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Counterattack: What Was The Turning Point In USA - Netherlands?
Noah Davis and Zac Rigg discuss the USA match versus the Dutch.
Mar 4, 2010 1:24:00 AM
Goal.com
What was the major turning point in the friendly between the Netherlands and the USA?
Noah Davis: This isn't really going out on a limb, but it has to be Jonathan Bornstein's penalty. Before that, the Netherlands were clearly dominating, but the U.S. was playing their way back into the match. Then Bornstein picked up the foul and, well, we know what happened after that.
Zac Lee Rigg: I agree wholeheartedly. The U.S. squad was clearly overwhelmed in the opening minutes, perhaps even star struck by the Dutch's glitzy passing game, but by the 40th minute had regained composure and was knocking the ball around with a bit of confidence. Bornstein's penalty sucked the wind out of those sails, and the USA didn't really make a showing again until the 85th minute.
Davis: Exactly. Although I thought a couple players started looking better after Stuart Holden went off. If nothing else, it seemed to inspire Jose Torres, who looked completely out of sorts until that point.
Rigg: Did you ever see what he got his yellow for?
Davis: I didn't, but I have to think it was for protesting the foul on Holden. It looked pretty harsh on the replays and it took a while for the ref to show Nigel de Jong a card. Torres is a Texas boy, so I imagine he was protecting Holden.
Rigg: Ha, maybe. But I'd argue the USA coming into the game was gradual (and that Torres did nothing close to what he should be offering and can offer). One big turning point was the end of the game approaching. That's when the USA tried again.
Davis: A Netherlands drop-off or something else?
Rigg: This team has a tendency to go full out when the cause is lost and you wonder why they didn't flip that switch before -I'm thinking of waiting until Egypt to even show a shred of an attack in the Confederations Cup.
Davis: Well, they were playing Italy and Brazil, but I see your point.
I think Maurice Edu did a good job of helping to maintain some possession late and DaMarcus Beasley looked excellent in dead ball situations.
Rigg: That's true, but they had been on the pitch a while without making much impact. Why the 85th minute?
Davis: I think the Dutch sat back a bit, content with the win. 2-0 is the most dangerous score, you know.
Rigg: So I'm perpetually told. I'd still take a two goal lead over a one goal lead any day.
Davis: Haha. Back to turning points, a couple times early on Landon Donovan tried to do something with the ball and was stuffed. I have to think that hurt the American's confidence. If Landon can't make something happen, who can?
Rigg: That's true. The answer is no one. Donovan's record of goals scored or assisted in the final round of qualifying is outrageous. I think he didn't have a part in maybe two goals total. As I said in my player ratings, he looked like he's still carrying the flu he had against Manchester United and perhaps that's part of the reason he was invisible. But you can never count out the marking of the rightback.
Davis: Important to note that almost all the goals he scored were from the spot. But yes, he is the distributor. Donvan didn't look himself. His struggles maybe weren't a turning point, but they were the U.S. problems in a microcosm.
Rigg: Indeed. To close up here: one last chance to berate Bornstein.
Davis: Other than the handball, and the non-called handball, and the second goal that unluckily went off of Bornstein, how bad was he? I'm joking, but only slightly. I don't think Bornstein is horrible. I just think he makes at least one crucial, disastrous mistake per game. Other than that, he's usually solid.
Rigg: I thought his overall marking and level of play didn't look out of place against the Dutch. But when you make three huge mistakes like that, your team is going to lose. Just pee wee league.
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Noah Davis: This isn't really going out on a limb, but it has to be Jonathan Bornstein's penalty. Before that, the Netherlands were clearly dominating, but the U.S. was playing their way back into the match. Then Bornstein picked up the foul and, well, we know what happened after that.
Zac Lee Rigg: I agree wholeheartedly. The U.S. squad was clearly overwhelmed in the opening minutes, perhaps even star struck by the Dutch's glitzy passing game, but by the 40th minute had regained composure and was knocking the ball around with a bit of confidence. Bornstein's penalty sucked the wind out of those sails, and the USA didn't really make a showing again until the 85th minute.
Davis: Exactly. Although I thought a couple players started looking better after Stuart Holden went off. If nothing else, it seemed to inspire Jose Torres, who looked completely out of sorts until that point.
Rigg: Did you ever see what he got his yellow for?
Davis: I didn't, but I have to think it was for protesting the foul on Holden. It looked pretty harsh on the replays and it took a while for the ref to show Nigel de Jong a card. Torres is a Texas boy, so I imagine he was protecting Holden.
Rigg: Ha, maybe. But I'd argue the USA coming into the game was gradual (and that Torres did nothing close to what he should be offering and can offer). One big turning point was the end of the game approaching. That's when the USA tried again.
Davis: A Netherlands drop-off or something else?
Rigg: This team has a tendency to go full out when the cause is lost and you wonder why they didn't flip that switch before -I'm thinking of waiting until Egypt to even show a shred of an attack in the Confederations Cup.
Davis: Well, they were playing Italy and Brazil, but I see your point.
I think Maurice Edu did a good job of helping to maintain some possession late and DaMarcus Beasley looked excellent in dead ball situations.
Rigg: That's true, but they had been on the pitch a while without making much impact. Why the 85th minute?
Davis: I think the Dutch sat back a bit, content with the win. 2-0 is the most dangerous score, you know.
Rigg: So I'm perpetually told. I'd still take a two goal lead over a one goal lead any day.
Davis: Haha. Back to turning points, a couple times early on Landon Donovan tried to do something with the ball and was stuffed. I have to think that hurt the American's confidence. If Landon can't make something happen, who can?
Rigg: That's true. The answer is no one. Donovan's record of goals scored or assisted in the final round of qualifying is outrageous. I think he didn't have a part in maybe two goals total. As I said in my player ratings, he looked like he's still carrying the flu he had against Manchester United and perhaps that's part of the reason he was invisible. But you can never count out the marking of the rightback.
Davis: Important to note that almost all the goals he scored were from the spot. But yes, he is the distributor. Donvan didn't look himself. His struggles maybe weren't a turning point, but they were the U.S. problems in a microcosm.
Rigg: Indeed. To close up here: one last chance to berate Bornstein.
Davis: Other than the handball, and the non-called handball, and the second goal that unluckily went off of Bornstein, how bad was he? I'm joking, but only slightly. I don't think Bornstein is horrible. I just think he makes at least one crucial, disastrous mistake per game. Other than that, he's usually solid.
Rigg: I thought his overall marking and level of play didn't look out of place against the Dutch. But when you make three huge mistakes like that, your team is going to lose. Just pee wee league.
Visit the U.S. national team page on Goal.com for more
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