The 2023 schedule is beginning to come out now that the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup draw have taken place. Here is out the draw for the Gold Cup and Nations League resulted...
Nils Froling is the third player to switch his allegiance to the United States. The 23-year old Swedish born striker started his career with Kalmar who play in the top division in Sweden. He left for two seasons to play in the lower leagues before returning to his boyhood club. After just one season back with Kalmar, the striker was sold to Premier League side Watford. After four seasons and three EPL appearances there, Froling was sold to MLS side San Jose where he’s started 13 matches and scored seven goals thus far. With the lack of depth the U.S. have up front, the upcoming Nations League or Gold Cup tournament will be the perfect time to cap tie the big Swede.
The roster is filled with mostly fringe and younger players for the two upcoming Nations League matches. With the Gold Cup tournament less than a month away, the changes do make sense. We see Adrian Zendejas called in for the first time by the U.S. He’s had an interesting career to say the least. Born in California to Mexican parents, he had the option to play for either of the two nations. He originally left his native country to play in Mexico at the age of 19, but failed to break into Tijuana’s first team. After four seasons abroad, the keeper elected to sign on with U.S. second division side Swope Park. He impressed so much so that he signed an MLS deal with Kansas City the following year. After failing to land the starting gig their, Zendejas chose to sign on with Swedish side, Trelleborgs. After five years in the Nordic nation he returned to Mexico and joined Liga MX side, Necaxa this season. He was handed the starting role their and even earned a cap for the Mexican senior team earlier this year in a friendly. However, now he decided to join the U.S. where he could be cap tied very shortly. Looking at the full backs, we see one new name. Greg Trujillo (Re-gen) has played for the U.S. at the U20, U23, and was apart of the B Team which played in the 2021 Copa American Tournament. At club level he was drafted by the Philadelphia Union back in 2021 and has been the starting left back ever since. In the midfield we see another new name in Keaton Parks. He like Trujillo, he played in the 2021 Copa America Tournament. One last new face is Haji Wright of the Colorado Rapids. The depth up front for the U.S. is pretty thin, so this is a big chance for Wright if he can find the pitch. He left for German side Schalke back in 2015, but only managed eight Bundesliga appearances in the seven years he spent overseas. He joined MLS side Colorado in the middle of the 2022 season where he scored two goals and registered three assists in nine games. This season he has been handed the number nine shirt and has scored seven in 16 starts.
We dominated the match and in turn won with relative ease. It took just six minutes for the away side to get on the board. Canada sat deep and the U.S. were patience with Adams and McKennie looking to find holes in the defense. Finally, McKennie, in Canada’s final third, played the ball out to the right for Josh Emmanel. With plenty of time on the ball, he put in a far post cross aimed at Jonathan Amon. Amon won it with his head from inside the six yard box, but right at the keeper who made a great reaction save. However, all Milan Borjan could do was knock it right back at Amon who tapped in the rebound. That’s three goals in two matches for him this calendar year. It was 2-0 in the 29th minute when McKennie played a quick square ball to Tyler Adams who scored his first international goal in his 41st cap. Efrain Alvarez made a quick darting diagonal run dragging the midfielder with him leaving Adams unmarked at the top of the box. Adam collected McKennie’s pass, took two short touches and blasted it into the top left corner from just inside the box. The third came on the counter after a poor Canadian throw in inside the U.S. final third. George Bello won the ball in and played it to Emmanuel with his first touch. The full back then made a 60 yard run down the pitch before playing the ball to Timothy Weah at the top of the box. The striker turned and played in Orrin McKinze Gaines to finished it low and hard into the far post.
Another Nations League match and another easy three points. Although we did score four, it could’ve been worse as Juan Pablo Torres hit the bar twice while Matt Miazga struck woodwork once. The U.S. scored their first goal from a free kick into the box in the fourteenth minute. Torres put the ball in to the far post and, with the keeper rushing out, Auston Trusty headed it into an empty net. Andrew Carlton scored a debut goal in the 32nd minute. Again it started with a ball in for Torres, this time from a corner kick. The ball in was aimed to the far post where Jordan Morris headed it across goal right at Carlton who redirected it in. The Basel winger, Handwalla Bwana, made it three just two minutes into the second half. Once again it was a far post ball in from Torres from a set piece. Bwana was unmarked, but could only guide his header off the post. However, lucky for him it bounced right back to him and he knocked it in before the keeper could get back to his feet. I will admit the U.S. were lucky to get their fourth. Torres was blocked off by a defender as he looked to jump on a rebound in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. But, it was clear the Haiti defender would’ve gotten to the ball first. Regardless, Jordan Morris stepped up knocked it into the bottom left corner.
John Brooks is healthy, but has been left out of the squad. Does that mean his time is over? It very well could be. Two more veterans who miss out are Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore. Both sit in the top five in appearances for the U.S. but, like Brooks, they may no longer be in tbuc’s plans. Altidore did lose his starting spot in Toronto, so his lacking match fitness could also be the reason.
The striker position, already pretty thin, gets even thinner with Bobby Wood out injured and the new commitment Nils Froling still recovering his torn groin muscle. The same three forwards return from the Nations League roster from earlier this month. After a stellar season in the second division of France last year, Timmy Weah will lead the line for Nantes in Ligue 1 when their season starts. Haji Wright has 11 goals in 18 MLS matches this season while Jordan Morris is having yet another strong season in the same league. The keepers, right backs, and center backs remain the same. Antonee Robinson replaces Greg Trujillo at left back. After George Bello was named the starter at Stuttgart, the 21-year old has been the starter for his national side as well. Robinson is also plying his trade in the Bundesliga, but hasn’t seen much of the pitch with Werder Bremen. In the middle Kellyn Acosta is back in the team. He was left out previously to give Keaton Parks a chance. Returning from injury is Gianluca Busio who is back replacing Juan Pablo Torres. On the right Christian Pulisic is back in as everyone would’ve predicted and it’s Orrin McKinze Gaines who makes it over Handwalla Bwana.
The U.S. beat Canada for the second time this month. Our defense played well limiting Canada to just three total shots compared to our 17. The only negative was how poor we were in front of goal. We had 10 shots on target yet only managed to score two goals. Weah had two good looks, guiding a header right at the keeper right before halftime. His other great chance came in the opening five minutes from inside the box, but didn’t have much power behind his shot. It did only take nine minutes for us to get on the board. Jack Harrison was tripped in the box on an attempted slide tackle. Busio stepped up and drilled it into the top left corner. After failing to capitalize on a few golden chances, super sub Efrain Alvarez put the game away in the 86th minute. It started with Cameron Carter-Vickers sliding in and winning the ball just outside his own box. The ball was picked up by Weston McKennie, who in turn, played a ball up to Alvarez near the halfway line. The Anderlecht man turned and made a 40 yard run before laying the ball off to his striker. Haji Wright then returned the ball to Alvarez, who was standing just a couple yards behind the penalty circle, and he had a shot which found the bottom right corner.
Group A Scores:
Antigua & Barbuda got on the board first via their center back, Akeem Edwards, out jumping his marker on a corner kick. However, El Salvador proved to be too much in the second half, scoring three goals of their own before the final whistle.
Credit to El Salvador as their defense played extremely well. We created our fair share of chances, but our opponents back line stood strong and blocked a handful of great opportunities. El Salvador had the first real chance of the match from a free kick just outside the right corner of the box, but the shot went just side. Two minutes later the U.S. broke the deadlock. Weston McKennie tested his luck from distance, but the ball banged off the bar. Lucky for Timmy Weah, he was at the right place at the right time and the striker tapped in the rebound. There were only two other decent chances before the first half whistle blew, both from Kellyn Acosta. His first chance came under pressure from just outside the box. His effort sailed just over the bar. Acosta’s second chance came from a free kick just outside the box which was hit right at the keeper. The U.S. turned up the pressure in the second 45 and were rewarded with their second goal in the 49th minute. Josh Emmanuel threw the ball in to Christian Pulisic standing next to the end line. He turned and made a diagonal run toward the top of the box and had a shot right when he ran past the center back. 2-0. From that point we were clearly on the front foot, but El Salvador held strong. They made the match interesting with a goal of their own from a corner kick, but couldn’t find a second.
Group A Results:
Canada bag four against their Caribbean opponents and jump to second in the standings. The U.S. win means they qualify for the Quarter-finals for the third time in as many tries under tbuc.
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
