Gold Cup Match Ratings: USA v Panama

Team and player stats courtesy of ESPN.com and Concacaf.com respectively, and as usual I am distraught that whoscored.com does not carry Gold Cup coverage.

USA v Panama

Score: USA 1 PAN 1

4-4-2 (Diamond)


GK Brad Guzan: 8.0

Guzan was forced into more action than usual in this match. Panama was able to get off thirteen shots, seven of which were on goal. They regularly got the ball into dangerous areas, keeping Guzan on his toes. Panama received four corner kicks, and several free kicks around the box, but were not able to score off of their set pieces. Guzan consistently had to make saves in this match, some of which were pretty spectacular reflex saves. At one key point in the match he defended a ball deflected against his own Alvarado before getting up to dive at the rebound shot. Guzan has been the best performer for the United States thus far this tournament, and it says a lot about this team that he has had to be.

RB Timothy Chandler: 4.5

Timothy Chandler continues to disappoint for team USA. On defense he attempts risky tackles high up the midfield, and when they fail—and they always do, he leaves huge gaps in the defense. He is worse offensively. Chandler gives up the ball very easily. His overall passing accuracy last night was not bad, 84%, the whole US team combined for an 88% pass accuracy. However, the big problem is where he gives up the ball: in US territory before reaching the midline. This leads to easy breaks for the opponent. Chandler does not provide a positive contribution on offense or defense. It is time to give someone else a real chance.

CB: Ventura Alvarado: 5.0

Once again Alvarado has an uneven performance, but it is the bad that will overshadow the good he did in this match. Alvardo was the main culprit allowing Panama's goal. He came to the edge of the box to defend the man receiving the ball and he was easily turned by the offensive player allowing a dangerous ball to cross right in front of the goal. Alvardo also nearly put in an own goal when a FK ball deflected off his knee towards goal, and only the quick reflexes of Brad Guzan saved him form that indignity. Otherwise Alvarado was pretty good. Despite his size he handles balls coming into the box and can head them away. He also did well coming out to the right to contain wingers when he had to. Alvarado led the team in pass attempts and did well with an accuracy of 95%. He is an exciting prospect, but right now he is too prone to the big error.

CB John Brooks: 5.8

Brooks picked up a yellow card, his second of the tournament, early in the match so will miss the quarterfinal match. He was alright in this match. He was too late tracking the runner on the goal scoring play, and should have down better. However, Brooks' tackling and ability to win aerials into the box were on display, and vital to the US's ability to hold onto a draw in this match.

LB: Fabian Johnson: 6.4

Fabian Johnson was just ok in this match. In the first half he got caught up too high on the pitch, but Morales did a great job defensively to cover him. In the second half Johnson focused more on defense and made some key tackles, and did a good job winning the ball for the US, whether it was intercepting a ball or winning races to loose balls. Alejandro Bedoya came to the left side in the second half, and he and Johnson formed the most prolific wing attack the US has had all tournament while they were on the pitch together. Johnson was dangerous in spurts on offense. He made a couple deep runs allowing goal scoring opportunities, but none of those were too dangerous for the defense.

CDM Kyle Beckerman: 5.0

Kyle Beckerman is an interesting case. He shows all the tools to dominate the midfield at times, but others he seems completely overwhelmed. He was unable to trouble the Panamanian attack, and slow them down, putting too much pressure on the center backs. He needs to commit to a holding position, especially in the first half when Panama was dominated possession. Panama should not be getting off twice as many shots as the United States, and a big reason they are is their domination of the midfield. Beckerman also failed to deliver in distribution. His passing accuracy was below 80%, and he was not as involved as he should have been, playing in the center of the midfield.

RCM: Alejandro Bedoya: 7.3

Bedoya struggled in the first half while playing on the right. He and Chandler had trouble linking up and he was not receiving the ball in ideal positions. He did receive one great opportunity in the first half receiving the ball on the right and dribbling towards the goal. He had men in the middle but failed to cross it early enough and ended up taking a tough shot at a bad angle that was easily dealt with. In the second half Bedoya did much better to get involved in the attack, linking up well with Johnson. He recorded the assist on a play started by Gyasi Zardes, receiving the ball on the left side of the box and finding Bradley towards the far post for a goal. Bedoya also did a respectable job on defense, once he was paired with Johnson on the right side.

LCM: Alfredo Morales: 6.4

Morales struggled to get involved in the game on offense. He only made six passes the entire first half before being subbed following the break. However, he did an excellent job covering for Fabian Johnson on the left side and contributing to the defense.

CAM: Michael Bradley: 7.7

In this match Michael Bradley played the farthest forward he has all tournament. His passing was excellent he finished with a 91% passing accuracy, which is outstanding considering how far forward he was playing. He also threatened the defense with late runs into the box, one of which scored the US's only goal. Bradley needs to get back to his opening game free kick form, because since that match he has been inconsistent taking free kicks.

ST Chris Wondolowski: 6.5

Wondolowski only played the first half. He was substituted in favor of Clint Dempsey to begin the second half. Wondolowski had trouble getting involved in the first half. However, this was because the US struggled to get possession of the ball, and when they did have possession they rarely were able to enter the final third. This is hardly Wondolowski's fault. He even tried coming out to receive the ball deeper in the midfield, and tried to employ some trickery to advance the ball. So, no, Wondo did not have a great performance, but he was trying to do what he could with what was given.

ST Gyasi Zardes: 6.0

In 90 minutes Zardes did not attempt a single shot. He also only made seventeen total passes all match. He needs to find a way to be more involved. There is no excuse for having that little effect on the game (from a quantity perspective). Now, when Zardes did touch the ball, good things often did occur. He started the play which led to Bradley's goal. However, he needs to be more assertive and create more opportunities: take on some defenders on the dribble, position yourself for the long ball, drift out wide to receive the ball in space, whatever it takes, but ultimately he needs to work harder. Sorry that there is not Robbie Keane by your side to draw the defense for you, sigh.

SUB DeAndre Yedlin (45' Morales): 6.0

Yedlin played the entire second half but did not get too many touches in that times. This is because the US's attack shifted to the left side in the second half, and Yedlin was often left out of the play. Yedlin did not take a very aggressive position in the match. He was content playing deeper in the midfield and focus on defense. This helped the US carry much more possession in the second half and also aided in covering defensive lapses by Chandler. However, Yedlin also did not threaten offensive as a result.

SUB Clint Dempsey (45' Wondolowski): 4.8

Dempsey seemed completely lazy in this match. He wasted multiple chances created by Fabian Johnson, Michael Bradley and Gyasi Zardes, specifically, as he was unwilling to put forth his best effort. He was given a couple excellent chances too. A little after the seventy-fifth minute, Johnson received the ball deep down the left hand side and he sent a ball on the ground to an open Dempsey at the top of the box. He should have had a clear goal scoring opportunity, but his first touch was too heavy and he lost possession of the ball. This happened several times in the half.

SUB Aron Johannsson (71' Bedoya): N/A

Johannsson came in with twenty minutes to go. He only made two passes and did not attempt a shot. There is not much to say here.

Man of the Match: Brad Guzan

Panama could have scored several goals and easily won this match in the first half if not for Guzan. He is proving his worth, and showing that the US may not be lost in goal without Tim Howard.

Final Thoughts:

-I am again befuddled by the team selection. This game ultimately did not matter. The US would win the group no matter the outcome. So, it was an opportunity for the US to try something they hadn't yet. This could be useful considering how dreadful the back line has been all tournament. I would of loved to see them try and pair Fabian Johnson with someone new, rather than insert the always dreadful Timothy Chandler. I have not hidden by preference for Brad Evans in that position, but he has only played one half opposite Johnson this tournament. So, it is unlikely they go with that option for the quarterfinals if they would not play them together in this match. Or, if they preferred, they could have tried Garza on the left, and moved Fabian Johnson back over to the right. This would have been a welcome experiment to see how the team reacts to the change. But, they declined to try something different, and I must assume they intend to roll with Johnson and Chandler. CHANDLER CANNOT PLAY AGAINST MEXICO THEY WILL BE HIS KRYPTONITE, NOT THAT HE NEEDS TO BE EXPOSED TO KRYPTONITE TO BE TERRIBLE.

That said, I do like that they tried Zardes up top in this match. That is the way to go about this match, trying something to see how the team reacts to it.

-I am not a big proponent of Chris Wondolowski, but he would have done a heck of a lot better job than Clint Dempsey in that second half. The rest of the offense seemed to click, but they failed to link up with the guys up front. So, I just have to sit and Wondo to myself how different if the indifferent Dempsey had not been brought in for Wondowlowski.

Group Stage Best XI, ie, who should start in the quarterfinals:

4-3-1-2

GK Brad Guzan 7.4

RB Brad Evans 6.2

CB Tim Ream 6.0

CB John Brooks 5.8 (Omar Gonzalez 5.6 due to YC accumulation)

LB Fabian Johnson 6.3

RM DeAndre Yedlin 6.7

CM Mix Diskerud 6.0

LM Alejandro Bedoya 7.3

CAM Michael Bradley 6.8

ST Aron Johannsson 6.5

ST Clint Dempsey 6.1

The above is obviously based upon current roster, but I am pretty sure they can substitute a few players from the roster if they want to before the quarterfinal. Based upon the way they have played thus far I am going to assume they will.

Questions for discussion:

What would your optimum starting XI be now that group stage is over for the US?

What do you think the US's chances are to win?

Gold Cup Player Ratings: USA vs Haiti

The US squeaked out a victory over Haiti last night, clinching their group and assuring their place in the quarterfinals. Let's take a look at how all of the United States' players performed.


GK Brad Guzan: 7.2

Guzan's frustration rating: 9.9. He must be wondering how the United States is allowing twenty-one shots in a match against Haiti. Luckily, most of those shots were nowhere near target, and the few that were Guzan dealt with easy enough.

RB Brad Evans: 6.0

Brad Evans was the first of several changes to the starting XI. Evans was adequate defending the right side. He avoided making a big mistake, and was usually adept at containing his man. Evans was not a threat on offense. He did get forward in a deep position to cross once, but remained back the remainder of the match. This was beneficial, because he was always there to pick up his man when Haiti broke forward. At times, Evans had trouble dealing with Haiti's speed, especially in the second half, as his opponent could get around him on the dribble. However, Evans showed good composure, waiting for the perfect time to make a tackle, and break up the play.

CB Omar Gonzalez: 5.5

Omar Gonzalez was the weaker of the two center backs last night. He is the central defender with the most experience; he should be expected to be a solidifying force in the back four, but he was not. He and Tim Ream failed to communicate at times, and work together to handle attacks. Often Omar did not put enough pressure on the attack, Hait typically only broke forward with one or two men, and allowed many shots to be taken. Omar also missed a few tackles high up the field when he tried to break up an attack, which led to some scary moments for the US defense. Omar was best when defending balls coming into the box, where he could use his size to head the ball out. The US sometimes tried the MLS style of attack—long passes from their own territory to a lone striker sitting in front of the opponent's defense, but Gonzalez was not able to hit anyone in a possession of any real danger.

CB Tim Ream: 6.0

Tim Ream was the better of the two center backs. His clearances were more sure-footed. He did better than anyone (Gonzalez, Brooks, or Alvarado) moving to the outside to help the fullback. He was just as adept at dealing with balls into the box as Gonzalez was, but everywhere else he was a quite a bit better than his counterpart. He even had a better passing accuracy percentage 82%:77%.

LB Greg Garza: 5.6

There was quite a bit of hype surrounding Greg Garza's potential start last night. He showed some good quality getting forward in spots. However, he gave the ball away too easily after his initial run forward, which led to counter attacks from Haiti. Luckily some of Tim Ream's play helped cover Garza. Garza worked himself into the middle more on offense than out wide, and did not show off his cross.

RCM Graham Zusi: 5.2

Zusi did not have his best match for the US. Despite a deeper position than he is used to playing, Zusi played very forward throughout the match; he often ended up playing behind Dempsey and Altidore. Zusi did not help the team in possession, especially during their early struggles in the first half. Zusi at times put himself on an island on the right side, where he was ignored. Upon receiving the ball he often gave it away promptly, whether it was a misplayed dribble, or pass (he had a poor 73% passing accuracy).

CM Michael Bradley: 6.1

Michael Bradley was the keystone for the US when they had the ball. All possession went through him, especially in the first half. Bradley did a good job committing to his holding position in the first half. He distributed the ball well, and kept himself in a good position to help defend when Dempsey, Johannsson, Zusi and Mix inevitably gave the ball away in front of him. He also picked his moments to come forward well, though he did not have any shining moments offensively either. In the second half, Bradley switch places with Mix, and played a more forward role. He played alright there as well, although he did not have any particularly dangerous balls into the box. Interestingly enough, Bradley led the US with two shots, both of which were off target. Finally, the best part of Bradley's game last match were his deliveries on set pieces. However, the quality of these were just a little lacking, missing on several occasions. He did have one dangerous FK, placing a ball near the far post for Dempsey in a similar position as their goal a match before, but the goalkeeper did well to get to it.

LCM Mix Diskerud: 6.0

Mix's performance last night was, well, a mixed bag. He struggled in the first half playing ahead of Bradley, and being expected to carry possession. He was often dispossessed leading to a counter from Haiti. He also was not able to get deep enough into Hait's territory to cause mischief with his passing. In the second half, Mix moved back behind Bradley, and played as the holding midfielder where he was the fulcrum of the US attack. He excelled there offensively able to make long passes to Zusi and Zardes on the wings, and immediately get the US in dangerous positions. He finished the match with an impressive 91% passing accuracy, and most of his damage was done in this second half. Mix is not a typical defensive midfielder though, and although he was a willing defender, his defense sometimes amounted to nothing more than a frantic slide tackle, which would sometimes win the ball, but was just as likely to miss, or be late and called a foul for a free kick in a threatening area.

CAM Clint Dempsey: 6.4

Another match, another goal for Clint Dempsey. Dempsey started the match in a No.10 position. He got a couple good balls to Johannsson and Altidore, but could not consistently be the offenses catalyst. Thus far this tournament he has struggled making passes in dangerous areas and holding position for the offense. However, in the second half, Dempsey was moved into a forward position, which freed him into the box where he excels. He immediately got a goal off a great effort and pass from Zardes.

ST Jozy Altidore: 5.7

Altidore had trouble getting into dangerous areas with the ball. He had trouble controlling the ball when he received it off long air passes, and he did not use his body as much as last match to work himself into the box. Later in the first half he resolved to play deeper and receive the ball before entering the final third, but this left him too far away when Johannsson got himself in the box. Altidore did have one great opportunity, receiving the ball in space inside the box just to the left of goal, but he gave up the open left-footed shot, and instead decided to cut back to the other side where several defenders awaited him.

ST Aron Johannsson: 6.5

Johannsson was the catalyst for the team in the early going. He utilized great positioning and speed to get into the seams of the defense and threaten with the ball. Despite getting the ball in these dangerous positions, Aron could not turn the opportunities into goals, or even shots. Altidore and Dempsey were rarely on the same page as Johannson as he was much further up the pitch expecting the long ball. Once he received the ball, there was no one to help support him, and he was unable to work himself into a shot once the defense caught up. Johannson should have had a goal off of a deflection, but it was unjustly called offside.

SUB Gyasi Zardes: 7.5

Zardes was great coming into this match in the second half. He immediately made an impact, receiving the ball in the box, and making a great play to cut in and find Dempsey for a goal. Throughout the remainder of the match he used his speed to put the defense in uncomfortable positions. His passing was also much improved, ending with an 89% passing accuracy, and he was a much more willing defender.

SUB Fabian Johnson: 6.0

Fabian Johnson came on for Garza halfway through the second half. He immediately got forward to initiate a US attack. On a later play, he received the ball in space on the left hand side, but had to slow down as it seemed he wanted to pull back and cut in. It is obvious Johnson would prefer playing on the right—his natural side. However, there still is not an adequate option for the US to take his place.

SUB Kyle Beckerman: N/A

Beckerman came in late in the match to help close out the win. He did well in a deep role, holding possession.

Man of the Match: Gyasi Zardes

Coming off a less than stellar performance in the opener. Zardes really came into his own in the second half of this match. He used his speed to get the ball in perilous positions on the left side, which quickly led to the creation of the US's only goal.

Final Thoughts:

-Well, I got my wishes from the other night and both Brad Evans and Graham Zusi were added to the starting XI. One of these, Evans, seemed to work out, while the other, Zusi, struggled to find where he fit in this formation.

-I did not expect so many changes to the squad for this match. I understand this is just the Gold Cup group stage. The United States can afford to change things up, and try different formations and personnel switches. However, just because you can do something, does not mean you should. Lineup tinkering is why there are friendlies. I have heard Arsene Wenger say (paraphrasing, and imagine a French accent), “It's not good to make too many changes between matches because it can ruin the chemistry.” You can also think of squad changes scientifically. In every experiment you need a variable and a control. If you change a ton to the lineup there is very little constant, and it makes judgement difficult.

I do not think it aides the US tinkering too much with lineup because they need to know what their best XI is when the quarterfinals start (which is only a single match away). How could you possibly know if Bradley or Beckerman should be your designated holding midfielder if you employ one in a 4-3-1-2 and one in a 4-4-2 wide diamond? How do you know if Ream and Omar is a better pairing than Brooks and Alvarado if you set them up with a different set of full backs and a different group of midfielders in front of them? You won't. So, you can tinker all you want, but you are unlikely to find the necessary answers by the quarterfinals if you change too much match-to-match. This will also convolute the chemistry between players. I think Dempsey, Altidore, Zusi, and to some extant, Bradley all suffered from this. Now what will happen if they go back to a completely different formation next match?

-At this point, I'm willing to say Fabian Johnson, Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, DeAndre Yedlin, and Brad Guzan should start every match. Zardes could be the next to enter that group with another good performance (and the fact the US does not have another capable LM).

-I really miss Matt Besler and Geoff Cameron. This entire group of center backs scare me.

-I was really expecting the US to show me how good they could be last night, after I proclaimed Mexico to be the favorite to win this tournament, but I am not any less convinced.

(Thanks to http://www.concacaf.com/category/gold-cup for keeping surprisingly detailed statistics, even when WhoScored.com thinks the Gold Cup unnecessary.)

Mexico v Cuba: Gold Cup Player Ratings

Mexico vs Cuba
Mexico destroyed Cuba in their Gold Cup opener, winning 6-0. With so much offense and possession the Mexican team must be filled with a lot of high rated players, right?

GK Guillermo Ochoa: N/A (7.0)

I don't really want to rate Ochoa. Cuba put one shot on goal, and it was a slow roller from the edge of the box. He showed some nice reaction to a late free kick from the right side that he snatched, but otherwise, Ochoa stood twirling his beautiful hair.

RB Paul Aguilar: 7.2

Aguilar saw a lot of action in this match. Cuba presented no offensive threat so he was able to run up and down the right side at his leisure. Aguilar finished the match with an impressive 87% pass percentage. He did well linking up with Hector Herrera and his strikers on short passes. However, Aguilar struggled at times with his final ball into the box; they simply could have been a little more precise. As good as Aguilar was, the left side of pitch (Layun and Guardado) were a bit more dynamic and dangerous. Aguilar did not need to do much in defense, but I question how he will fare in future matches against team's with a more potent attack. You have to practice like you will play in the “real” matches, right?

CB Francisco Rodriguez: 6.2

A recurring trend here is going to be Cuba's lack of offense. Obviously, Rodriguez had little real responsibility. However, Rodriguez was caught playing a little too high on an occasion, which led to Cuba playing the ball into open space at the edge of the box. Fortunately for him Cuba is not a good enough team to punish him for the mistake. Rodriguez was also late on a couple of tackles. Rodriguez did stifle Cuba, and prevent them from crossing the midline for most of the match though.

Despite a couple of defensive lapses, Rodriguez was very effective in supporting the attack. He was perfect making passes: thirty-nine for thirty-nine. He was able to complete long passes to his wingers and strikers in space to help kickstart the attack.

CB Diego Reyes: 7.0

Reyes gave a dutiful performance. He did what was necessary. He blocked a few balls when Cuba tried to play the long ball. He headed the ball out on the rare occasion Cuba sent the ball in. He was also an effective distributor.

LB Miguel Layun: 8.2

Layun was one of the many stars in this match for Mexico. He worked excellently with Guardado on the left side. Layun found success getting the ball into the box, whether it was working the overlap and crossing the ball, or cutting inside and drawing defenders out to him. He earned his assist late with a great pass over the top of the defense to Giovani Dos Santos who was waiting inside the box. Layun also did a nice job containing defenders on the left side, when they did happen to cross the midline (probably on accident).

RM Hector Herrera: 7.9

Hector Herrera played a very active game. He was deployed by Mexico on the right side, but drifted inside often as well, especially when Aguilar came forward (which was often), and he was eventually moved inside when Giovani Dos Santos came into the match. Herrera excelled cutting inside and engaging in quick exchanges and short passes. However, this give-and-go style seemed a little wild at times. Luckily, Herrera did well chasing down the ball and taking possession back immediately.

CM Antonio Rios: 8.0

Antonio Rios played just above the two center backs in this match. Mexico announced they were playing a flat 4-4-2, but Rios positioned himself and played more like a CDM in a 4-1-3-2. Rios excelled there, halting an Cuban momentum, and also distributing very well—his passing accuracy was 97%. He earned an assist in the closing stages of the first half, delivering a beautiful lobbed through ball to the head of Oribe Peralta.

CM Jonathan Dos Santos: 6.4

JDS was fine in this match. In a match where 2/3 took place in Cuba's half, he was the player with the most forward role to contribute the least amount to the offense (if that makes any sense). Again, JDS was fine. His passing accuracy was 80%. He won back the ball several times. He got three shots off, two of which soared away from goal from beyond the box. JDS is necessary for this team. He is one of the few box-to-box midfielders on the Mexican team; he would be replaced by a more attacking player (Corona, Esquivel, G-Dos Santos), until at least, we see to what extent Jose Vazquez was injured.

LM Andres Guardado: 8.4

Guardado was everywhere and a part of every facet of the Mexican attack. It was very evident that Guardado is the best player on this team. Guardado teamed up with Miguel Layun very well, and Andres' ability to cut inside and draw defenders to him really created room for Layun deep on the left side, and the strikers on the inside. Guardado delivered one of the finest balls in the match from distance and into the box, which led to a Gio Dos Santos goal, assisted by Carlos Vela. He earned his own assist when he settled a header forward in the center of the box into the path of Oribe Peralta. Guardado became a little trigger happy and fired from distance with regularity. He co-led the match with four shots off target (while he only scored one and putting only another one on goal). He also got a little carried away at times and gave the ball away while cutting in. He also had the occasion errant pass; his passing accuracy ended at 69%. Andres was the man behind most of Mexico's free kicks, and he was just ok in this area; he could have been much more accurate and created more danger. On defense, when it was infrequently needed, Guardado was a willing participent to go back and help win back the ball, assisting Layun on the left (US wingers should take note).

ST Carlos Vela: 7.6

Vela is finally playing national team soccer (I'm not going to pretend I'm not American and call it football.), and he got the start over Gio Dos Santos. Vela was good in this match. He gave Mexico's attack a varied look. He played all around the box and was effective when getting to the outside and delivering the ball into the box (he plays best as a winger). He was also able to cut in from the right side into the box where he could make a dangerous pass or shoot. Vela collected his assist after receiving a long ball from Guardado in the box; he was patient and drew defenders to him, while giving GDS time to position himself on the far post before sending him the ball. There were times when Vela wasted the ball, giving it away or passing it away, but there was only so much offense Mexico could muster before it became unsportsmanlike.

ST Oribe Peralta: 8.6

It is difficult to argue with three goals. Even though he sent four off target, and his passing accuracy was a paltry 41%. Oribe Peralta is excellent at being at the right place at the right time, and he can finish both with his head, and his feet. He has a great—nose for goal—as they so often say.

SUB Giovani Dos Santos (in for Jonathan Dos Santos): 8.0

GDS is arguably Mexico's most skilled player. So, it was surprising to see him sitting on the bench, especially considering Chicharito's injury. He originally came in for his brother JDS, and was stationed far to the right (sending Hector Herrera inside). He was alright from that position, but he was most effective when drifting inside, which is where he played once Carlos Vela was subbed from the match fifteen minutes last. GDS did have good chemistry with Vela when they were on together. Even though they have a similar style and prefer to play in the same areas. GDS is a little bit better working through the center. His ability to finish the ball in the net stands out on this team, and he is not quite as adept at delivering the ball into the box as Vela is. GDS finished the match with both a goal and an assist, though he was close to adding a few more goals that were dismissed.

SUB Jesus Carona (in for Andres Guardado): N/A

Corona came in around the seventy-first minute for Guardado, so he had big shoes to fill. He was alright, but unspectacular. He struggled getting into the box, but finished six for seven in passing.

SUB Carlos Esquivel (in for Carlos Vela): N/A
Esquivel did not contribute much during his time in the match. The greatest thing about his arrival is it sent Gio Dos Santos into the middle in place of Vela.

Man of the Match: Oribe Peralta 
The hat trick gets the nod from me.


Final Thoughts:

-The FS1 commentators said after the match that, although Mexico played great, they did not do enough to make them the Gold Cup favorites in their minds. I disagree. At the moment, I think Mexico is just a little ahead of the US, although that could change tonight.

          The US and Meixco seem to have the same fatal flaw: defensive shape. In this match Mexico did not need much, they were dominating Cuba, and their two center backs, and sometimes one center back was enough to stop any breaks from coming. Still, even against better teams, Layun and Aguilar are going to charge up the pitch—they are offense first full backs, and really elevate the Mexican attack. This is very similar to the USA's own fullbacks, and although Fabian Johnson may be the best full back of the quartet, Timothy Chandler is far and away the worst of the group. Both sets of center backs are capable of making mistakes as well. The major difference I see is Antonio Rios. Antonio Rios played a great game, and despite Mexico carrying a large majority of possession, and getting ample opportunities to attack, Rios stayed back. He anchored the midfield, and did not let anyone past; he was Gandalf on a bridge, if you will. I hope Kyle Beckerman was taking notes. Now, I will admit this was effective also because the center backs were playing a very high line, supporting Rios more directly in the midfield at times. So, while I see how Mexico's performance translates against better teams, the same cannot be said for the USA. Can Beckerman commit to the holding role? Will they change shape? Will they replace Chandler? These are all questions that need to be answered before they take on Mexico.

          Another thing that really affected me was the amount of pressure Mexico's attackers put on their opponent's defense. All of Mexico's players work on the defensive end, and help create errors in the passing game. This is one of the US's biggest weaknesses, dealing with pressure. The US had a hard enough time building their attack against Honduras. How much more will the struggle be against a team as skilled as Mexico, especially when they are constantly pressuring the man with the ball, disallowing them the time and space they need to build? It is possible the US commits to the long ball and counter attack on offense against Mexico. Mexico's full backs play deep in their opponent's territory and their attackers can be careless at time with the ball. So, the counter attack would be a premium weapon at the US's disposal. The long ball may be tricky though because of A) Alberto Rios, and B) The high line of the Mexican center backs. If they can beat the offside trap then there is little stopping them, but it may be tough to do. In this case, if I were the USA coach (and of course I'm not, no should I be), I may choose to take out Altidore and replace him with a little more speed and dribbling ability. I suspect very little of this match will occur in the US attacking third, which would limit Altidore's effectiveness. As much as I hate to say it, Chris Wondowlowski could be an effective replacement. A goal-hawk such as himself would be useful, and we all know how much he loves to sit back and wait for the long ball to come to him (it's the way of the MLS...sigh).

All of that said, Mexico is tailor made to deal with the USA as they are playing right now, and it would require some significant changes from the Red, White, and Blue , both in personnel and tactics, to deal with their neighbor to the south.

-Mexico is known to employ three center backs and a pair of wing backs However, they played a standard four man back in last night's match. I wonder if that will continue to be the case as this tournament goes on, or they just saw the opportunity with a weak Cuba team. It is possible the injury to Marquez forced Mexico's hand as well. Despite playing a four man back, Layun and Aguilar continued to play as wing backs. I wonder if that will continue against stronger teams if Mexico keeps playing that way. As wing backs Layun and Aguilar can commit to the attack more, and this is what is familiar to them. However, playing this way against better teams will leave big holes in the defense.

-Vela and Peralta started at the top for Mexico in this match. Gio Dos Santos also came in and was effective. After his hat-trick Peralta is not going to the bench. So, it is possible GDS and Vela switch places in the next match. I would love to see them play together, because Guardado, Vela and GDS together is a dynamic group. However, that would force either GDS—who suffers offensively out wide, or Vela—who would be forced into more defensive responsibility (Yikes!), to play on the right side of the midfield. I do not think that is possibly for a whole ninety minutes with the way Aguilar is playing. I do think it is possible if Mexico returns to a five man back, maybe a 5-2-3. Until then, Mexico will likely have to choose either Vela or Gio, leaving one of their best creators on the bench.

USA v Honduras: USMNT Gold Cup Player Ratings

The USMNT was successful in their opening match at this year's Gold Cup. They now sit atop their group with three points. I am distraught by the lack of coverage the Gold Cup is receiving on football/soccer websites, so here are my player ratings for Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, and the rest of Team USA.

USA 442 (Diamond Wide)

GK Brad Guzan 1: 7.0

Guzan is an underrated goalkeeper. Tim Howard obviously casts a large shadow as the best US goalkeeper of all-time; he is a heroic figure of legendary ability. Nick Rimando is obviously not Tim Howard, however, I think he gets a little notoriety because he is the best domestic goalkeeper (no need to apologize to Hamid or Steve Clark). That leaves Guzan a little out of the limelight. That said, he put on a very good performance in the Gold Cup opener. He did a nice job combating Honduras' counter attacks throughout the first half despite the lack of help from his defenders (more on that to come). Guzan was also aided by Honduras' inability to put their shooting opportunities on target; they put only 33% of their shots on goal. Honduras' lone goal came off a mistake by Alvarado, allowing Honduras' attacker to come in unhindered. Guzan had no shot at stopping it. Guzan's only mistake came a little bit later as he came out of goal to try and impede a low cross from the left side. He was unable to reach the ball, and was fortunate the right winger could not handle the ball just outside the far post. Otherwise, this match very well could have ended in a draw.

RB Timothy Chandler 21: 4.0

Timothy Chandler was one of the US's worst players in this match. He was ineffective in both attack, and defense. On the defensive side, he gave Honduras too much room to work with on their left side, allowing unimpeded crosses into the box, and leaving space for multiple shots from just outside the box. He also gave the ball away far too easily. In some cases this led directly to break aways from the opposition. Chandler passing accuracy was only 59% (19 of 32), which led to a stifled offense early, and created opportunities in the US's own half. Chandler was lucky to have Yedlin on his side to cover for him when he gave up possession too far up the pitch. On the bright side, Chandler did not give up any big mistakes, just lots of little ones.

CB Ventura Alvarado 13: 5.3

I was initially impressed with Alvarado. He seemed to do well cutting off through passes, and stopping the counter attack. A couple of times he did this by coming forward into Honduras' half and winning back possession after the US's attackers had been dispossessed and Honduras was springing forward. The US was not able to retain possession off of these plays, but it at least stopped the counter. As the game wore on Alvarado's play suffered. He was beaten by Honduras' Discua in the second half, allowing him to get into the box and get his shot off with little impedance. He also allowed an attacker to get in behind him later in the match; he was lucky not to have allowed another there. Alvarado has a lot of potential however, he needs big match experience (I know, that is exactly what he is getting right now…)

CB John Brooks 6: 5.8

Odd to think the twenty-two year old, Brooks, was the—veteran—in the center of the defense for the US. Brooks put in a fair performance in this match. He made a couple mistakes early when Honduras was pressing the defense hard. However, this had a lot to do with the US's inability to slow down their opponent in the midfield, cutting through it as if it were butter. Brooks was often left with too much to cover. He was also forced to defend out wide on multiple occasions in the first half, as Johnson was caught high up the pitch, and Zardes was unable to cover him. Brooks did do a nice job handling crosses into the middle. His size is a tremendous asset, and Honduras had no one near his physical equal.

LB Fabian Johnson 23: 6.5

Fabian Johnson is one of the US's best and most reliable players. This was not his most spectacular match, but he was solid enough. The US's biggest struggle on offense was maintaining possession, and creating chances from their build-up play. However, they were most dangerous when Johnson was surging forward with the ball, and dribbling his way into the middle. He did this to great effect late in the first half, placing a perfect ball to Yedlin who was cutting into the box, but Yedlin just does not have the quality to hit the one timer and had to continue his dribble, giving the goalkeeper time to stifle his shot. At times, Johnson and Zardes had trouble linking up, and working on the outside. Johnson does occasionally get caught up the pitch, and this leaves an opening for the opposition, but Zardes needs to be able to give him more cover. You cannot hinder Johnson from making his runs forward.

CDM Kyle Beckerman 5: 6.3

Beckerman had a mixed outing. He struggled early in the match against Honduras' charging counter attack. Beckerman struggled to slow down the attack, and this left the defense open to the onslaught. However, he did better as the game went on, especially after the US scored their first goal. Beckerman plays a more forward role for Real Salt Lake, and plays well as box-to-box midfielder and scoring threat for them. However, he cannot allow himself to play that same way as the deep lying midfielder in the US's diamond. He needs to be more disciplined defensively, or better teams will take advantage. That said, Beckerman did an excellent job distributing the ball. His passing accuracy was 91%. This was a huge plus considering the US's weakness in this match was ball retention, and build up play.

RM DeAndre Yedlin 2: 7.4

Yedlin has been great since moving up the pitch to play as a midfield winger. He is extremely comfortable playing in that role, and his composure on offense is palpable. Yedlin's offensive ability shined compared to his counter part, Zardes, the more experienced attacker. Yedlin made a great run inside the box late in the first half to receive the US's best scoring opportunity of the match (if you seclude set pieces). Yedlin's forgiven for not being able to finish said opportunity because he should not be expected to—he has played most as a fullback, how can he be expected to finish like a striker? This match continued to prove Yedlin has scary potential as a winger. Yedlin's biggest contribution to match was his ability to get back and help defend. Yedlin is never shy to chase down attackers and take back possession. He did a great job covering Chandler, who struggled in this match.

LM Gyasi Zardes 20: 5.0

Zardes continues to prove he should not be deployed on the wing. He showed very little creative ability in this match, failing to hit on his crosses, and only threatening once when cutting inside. Zardes' biggest deficiency is on defense. As a left midfielder Zardes has more defensive responsibilities than he would as a striker. However, Zardes often leaves the defense high-and-dry on the counter attack, and refuses to help cover Johnson when he surges forward. Perhaps, this is less a criticism of Gyasi and more a commentary on the chemistry between he and Johnson. They do not complement each other. Johnson is an attacking fullback, and Zardes is an offense only winger. This creates a huge hole in the defense at times, especially since the US is only utilizing a single holding midfielder.

CAM Michael Bradley 4: 6.6

The US's new captain had a fairly good, if uneven at times performance. Bradley's greatest contribution was his handling of free kicks. He did a nice job putting a cross into the box after receiving the short corner kick from Yedlin on Dempsey's first goal. Then he got the outright assist after delivering a great ball to Dempsey on the far post. He also nearly—and might have—scored on a third set piece. Bradley, like the rest of the US team struggled in the attacking third. However, some of this is due to Bradley playing deeper after Honduras' early attacking pressure. His 83% passing accuracy certainly cannot be blamed.

ST Cliny Dempsey 8: 7.2

Dempsey did a great job taking advantage of the two opportunities he was given, sometimes that is all you need a striker to do. However, Dempsey really struggled the rest of the game, and was one of the main causes of the US's inability to threaten from build up play. Dempsey's passing accuracy was only 56%, as he failed to link up with his fellow attackers, and was dispossessed too easily while the US was pressed deep in the opposition's half. This often led to Honduras' breaks the other way.

ST Jozy Altidore 17: 6.0

Many people likely have Altidore rated lower for this match. However, he was far from horrible. He actual did a good job linking up with Bradley and Dempsey, but the latter were unable to connect with him, making him look worse than he was playing. This is evidenced by Altidore's 83% pass accuracy. He also did a nice job holding up the ball inside the box, and almost used his physicality to create on his own a couple of times. Sure, Altidore's workrate is not great. He gets significantly less touches than everyone else, and he does not play defense. But, he could have been worse, especially considering how bad the US was in build up offense.

SUB Chris Wondolowski 18 (Altidore, ~59'): 4.0

Worst sub of the match. Did Wondo touch the ball more than twice in the half hour he was on the pitch? He simply sat at the top of the pitch waiting to receive long balls, playing absolutely no defense—while the team had the lead the entire second half.

SUB Brad Evans 16 (Chandler, ~63'): 6.3

The US's best sub. Brad Evans brought stability to the right side of the defense that was absent in the first half. He played smart and decisively. He did not overextend himself, and avoided making mistakes. Evans did not threaten down the wings, he may not of even crossed the midfield line, but he did not have to. Job well done.

SUB Graham Zusi 19 (Zardes, ~86'): N/A

Zusi came on in the closing minutes for Zardes. He used his fresh legs to carry possession for the US in the closing moments; he even created an opportunity for them.


Man of the Match: DeAndre Yedlin

All respect given to Dempsey and his two goals, but Yedlin played the best game. He was a factor on offense and defense. His ability to get back and harass Honduras' attackers may have saved the win. 

Closing Thoughts:

-Brad Evans really impressed me with his defensive ability, while Timothy Chandler thoroughly unimpressed me (as he always does). The US's weakest position is at fullback, Fabian Johnson is a stalwart, but they do not have anyone comparable to him, and Johnson himself would probably make a better left midfielder (much like Yedlin does). Brad Evans could be the US's answer. Evans may not be able to threaten while attacking on the wings. But, I do not want him to. The last thing the US needs is both fullbacks charging down the wings—why do you think Yedlin is playing as a winger? Evans would be both a perfect complement to Fabian Johnson—a defense-first fullback, and DeAndre Yedlin. A stable defensive presence on the right side of the defense would allow Yedlin to commit more on the attack, and that could be real dangerous.

-To go along with the above sentiment. Does anyone else think the US may be best served employing three center backs and position Yedlin and Johnson as wing-backs? This would strengthen the back line and give both Johnson and Yedlin more freedom to go forward.

-If I were USMNT coach—and, of course, I am not, nor should I be, nor should I even suggest I should be—Gyasi Zardes would not start on the right or left side of the midfield for the rest of the tournament. He is simply too much of defensive liability, at least if they continue to trot onto the pitch in a wide diamond. Zardes would be best served playing up top, or playing on the right side in a 4-2-3-1. Graham Zusi is a better all-around player, and would serve the team better in their current formation.

-Why on earth would Chris Wondolowski be brought in with a lead? I do not understand the reasoning behind this. He contributes nothing to the defense, perhaps less than Altidore himself. I understand the need to pace Altidore, but bring in someone who will help you win the match while you have the lead. Not someone who is going to wait up top till the other team equalizes then try and poach a winner.

-Kyle Beckerman needs to commit to staying back, and being the deep lying midfielder. He is the key to the US's diamond formation. If Beckerman cannot slow down the opposition, then it forces Bradley to play deeper, which completely voids the purpose of the diamond and stifles the US's build up play, which it did in this match. The point is to allow Bradley forward to create, but he is unable to do so because he needs to play as a second holding midfielder too often, and the US is essentially playing a 4-2-2-2 (or if Wondo is in the match it becomes a 4-2-2-1------1).

-I feel for Michael Bradley because he is both the US's best no. 10 and he is the team's best holding midfielder (he would also be their best box-to-box midfielder). If given the ability to play one or the other in the diamond he would excel, but instead he is forced to play this quasi, inbred version of both roles, which prevents him from playing to his potential.

-I am appalled by the USMNT composition. There is no depth at fullback and there is no depth at the holding midfield position. The backup for both would seem to be Brad Evans. Yet, the US has loads and loads of attackers, all of whom could not possibly hope to play...sigh.

(Appreciate http://www.concacaf.com for keeping pretty in depth statistics for my reference, even when WhoScored.com decided not to cover the Gold Cup.)