“In any good team, you want as many guys like that as possible”. Up front, look for Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore to pair up.
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TIMOTHY CHANDLER-Arguably his best defensive game in a US shirt, Chandler avoided the mental lapses and poor positioning that have plagued him in the past as he broke up several Honduran attacks.
However, United States of America held on for the victory to go top of Group A with three points after Panama and Haiti finished 1-1 in the 2015 Gold Cup tournament opener earlier in the evening. Carlos Discua, moments after coming on for Honduras, sliced the lead in half in the 69th minute, taking a pass from Maynor Figueroa, going on a run down the right channel and beating Guzan with an emphatic finish. Brad Guzan was forced to make two tough saves early in the match before the U.S.A even had a shot on target.
Guzan was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the first half but it was his counterpart Donis Escober who had to pick the ball out of his net after 24 minutes. The balls Bradley played into the box on the short corner and free kick that the USMNT scored off of were excellent and his service makes the team a threat to score on almost any set piece in the attacking half. He made a close-range save on Anthony Lozano’s attempt in the third minute and put a long shot from Acosta over the crossbar a few minutes later.
In the midfield, Klinsmann opted for Mix Diskerud in the holding role, flanked by Graham Zusi on the left, and DeAndre Yedlin on the right, with Michael Bradley in the number 10 role. At 27 years, 341 days, he is the fourth-youngest American after Landon Donovan (26-96), Cobi Jones (27-239) and Marcelo Balboa (27-320).
Clint Dempsey made his 16th Gold Cup appearance tonight, the most on the team.
Haiti come into this year’s Gold Cup with high hopes.
Panama, runners-up to the USA in the 2013 Gold Cup, went ahead in the 55th minute after Alberto Quintero scored from just outside the penalty area.
View complete listings via Live Soccer TV. The obvious answer is the L.A. Galaxy’s Gyasi Zardes, who showed tons of promise in the matches leading up to the Gold Cup.
With his start, Ventura Alvarado is now officially cap tied to the USA.
While July 25 is circled on Canada’s calendar – that’s when it finds out its next opponent in World Cup qualifying – the Gold Cup offers Floro a chance to test his team against CONCACAF opposition, rise in the rankings and to spend valuable time working with his players.
This was the sixth matchup between the teams during Jurgen Klinsmann’s tenur (4-1-1). Bradley is the most important player for the United States as he will be the leader of the squad.
Now he’s back in MLS with Toronto FC, able to see how soccer has evolved in the USA along with his growth into a leadership role.
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“It always feels good, whether you play with the national team or whether you play club ball, to be able to come here”, Dempsey said after the match.
