Commentary
USA-Jamaica Men's Gold Cup Player Ratings
- by Mike Woitalla @MikeWoitalla, Jul 26, 2021
July 25 in Arlington, Texas
USA 1 Jamaica 0. Goals: Hoppe 84.
Att.: 41,318.
The USA earned a semifinal date with Gold Cup guest Qatar thanks to its 1-0 win over Jamaica. Sunday's scrappy affair in Texas went the USA's way thanks to second-half improvement and the first national team goal by 20-year-old Matthew Hoppe.
USA Player Ratings
(1=low; 5=middle; 10=high.)
GOALKEEPER
Matt Turner may have been surprised about how weakly Jamaicans shot on their two best opportunities, but his 39th-minute diving save on Junior Flemmings was of the spectacular sort.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
6
Matt Turner (New England Revolution) 5/0 (27)
Central defenders James Sands and Miles Robinson started with unpunished miscues shortly after kickoff, and then settled in to thwart the Jamaican counterattacks. Robinson's tackle in the 56th minute on Flemmings prevented a close-range shot. The header he won started the buildup on the U.S. goal. Right back Shaq Moore, who defended well, came out strong offensively but passed badly twice in Jamaica's penalty area in the first half. Like many of his teammates, Moore improved in the second half and fed Cristian Roldan on his assist on the game-winning goal. Sam Vines, solid on defense, hit an excellent pass out of the back to Daryl Dikes in the 34th minute that created one the USA's few chances.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
6
Shaq Moore (Tenerife/ESP) 9/1 (24)
6
James Sands (New York City FC) 4/0 (21)
7
Miles Robinson (Atlanta United) 7/2 (24)
6
Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids) 6/1 (22)
MIDFIELDERS
Gianluca Busio struggled with the challenge of bringing order to the midfield in a hectic game. Sebastian Lletget was more composed on the ball, but despite the USA's flattering possession stats, it rarely established any rhythm. Kellyn Acosta defended strong in the midfield throughout while flawed offensively in the first half. His passing improved in the second half. Overall, the threat of Jamaican counterattacks seemed to saddle the midfield with defensive concerns that hampered its ability to take charge offensively.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
4
Gianluca Busio (Sporting Kansas City) 4/0 (19)
6
Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids) 35/2 (26)
5
Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy) 27/7 (28)
Paul Arriola came back after a two-game injury break, was given the captain's band, and didn't look fit. He lost the ball most of the times he got it before being subbed in the 63rd minute. That's also when Daryl Dike was subbed after an ineffective stint at center forward. His one shot was blocked by a defender. Mathew Hoppe's two volleys from limited angles went straight to goalkeeper Andre Blake. But unlike Dike, Hope constantly made himself available for passes and was by far the player the Jamaicans had the most problems containing. Hoppe capped his toil with the gamewinning goal shortly before he was subbed.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
3
Paul Arriola (D.C. United) 37/8 (26)
3
Daryl Dike (Orlando City) 7/3 (21)
7
Matthew Hoppe (Schalke 04/GER) 3/1 (20)
SUBSTITUTES
The subs worked out well for Coach Gregg Berhalter thanks to play going on long enough for Hoppe to score before Nicholas Gioacchini could replace him, Cristian Roldan delivering the perfect cross for the U.S. goal and then blocking a Jamaican shot, and Reggie Cannon interfering with a late counterattack. Also, Gyasi Zardes charged about to keep the Jamaican backline occupied and his shot forced a Blake save in the 66th minute.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
6
Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders) 23/0 (26)
5
Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew) 60/13 (29)
5
Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen/FRA) 6/3 (21)
5
Reggie Cannon (Boavista/POR) 20/1 (23)
TRIVIA: The USA's starting lineup had an average age of 23 years, 280 days, and averaged 12 caps.
July 25 in Arlington, Texas
USA 1 Jamaica 0. Goals: Goals: Hoppe 84.
USA -- Turner; Moore (Cannon, 84), Sands, Robinson, Vines; Busio, Acosta, Lletget; Arriola (Roldan, 63), Dike (Zardes, 63), Hoppe (Gioacchini, 84).
Jamaica -- Blake; Powell (Fisher, 28), Lowe, Moore, Lawrence; Flemmings (Magee, 86), Williams, Johnson, Turgott (Nicholson, 74); Burke (Gray, 74), De Cordova.
Yellow cards: USA -- none; Jamaica -- Burke 30, Turgott 50, Lowe 89. Red cards: none.
Referee: Cesar Ramos (Mexico)
Att.: 41,318.
USA/Jamaica
Shots: 11/10
Shots on target: 5/5
Saves: 5/4
Corner Kicks: 7/7
Fouls: 10/13
Offside: 0/4
Possession: 66%/34%
An ugly win, but still a win. "Just Win, Baby". We can work on style later.
To be honest, I was so bored I fell asleep in the first half and woke up in the 55th minute. Apparently I didn't miss anything.
USA, USA, USA...9s for Everyone.!!!... I can't give 10s for that Crap, but we Beat a Crappy CONcacaCrApF Team, on a Crappy Field, with Crappy Refs... C Team Moving into the B Ranks with their "SPIRIT of '76".!!!... "WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN WIN.!!!"
Jamaica is a better team than they were in the past. Remember when they knocked USA out of Gold Cup in 2015, this was a low point, a canary i the coal mine for sure. I think this game says a lot for something Berharlter is trying to develop in his players - toughing it out in tight games. For sure man of the match was keeper, but also to a man, US was laying it on the line. Stark contrast to what we saw in 2017.
Best Game I have Seen Lletget Play, "In The Field" for us, Really took over the Game in the 2nd half.
Busio Learning Fast, Competing, Being more Aggresive, But still Ran around like a "Chicken with his Head Cut Off"... US Basically was playing with 10 players. But, I Respect Coach Ggg for "Sticking with Him"... Its a Steep Learning Curve the Kid is ON...Still think Busio is better Suited as an AM-Schemer(Modric) with Double Pivot behind him.
Vines getting Better every time I see him... Really did excellent Job... Moves up to my #1 Lft Back, Because he can Also play Wing back in 352... I dòn't think Antonee can do that.??? Really expected him to Struggle against Bigger, Faster, Stronger Players of Jamaica, but that was Not the case.
Moore has moved up to #1 Rt Back on the Other Side, for same but Opposite reason... He can play Fullback in a Conventional 433 or 442... Dest Can NOT
Sands and Robinson... They are 3 and 4 on CT Back Depth Chart... I doubt they can Beat Out Brooks, Richard's. But we won't Struggle with either.
Acosta looks Great as Sub for Adam's, Got to work on those Connecting Passes...
Arriolla may have Miised The Boat... Hoppe Moving Up the Depth Chart... Hoppe Showing he can play on the Wing(Some) and Checks Back very Well into the Midfield.
Dike doesn't know how to Play on a Soccer TEAM, in a Soccer Game Yet, But we shall see if he Learns Quickly enough... I prefer Zardes Ahead of Him... Sargent Still the #1
Agreed on Vines moving himself into the running to be the #1 LB. I think if he continues his form for however far we go in this GC, he's earned at least a share of minutes out there in WCQ. Robinson can certainly play RWB though, so don't think Vines's play is enough to supplant him just yet (to whatever extent it's even his job at this point). Have made the comparison before, but Vines reminds me of a Cherundolo on the left side = steady and capable, composed, maybe the 'safer' option which isn't a bad thing to be as a FB.
Moore has forced himself into the conversation as the #2 LB with Cannon, whose injury status probably means he's far from out of it. No way either are ahead of Dest at RB for the #1 spot, and never will be.
Sands and Robinson have proven themselves to be 'at the level' to be in the CB mix, but doubt either have moved ahead of McKenzie or even a healthy Richards/Long/Zimmerman/Miazga. Pretty sure CCV was invited ahead of Sands for GC, so he's probably in that mix with them as well. If I had to guess who GB would invite to a full camp with everyone available and healthy it would be Brooks, McKenzie, Richards, and then a really tough choice. I think Sands's ability to play the 6 as well might give him a leg up in the long run.
9 is still a damn mess. Several OK options, agree Sargent is probably the default #1, but would anyone be particularly upset if any of Sargent / Dike / Zardes / Hoppe got a start over another? Feel like it's never going to happen, but I'd personally love to see Weah given a chance there with his path sort of blocked to a starting spot on a wing.
I do not understand the hoopla about Busio. He did the same thing with the U17's. Runs around like a chicken with his head cut off. How does he start period.
Lietget was outstanding I thought. Sargent is not a starter. Has to be some improvement at midfield.
On the Road, Back at you all tonight(maybe)... Bob, you coming around.!?!?!?... "JUST WIN BABY, WIN.!!!"
This is the first time I liked Roldan's performance. On the goal, I think his intended target was Zardes. So did the entire Jamaican defense leaving Hoppe unmarked at the far post. Marked or not, Hoppe's finish was excellent.
I think Busio would look better to people if he was playing with the better skilled A team players.
General observations: The defense kept a clean sheet because the keeper made 5 saves. The backs did well at defending against a counterattacking team. But Jamaca did not press, which made the backs job easier.
PS: Look at the stats. Pretty even except the US keeper made 5 saves while the Jamaican keeper only made 4.
My vote for man of the match goes to the keeper.
I agree about the Keeper... It just Reinforces the Issue... How come the USA "Player of the Match" is Always the GK.???... Sad, that THAT has Not Changed in 33 Years.!!!
Yes Bob about Roldan, which shows how Arriolla is "In Trouble" to make the "A" team...
Yes, about Busio...
I expect a more "European" Game vs Qatar...
Will suit him Better.
Should be an interesting comparison, between him a AFIF... Other Valderama type player for Qatar
We might see "The Beautiful Game" in this one...
Qatar Not a Bunch of Thug Hackers. Not Great, by Any .Means... They at least try to play Organized Football
Would definitely like to see Busio being able to play off the other guys at the top of our player pool. Definitely seems like the type of player who needs mroe clever players around him to bring out his best qualities. The fact we really don't have any true, let alone top-end, wingers in this group we're not really able to assess how effective he might be progressing play when he so rarely has wide (or central for that matter) players presenting him dangerous options. His technical level and clean turning with his head up seems above any other 8s we have, and think having Pulisic/Reyna as options to play forward to would see him breaking lines a lot more often and creating real danger in the attacking third.
Seth... If you calling him an #8, Do you consider that the Same as a #10... I'm Old School... Attacking Mid.??? I get Confused.. I Never Coached in Such a Regimented way...Who was Playing #10 in 3 front System.??? What # was Lleget playing.???... Acosta #6, Dike #9; that's easy... What number are the other 4.???... Left Wing, Rt Wing, 2 Other Central Midfielders...
Santi - I don't use '10' in GB's scheme as I've never seen him break out a 4-2-3-1 or use someone as a classiv #10 second striker. Reyna will wander in there occassionally, Pulisic used to on occasion as well, but not significantly enough for me to consider them playing as a 10. I see GB's sytem using a 6 and dual-8s. In my mind a 10 rarely tracks into the really wide spaces, constantly probing the central area underneath the 9, utilizing half spaces but not in the ways that 4-3-3 wingers attack into half spaces from wide that kind of brought 'half-space' into our lexicon.
I don't generally call the LW the 7 or the RW the 11, nor do I call a 4 back line #2-5, I personally just call them RB, LB, LCB, RCB. I don't personally coach a 3 back system (three strong CBs are hard to come by!), if I did I'd then refer to the LB/RB as wing backs.
Lletget was one of the dual 8s in my terminology, which is certainly open for criticism.
Dull performance by both sides, end of story.
An important win for a young team in a game that could have gone against them. The US certainly dominated, but Jamaica is always dangerous (particularly when they go route 1 to their big, fast forwards). If Jamaica could shoot, the US might have been in trouble (I don't think I've seen a team hit such weak shots so consistently; there was only one good shot, and Turner was up to it). In contrast, Hoppe had 3 excellent shots (a volley and half-volley with each foot, in addition to his goal), and Zardes had one. Blake played well for Jamaica. And Acosta almost had a screamer...
As for the ratings, generally they're accurate. In addition to Hoppe, Robinson and Acosta were the men of the match for me; Robinson was a rock, and Acosta seemed to be everywhere. Dike clearly had a weak game, but he's young, and it's good that he got a taste of what it's like to play in a competitive game. While Hoppe tired, he was certainly willing to take risks and be aggressive, so that was good to see. Sands handled a difficult assigment well. Busio needed more help in the MF; clearly he's talented, but he's not yet capable of carrying a game (though some day he may be). Lleget and Ariola are for me solid guys you have on the bench that you can depend on, but are rarely going to have game changing abilities.
I agree with every point you made except you view that the US dominated the match. The Jamaican game plan reminded me of an article in the soccer journal about 20 years ago. It detailed for youth coaches how to coach the defense of a 442 system with a low line of confrontation.
Basically the team allowed space inviting the ball to penetrate across the half line near the touch lines. When the opponent entered that area, the team pressed trapping and isolating the player on the ball against the touch line. Win the ball and counterattack. Rinse and repeat.
For the US it was usually Busio that received the ball in the targeted area along the touch line. This type of press should be obvious to coaches, yet I didn't notice a change in the US game plan. Must have happened while I fell asleep from all the excitement.
Such a Good Point, and my Biggest Problem with Dike... He doesn't Come into Defense on an Angle; Thereby Cutting the Field In HALF and making Trapping Decisions behind easier for his Teamates.