as Jose Fajardo made it 1-0 with a six-yard header, Fajardo beat him from close-range on his second. Steffen was otherwise untested.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
5
Zack Steffen (Manchester City/ENG) 19/0 (25)
Matt Miazga stood without reacting a couple yards from Fajardo on the opening goal (while Tim Ream was on Juan Tejada) and on the second goal seemed to be relying on the offside flag. Miazga did assist with a header on the USA's third goal. Ream orchestrated much of the USA's play out of the back. With Reggie Cannon starting at right back, Sergino Dest moved to left back. Both played major roles in the U.S. attack and defended decently when Panama surged in the second half. Dest combined particularly well with Gio Reyna. A fine Cannon service set up the USA's fifth goal and he had earlier earned the USA a penalty kick when Oscar Linton batted the ball during Cannon's move through the penalty area.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
7
Reggie Cannon (Boavista/POR) 13/0 (22)
4
Matt Miazga (Anderlecht/BEL) 20/1 (25)
5
Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG) 41/1 (33)
6
Sergino Dest (Barcelona/ESP) 5/0 (20)
Yunus Musah, whose attempt to dribble through a Panamanian crowd at the edge of the penalty area ended with the foul that set up Gio Reyna's free kick for the first U.S. goal, constantly unbalanced Los Canaleros. (And they fouled him four times.) Tyler Adams, who committed two clumsy fouls in the first 10 minutes, settled down to play smarter defense and helped set up the third U.S. goal with a well-timed pass to Weston McKennie, who had won the ball on the sequence leading to goal that made it 2-1. McKennie's defensive contributions included snatching the ball from Cesar Yanis as he was set to pull the trigger inside the penalty area. McKennie's robust play after Panama made it 3-2 was key to the USA's super finish.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
6
Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig/GER) 12/1 (21)
8
Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA) 21/6 (22)
7
Yunus Musah (Valencia/ESP) 2/0 (17)
A couple minutes after his free kick equalized the game at 1-1, Gio Reyna set up the Uly Llanez shot from which Nicholas Gioacchini finished the rebound to make it 2-1. Gioacchini, who made it 3-1 with a close-range diving header four minutes after his first opportunistic goal, shot weakly to the keeper on his 65th minute penalty-kick attempt. Llanez, who took a blow to the knee early on, shot just wide after being treated, but failed to trouble Panama until being subbed after an ankle injury.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
7
Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER) 2/1 (18)
7
Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen/FRA) 2/2 (20)
5
Uly Llanez (Heerenveen/NED) 3/1 (19)
SUBSTITUTES
Johnny Cardoso committed a foul seconds after entering that nearly gave Panama a scoring chance and inefficiently tackled Abdiel Ayarza on Panama's second goal. Sebastian Soto scored twice after entering the game in the 77th minute. Richard Ledezma assisted on both Soto goals. Sebastian Lletget perfectly placed his header to make it 5-2.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
3
Johnny Cardoso (Internacional/BRA) 2/0 (19)
5
Tim Weah (Lille/FRA) 10/1 (20)
6
Richard Ledezma (PSV Eindhoven/NED) 1/0 (20)
6
Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy/USA) 15/3 (28)
7
Sebastian Soto (Telstar/NED) 1/2 (20)
nr
Chris Richards (Bayern Munich/GER) 1/0 (20)
TRIVIA: The USA's starting lineup -- its second youngest in history since 2018 in a friendly vs. Italy -- was its first with only European-based players since the 2011 Gold Cup and was comprised of players with clubs in England, Spain, Belgium, Germany, France, Portugal and the Netherlands.
Nov. 16 in Wiener Neustadt, Austria
USA 6 Panama 2
Goals: Reyna 18, Gioacchini 22, 26, Soto 83, 90+1, Lletget 87; Fajardo 8, 79.
USA -- Steffen; Cannon, Miazga (Richards, 80), Ream, Dest; McKennie, Adams (Johnny Cardoso, 62), Musah (Lletget, 76); Reyna (Ledezma, 68), Gioacchini (Soto, 77), Llanez (Weah, 62).
Panama -- Mosquera; Murillo, Escobar, Linton, Yearwood (Andrade, 55); Tejada (Yanis, 46), Carrasquilla (Griffith, 55), Cooper (Ayarza, 75); Guerrero (Torres, 46), Fajardo, Aguilar (Browne, 75).
Yellow cards: USA -- McKennie 50, Gioacchini 51. Panama -- Escobar 41, Murrillo 42, Griffith, 70, Torres 73. Red cards: none.
Referee: Harald Lechner (Austria)
Att.: behind closed doors.
Stats:
USA-Panama
Shots: 15/8
Shots on target: 8/3
Saves: 1/2
Corner Kicks: 6/3
Fouls: 20/18
Offside: 1/3
Possession: 61%/39%
I would rather have seen a good intro-squad game, for this game was a joke. To improve your team, especially to figure out where your weak points are than don't play someone whose weaker than yourself...This game says absolutely NOTHING!
Like your post.
Frank I think you miss that this camp was a recruiting camp. The significance of the Panama match was that it provided a positive ending to the camp. I think the camp was successful in that regard.
While 10 of these players got their first senior cap, it wasn't a cap that tied them to the US.
I liked Cannon and Dest at FB and prefer Ream to Brooks.
I am not a McKennie fan, but I was impressed. This was the first time that his performance wasn't marred by lapses in mentality.
Yes Bob, McKennie will be our next Jermaine Jones... a YC per game (mostly unnecessary)
He is the Kind Of Player you Hate on the Other Team, But your Glad he is on your Team.
Dest looks to be the "Real" Deal(Even though he plays for Farcá{jajaja})(either side also.!!!)
Cannon(Jury Still Out) Got in the Right Positions, But Played 99.9% Negative Passes.
(Nerves or Pattern.??? TBD)( I do appreciate that he didn't Kneel during National Anthem)
Frank, how would you grade anyone in game like this? My worry would be how did they score 8 minutes in. I didn't watch the game so I really can't comment.
Goal Goal, I never use this format to grade players for to me ,it is very ,very rare that I would grade anyone above a 5. I look at what they do,how they position themselves and other the little details. No matter how you look at, it is all Turbo, that is their inclination. As soon as one of the players gets the ball it is off to the races and as a result you will see times that the ball is either too far out front, lacking control, and end up losing the ball or running into an opponent. Ask yourself they all play in Europe and you would think their style of play would change in too a more sober ,thought out manner but no, it is not. And therefore, if you weren't familiar with the players and someone told you they all play in the MLS it would be accepted. In other words what i'm saying that our boys who ended up going to Europe after developing in the US till the age of 17-18 will have a certain style 'turbo' in their genes and that is so difficult to change....
Dest seems to be the only who is actually is playing 'soccer' out there, but he goes forwards too much. The opponent if he had a fast winger out there I would take the opportunity, to make sure whenever Dest moves up that far than quickly counter attack runs in the wide open space Dest leaves behind, for there is no way Ream could stop that.. As a result Dest would have to hang back and then we'll see what results from that, tactically speaking.
Reyna cotinues making the same mistakes ,which is someone coming from behind to steal the ball. He positions himself incorrectly and he doesn't think about the third man movement of the ball especially when he likes to receive the ball to his with his back facing downfield. I did like Musah making that short range pass that was in air, in a very short distance over an opponent to the wing, early in the game. I going to watch him more to see how he develops...
Frank, "Turbo is, What Turbo Gets"
And it's NOT going to get any Better.!!!... It's all about Movement.!!!
You Think the Players are Playing for Club and Country.!?!?!?
Actually, They are Like "Pavlov's Dog"... Playing for the Damned "Peep Bra"
Read the Excellent SOCCER AMERICA article on Sports Agent Lyle Yorks 10/30/20
They are Playing for Wyscout and TransferMarkt.!!!
"Now, you still promote your players, but the clubs already have access to all the games on Wyscout, and player information through TransferMarkt, analytics, collecting data, the GPS the players wear."
How Many times have we Seen a Team "Succeed" at Youth or National Level that we say; "How Ugly or Unattractive" ... But THEY(Coach, Player, Country) Have "Buy IN" to a "National Identity"
Look at the Success Of Croatia, Portugal, Iceland...etc... (Used To be The Oranje, but they lost their National way also)
We need to get back to "What Brung Us";
"American Exceptionalism", Individual Responsibility, and YES Superior "Turbo" Athleticism.!!!
I'M TIRED OF LOSING TO CON-CAcaCrApF Teams.!!!
Just Win, Baby Win.!!!
Santiago, we can't do anything but Turbo, that's the problem and that's why we are in the mess we're in.
In Holland there are games that nice soccer the way the dutch want to play can't be played therefore we have to roll up the sleeves and fight. In other words a change in style which is not part of the dutch genes but sometimes it is forced upon you and you have to deal with it..
But we don't have that luxury to switch from Turbo to a more mixed or controlled, thought out game,with the of use good skills.
We lack that diverse way of playing ,we can only play one way..... Exceptionalism means able to be more diverse which we aren't in that sense....
As far as what brung us, I don't think Turbo or any particular style, without able to change is good. You need a more diverse game. Soccer is played with many facets, slowing down, controlling, shifting, allow the opponents to have the ball. We are not capable of the various ways of playing ,we have one way and that suits us which is Turbo, and that's not good. Turbo might justs do it in some games like Panama, no doubt, that 's fine, but not against a mediocre team like even Curacao...remember that one.
Bob is spot on. Recruiting game, for sure. Seems like GB has begun one of the largest ex-usa recruiting efforts ever. He has taken the same tact as Klinsman, look outside the US for talent, only he doubles or tripples down, he does not limit the hunt to players developed in Germany.
I pick up, where I left off the other Wales Game Thread;
"I just Hope this New Group Of Players will have a Chance to Develop a "Free Wheeling" "USA Spirit" of COMPETING"
"Let's Roll.!!!"
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.!!! Good Job Coach... Try to Wind Them UP and STAY OUT OF THE WAY.!!!
Santiago, I liked the way you summed it up.
I enjored watching the match. good game for a young USA team. I hope these players stay with USA.
Frank the game was not a joke. It was a good game for the young lads to get their feet wet. They also got a taste of the chippy play that is a part of World Cup Qualifying in the US's region. It's the first time the team has played games in a long time. Lots of new players and some real potential. There will be plenty of tough games next year.
Well said. Panama was a good opponent for this group; a potential future quailfying rival, but not a team that would destroy a young team that might make mistakes. This worked out well for GB. Panama was an inferior opponent, but in the past, inferior opponents have given us trouble (T&T, e.g.!).
From a player selection and rotation tactics perspective I'll give GB kudos, which I rarely do. Was pretty close to what I posted last week I was hoping to see with the exceptions of Horvath not getting a start and Richards coming on as a sub rather than Miazga going again. In both cases I'm fine with the selection but think Horvath deserves a chance after his performances in major competitions the last few years. Don't blame Steffen for the goals allowed, but still not seeing how he has a stranglehold on the #1 job especially when this camp was about giving players a chance.
Only caught the second half so I'm hoping to find a full replay before comment on the ratings in this.
I was hoping with UEFA referees we wouldn't get carnage, but I was wrong. Austrian refs allowed lots of dangerous play in a FRIENDLY. IRL both McKennie and Adams would have been sent off. Miracle there weren't serious injuries, which would have undermined any kind of progress. Twice early on Adams just barges players--what does this prove? Bad judgement? I don't think letting McKennie run around like a headless chicken demonstrates anything positive. Juve would never allow it, he's positionally a liability at times and certainly would have been against a decent side. Two-footed challenges shouldn't be encouraged just because he didn't get carded. I thought we left this kind of nonsense behind?
Yes R2, you are Correct; We "Left this Kind of Nonsense Behind".!!! ... And that IS the problem... This is CON-CAcaCrApF ... Don't matter how Technical, or Tactical you are... They ALL coming to BEAT-UP on the Gringo USA(even if our Team is Mostly Black, Latino)
These Games against Regional Opponents are Physical and Psychological FIRST,
Soccer and even Winning is a Secondary Consideration to our Opponents.
We had a German "Coach" who "Bred Out" "American Exceptionalism" from the Program;
That is why we are having to Skip "Generations" Of u17 and u20 players and bring in an UnTarnished group of "u15's"
I just Hope it's Not too Late for Pulisic.!!!
Well it wasn't always pretty, but it sure was beautiful! Great to get a big win over a regional rival. And 6 goals?! Awesome. It's also true that we looked strangely disjointed for about 30 minutes of the second half, Panama is clearly in a rebuild, both teams played some very sloppy and chippy football at times, and McKennie was perhaps lucky not to get a straight red. But why quibble? did I mention the 6 goals? The young midfield trio was impressive, great poaching by Gioachini and Soto, Dest is a major force, Reyna looked much more active and effective, and all of that without Pulisic. Yes it was a "turbo" win to quote Frank, but still we looked young, quick, hungry, and plenty skilled enough to be excited about the future.
Did you mention; 6 Goals.!!! :)
Exactly!
I think MIke got these ratings about right. When Dest first started playing for the national team, I wasn't sure the hype was justified. The last two games he demonstrated his value. He's so quick and good with the ball (not sure about his defense, because he wasn't tested much).
I thought Cannon did well as well. McKinnie has not always impressed me, but these last two games he's been a beast, both defensively and with the ball (a rare combination). He also seemed to pop up everywhere, and caused the Panamanians fits. On the other hand, he needs to get some discipline (and better judgement on tackles). He always seems to have a chip on his shoulder and seems ready to rumble at the drop of a hat, and he was fortunate not to be red-carded for the studs up tackle. He could have executed a slide tackle there (as an aggressive defensive play), but it should have been a blocking tackle across the Panamanian player rather than going in studs up on the ball.
Hard to tell with Soto, but two great headed goals in 13 minutes certainly gets some notice. Reyna demonstrated his pedigree, so it's good to see him live up to the hype rather than wilt under the pressure. Overall I thought we had a lot of players who were comfortable on the ball (and were making creative runs, passes and dribbles), while swarming pretty well when we lost the ball. This is a very talented group (and if you add Pulisic and Sargent, it's hard not to be hopeful....)
Kent; McKennie=Jermaine Jones "Jr"
Panama fielded a young bunch of minnows and this match-up proved nothing. It is a waste of time to analyze this and latter contest.