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Winners and...Winners: U.S. vs Spain
Goal.com's Noah Davis picks his winners, and well, winners for the USMNT's amazing victory over Spain on Wednesday.
Jun 24, 2009 7:06:03 PM
By Noah Davis
Well that was unexpected. The United States Men's National Team upset world No. 1 Spain 2-0 in the semifinals of the Confederations Cup, breaking La Selección's 35-match unbeaten streak. While Spain outclassed the feisty Americans skillwise, the U.S. showed impressive hustle and teamwork throughout the match. The best team in the world was unable to break through the Stars and Stripes' backline, which was bolstered by the return of captain Carlos Bocanegra (who played left back, while Oguchi Onyewu and Jay DeMerit teamed together in the middle of the pitch for the fourth consecutive match). The U.S. awaits the winner of Thursday's semifinal between Brazil and South Africa. But for right now, its only winners on the American team.
Winners
Charlie Davies
If there was a guy who epitomized American hustle in the early stages of the game, it was the former Boston College Eagle. Davies, who scored the U.S.'s first goal against, missed with an acrobatic bicycle kick and later just missed Jozy Altidore on a glancing header. (The teen didn't continue his run, although Davies should have done better with the pass, or put his header towards the net). But he proved the U.S. could get chances on the Spanish net, something his team dearly needed to believe. He tired late in the match -- making a couple of lazy turnovers in the process -- before he was replaced for Benny Feilhaber, but Davies made his mark.
Ricardo Clark
For the second match in a row, Clark did the dirty work, tracking back to disrupt the Spanish attack and running all over the pitch. Perhaps no play was bigger than his tackle on Sergio Ramos in the 66th minute on what looked for a second like a sure goal for the Real Madrid fullback. I've written this before, but if Clark wasn't sent off (on a questionable decision) against Italy, this very well could have been a coming out party for Rico on the National Team level. It still might be...
Oguchi Onyewu
With all due respect to Demerit, who had yet another virtually flawless game in the center of the American backline, Onyewu was the rock that kept the U.S. sheet clean (with a helping hand from Tim Howard). Once again, the centerback couldn't be beaten in the air but against Spain, which seemed determined to pass around him on the ground, he got his foot on an impressive number of balls. Onyewu made a goal-saving tackle on Fernando Torres in the 38th minute and spurred on his defense for 90-plus minutes. His distribution upfield could have been better -- there were occasional, albeit fewer, moments of panic -- but overall the effort was extremely solid.
Jozy Altidore
It wasn't an impressive beginning for the teenager (he lacked initiative), but he changed the match with his goal. It wasn't an ideal finish, but it went in. In the end, that's what matters. More importantly, Altidore is learning to use his physical skills. The goal resulted from him holding off Joan Capdevila with his back while controlling the ball and then turning the Spanish defender with his absurdly broad shoulders. (He victimized Capdevila later with the same move, drawing a yellow card. It was also the same piece of skill that led to Davies' goal in the match against Egypt.) Altidore's first touch needs improvement, but the flashes of brilliance that every striker needs are occurring with more regularity.
Carlos Bocanegra
Originally, I had the captain as a loser in the match. Early on, I thought he was playing too much like a centerback, conceding the width of the field to Sergio Ramos. As the game progressed, however, Bocanegra played his position better and teamed with DeMerit and Onyewu effectively. For a man who hasn't played on the outside of the U.S. formation in some time (and likely wasn't 100 percent due to injury), it was an impressive performance. The Stade Rennes fullback might not be the fastest man on the pitch, but if he's quick enough to contend with strikers and outside midfielders in Ligue I, he'll be all right on an international level.
Tim Howard
There wasn't a brilliant save that kept the U.S. in the game. There wasn't a moment when Howard stepped up and shutdown a Spanish attack. Instead, Howard quite simply didn't make a mistake all night. The American goalkeeper let his defense clear the ball when they could, came off his line (quickly) when he needed to, and smothered what shots the Spanish mustered without giving up a rebound. He was, honestly, fantastic.
Noah Davis covers the United States Men's National Team for Goal.com
For more on the Confederations Cup, visit its Goal.com section!
Well that was unexpected. The United States Men's National Team upset world No. 1 Spain 2-0 in the semifinals of the Confederations Cup, breaking La Selección's 35-match unbeaten streak. While Spain outclassed the feisty Americans skillwise, the U.S. showed impressive hustle and teamwork throughout the match. The best team in the world was unable to break through the Stars and Stripes' backline, which was bolstered by the return of captain Carlos Bocanegra (who played left back, while Oguchi Onyewu and Jay DeMerit teamed together in the middle of the pitch for the fourth consecutive match). The U.S. awaits the winner of Thursday's semifinal between Brazil and South Africa. But for right now, its only winners on the American team.
Winners
Charlie Davies
If there was a guy who epitomized American hustle in the early stages of the game, it was the former Boston College Eagle. Davies, who scored the U.S.'s first goal against, missed with an acrobatic bicycle kick and later just missed Jozy Altidore on a glancing header. (The teen didn't continue his run, although Davies should have done better with the pass, or put his header towards the net). But he proved the U.S. could get chances on the Spanish net, something his team dearly needed to believe. He tired late in the match -- making a couple of lazy turnovers in the process -- before he was replaced for Benny Feilhaber, but Davies made his mark.
Ricardo Clark
For the second match in a row, Clark did the dirty work, tracking back to disrupt the Spanish attack and running all over the pitch. Perhaps no play was bigger than his tackle on Sergio Ramos in the 66th minute on what looked for a second like a sure goal for the Real Madrid fullback. I've written this before, but if Clark wasn't sent off (on a questionable decision) against Italy, this very well could have been a coming out party for Rico on the National Team level. It still might be...
Oguchi Onyewu
With all due respect to Demerit, who had yet another virtually flawless game in the center of the American backline, Onyewu was the rock that kept the U.S. sheet clean (with a helping hand from Tim Howard). Once again, the centerback couldn't be beaten in the air but against Spain, which seemed determined to pass around him on the ground, he got his foot on an impressive number of balls. Onyewu made a goal-saving tackle on Fernando Torres in the 38th minute and spurred on his defense for 90-plus minutes. His distribution upfield could have been better -- there were occasional, albeit fewer, moments of panic -- but overall the effort was extremely solid.
Jozy Altidore
It wasn't an impressive beginning for the teenager (he lacked initiative), but he changed the match with his goal. It wasn't an ideal finish, but it went in. In the end, that's what matters. More importantly, Altidore is learning to use his physical skills. The goal resulted from him holding off Joan Capdevila with his back while controlling the ball and then turning the Spanish defender with his absurdly broad shoulders. (He victimized Capdevila later with the same move, drawing a yellow card. It was also the same piece of skill that led to Davies' goal in the match against Egypt.) Altidore's first touch needs improvement, but the flashes of brilliance that every striker needs are occurring with more regularity.
Carlos Bocanegra
Originally, I had the captain as a loser in the match. Early on, I thought he was playing too much like a centerback, conceding the width of the field to Sergio Ramos. As the game progressed, however, Bocanegra played his position better and teamed with DeMerit and Onyewu effectively. For a man who hasn't played on the outside of the U.S. formation in some time (and likely wasn't 100 percent due to injury), it was an impressive performance. The Stade Rennes fullback might not be the fastest man on the pitch, but if he's quick enough to contend with strikers and outside midfielders in Ligue I, he'll be all right on an international level.
Tim Howard
There wasn't a brilliant save that kept the U.S. in the game. There wasn't a moment when Howard stepped up and shutdown a Spanish attack. Instead, Howard quite simply didn't make a mistake all night. The American goalkeeper let his defense clear the ball when they could, came off his line (quickly) when he needed to, and smothered what shots the Spanish mustered without giving up a rebound. He was, honestly, fantastic.
Noah Davis covers the United States Men's National Team for Goal.com
For more on the Confederations Cup, visit its Goal.com section!
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