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Player Ratings: Slovakia 1-0 United States
In a match that more resembled a relaxed scrimmage than an official FIFA international friendly, Slovakia beat the USA 1-0. Zac Lee Rigg rates the lackluster players on show.
Nov 14, 2009 12:30:33 PM
Slovakia
Jan Mucha – 5
Punched clear a free kick in the second half. That was his most remarkable contribution to the glorified scrimmage. Probably suppressed a handful of yawns along the way.
Marek Cech – 5
Overlapped well enough, especially in the opening periods, giving the attack width.
Martin Skrtel – 7
Easily the player representing the biggest club on the pitch, Skrtel's class showed. Overpowered Casey physically, won any tackle he went in for, and outwitted the American attackers.
Jan Durica – 5
Hardly had anything left over to do once Skrtel bullied the USA attack into submission.
Radoslav Zabavnik – 5
Stayed at home at rightback.
Vladimir Weiss – 6
Slippery on the ball and eager to throw himself to the mossy pitch. It paid off early for the youngster, as he won the game-deciding penalty.
Marek Hamsik – 7
Deployed much deeper than his club role, Hamsik knocked the ball around the pitch. Scored the crucial penalty and in general ran his team from the middle of the park.
Miroslav Karhan – 6
Dropped off shrewdly into the holes left by fullbacks and popped up in every area of the field without ever seeming to hustle. A tough, determined performance.
Miroslav Stoch – 5
Lost out to Cherundolo wide left and never drifted much to create anything.
Robert Vittek – 4
Anonymous.
Erik Jendrisek – 5
After his team went ahead, he didn't get the service he'll have wanted. Left to grasp at half-chances without much luck.
Substitutes
Stanislav Sestak – 4.5
Spurned a one-on-one with Guzan in the second half.
Dusan Svento - N/A
George Kucka – N/A
Zdeno Strba - N/A
Jan Kozak - N/A
Peter Pekarik -N/A
United States
Brad Guzan – 5
Made an impressive one-on-one save late on. Other than that spent the game growing his beard.
Steve Cherundolo – 5
After looking bright in the opening minutes, Cherundolo faded heavily and stuck to defending.
Jonathan Spector – 5
A surprise inclusion in the middle, the West Ham fullback was never tested.
Carlos Bocanegra – 5.5
Relatively calm and composed at the back.
Jonathan Bornstein – 4
His sloppy marking gave the referee the misdirection he needed to blow the whistle on the penalty. Struggled to keep from fouling Weiss throughout the rest of the game.
Robbie Rogers – 5.5
Hands down the fasted player on the pitch, Rogers created what few half chances the U.S. had.
Michael Bradley – 6
Was perhaps the most mobile player on the pitch. Popped up in good positions in the midfield, plugging key holes.
Benny Feilhaber – 5
Looked slick on the ball and held his position well.
Clint Dempsey – 5
Too eager. Kept shooting too soon, from too far, or trying heady tricks when just keeping the attack moving would have sufficed. As the senior attacking player, the brunt of the creative burden fell on the Fulham star and he failed to carry it.
Jozy Altidore – 5
Didn't offer the focal point the attack needed, flitting away the match without getting involved.
Conor Casey – 4
Slow and ponderous, the ineffective Casey showed up today.
Substitutes
Eddie Johnson – 4.5
Looked active enough for someone who hasn't seen club minutes in a long while. Shooting exposed his rust.
Dax McCarty – N/A
Made his international debut.
Clarence Goodson – N/A
Sacha Kljestan – N/A
Jeff Cunningham – N/A
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
Get all the latest U.S. National Team news with Goal.com's dedicated page.
Jan Mucha – 5
Punched clear a free kick in the second half. That was his most remarkable contribution to the glorified scrimmage. Probably suppressed a handful of yawns along the way.
Marek Cech – 5
Overlapped well enough, especially in the opening periods, giving the attack width.
Martin Skrtel – 7
Easily the player representing the biggest club on the pitch, Skrtel's class showed. Overpowered Casey physically, won any tackle he went in for, and outwitted the American attackers.
Jan Durica – 5
Hardly had anything left over to do once Skrtel bullied the USA attack into submission.
Radoslav Zabavnik – 5
Stayed at home at rightback.
Vladimir Weiss – 6
Slippery on the ball and eager to throw himself to the mossy pitch. It paid off early for the youngster, as he won the game-deciding penalty.
Marek Hamsik – 7
Deployed much deeper than his club role, Hamsik knocked the ball around the pitch. Scored the crucial penalty and in general ran his team from the middle of the park.
Miroslav Karhan – 6
Dropped off shrewdly into the holes left by fullbacks and popped up in every area of the field without ever seeming to hustle. A tough, determined performance.
Miroslav Stoch – 5
Lost out to Cherundolo wide left and never drifted much to create anything.
Robert Vittek – 4
Anonymous.
Erik Jendrisek – 5
After his team went ahead, he didn't get the service he'll have wanted. Left to grasp at half-chances without much luck.
Substitutes
Stanislav Sestak – 4.5
Spurned a one-on-one with Guzan in the second half.
Dusan Svento - N/A
George Kucka – N/A
Zdeno Strba - N/A
Jan Kozak - N/A
Peter Pekarik -N/A
United States
Brad Guzan – 5
Made an impressive one-on-one save late on. Other than that spent the game growing his beard.
Steve Cherundolo – 5
After looking bright in the opening minutes, Cherundolo faded heavily and stuck to defending.
Jonathan Spector – 5
A surprise inclusion in the middle, the West Ham fullback was never tested.
Carlos Bocanegra – 5.5
Relatively calm and composed at the back.
Jonathan Bornstein – 4
His sloppy marking gave the referee the misdirection he needed to blow the whistle on the penalty. Struggled to keep from fouling Weiss throughout the rest of the game.
Robbie Rogers – 5.5
Hands down the fasted player on the pitch, Rogers created what few half chances the U.S. had.
Michael Bradley – 6
Was perhaps the most mobile player on the pitch. Popped up in good positions in the midfield, plugging key holes.
Benny Feilhaber – 5
Looked slick on the ball and held his position well.
Clint Dempsey – 5
Too eager. Kept shooting too soon, from too far, or trying heady tricks when just keeping the attack moving would have sufficed. As the senior attacking player, the brunt of the creative burden fell on the Fulham star and he failed to carry it.
Jozy Altidore – 5
Didn't offer the focal point the attack needed, flitting away the match without getting involved.
Conor Casey – 4
Slow and ponderous, the ineffective Casey showed up today.
Substitutes
Eddie Johnson – 4.5
Looked active enough for someone who hasn't seen club minutes in a long while. Shooting exposed his rust.
Dax McCarty – N/A
Made his international debut.
Clarence Goodson – N/A
Sacha Kljestan – N/A
Jeff Cunningham – N/A
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
Get all the latest U.S. National Team news with Goal.com's dedicated page.
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