U.S. Fights To Draw Against Chile
U.S. Head Coach Bob Bradley (R) liked what he saw from the U.S. Men's National Team last night against Chile. Angel Magaña/LAist
Sporting Kansas City forward Teal Bunbury buried a penalty kick at the 74th minute to bring the U.S. level with Chile in last night’s friendly at the Home Depot Center.
Bunbury and fellow youngster Juan Agudelo entered the match a mere 15 minutes earlier and had an immediate impact on the match. Together, the two helped energize a U.S. squad that had lost its midfield at around the 30th minute mark.
Earlier in the match, the Nats had done a good job of controlling the pace and taking the match to Chile. FC Dallas midfielder Brek Shea combined well with captain Dax McCarty to exploit the left wing and generate multiple dangerous opportunities. McCarty was on the receiving end of the most dangerous of them all, and nearly opened the scoring after rifling a long range shot at the Chilean goal. Chilean ‘keeper Paulo Garces reacted well and managed to slap it just enough to redirect it above the cross bar and deny McCarty. By the 30th minute mark, however, Shea’s presence was less noticeable and coincidentally, the U.S. had lost much of its control of the midfield.
On the defensive end, Galaxy defender Sean Franklin went the full 90 as he earned his first cap and played well after an early game miscue that led to a free kick for Chile that nearly opened the scoring. Teammate Omar Gonzalez, FC Dallas defender Zack Lloyd and Red Bulls defender Tim Ream made up the rest of the backline that held Chile at bay despite their increasing control of the game.
U.S. ‘keeper Nick Rimando was not called into action too often, but appeared a bit nervous. At the 30th minute, Rimando misplayed a Chilean cross that nearly gave the lead to the South Americans, but the U.S. managed to clear the threat with Rimando caught completely out of position.
Chilean captain Fernando Meneses took advantage of Shea’s diminishing influence down the wing and continued to press the issue following the Rimando miscue. At the 54th minute, the Chilean crowd would erupt. Midfielder Esteban Paredes took advantage of a major defensive breakdown in the six yard box, putting it past U.S. ‘keeper Sean Johnson, who had come in at the half to earn his first cap.
The Nats continued to struggle in the midfield following the goal, but also did not give up. Bunbury and Agudelo entered the game at the 60th minute to provide the offensive spark the U.S. needed to open up the game. Once on the pitch, the U.S. was more fluid and they were running at Chilean defenders.
Agudelo would earn the penalty kick for the U.S. when he made a break towards the Chilean goal. The Red Bulls forward proved a bit too quick for Chilean defender Sebastian Toro and Toro ended up fouling Agudelo just inches into the penalty box. Mexican Referee Francisco Chacon Gutierrez immediately signaled a penalty, Bunbury buried it and the score was tied at the 74th minute.
The game remained rather open for the rest of the match, but neither team was able to break the deadlock.
Afterwards, U.S. Head Coach Bob Bradley emphasized the importance of the attitude demonstrated by the U.S. squad after going down a goal.
From the start of this camp we talked about how international games are faster so our movement needs to be better and things need to be cleaner. For the past few weeks we tried to establish an idea of what that's like and today that's exactly what we got. We had seven guys get their first cap tonight, so that's always positive. When you have a young group of guys in camp, at the end of everything you want to put it to the test and it gives you a good picture of where these guys are, and I think that part was excellent.
Next up for the U.S. is Egypt, on February 9th, as the team continues its preparatory work toward CONCACAF Gold Cup in June.