Player Ratings: U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Mexico

After each match the contributors to New England Soccer Today will rate the performances of the United States National Team players who made an appearance on a 1 to 10 scale (1 horrendous, 5 average, 10 perfection). This week Sean Donahue and Julian Cardillo contributed ratings for the USA’s 1-0 win over Mexico at Estadio Azteca on Wednesday night.

Tim Howard – Average Rating: 8.25 (Sean 8, Julian 8.5)
Two fantastic saves to preserve the win late in an otherwise somewhat untested night. Commanded his box well and did well to organize a makeshift defense in a hostile environment. (Sean) … Some spectacular saves throughout the match. Good job communicating with his defense and commanding his box. (Julian)

Edgar Castillo – Average Rating: 6 (Sean 6, Julian 6)
Has turned in some poor showings for the U.S. in the past, but looked more composed even in the hostile environment on Wednesday. Nothing too fancy, but got the job done defensively. (Sean) … Seemed a bit slow at times but he did get the job done, looks like he needs more experience. (Julian)

Geoff Cameron – Average Rating: 8.5 (Sean 8.5, Julian 8.5)
Perhaps the best news out of the U.S. win is the emergence of Geoff Cameron for a U.S. team in desperate need of fresh blood at center back. Cameron barely made a step wrong (outside of getting out-jumped for Chicharito’s late header) and made some game saving plays. Excellent positioning, strength, awareness, and solid distribution. (Sean) … Fantastic, man-of-the-match game. Worked well with Edu and saved the Americans’ hides with some key clearances and interceptions (Julian)

Maurice Edu – Average Rating: 7 (Sean 6.5, Julian 7.5)
Solid showing silencing Mexico while playing much of the match out of position at center back. Seemed to get more comfortable as the match went on. (Sean) … Read Chicharito like a book and worked very well next to Cameron and in front of Howard. (Julian)

Fabian Johnson – Average Rating: 6.5 (Sean 7, Julian 6)
It wasn’t a headline grabbing performance from the speedy fullback, but Johnson quietly had a great night. Did the job defensively and perhaps more importantly barely turned the ball over all match. (Sean) … That starting position really is his to lose because he once again did a quiet, but solid job of defending. (Julian)

Jermaine Jones – Average Rating: 4.25 (Sean 4.5, Julian 4)
Plenty of touches, but didn’t have the impact he’s capable of to set the tempo. Didn’t find many moments to get forward, picked up his standard yellow and perhaps didn’t do enough to help the U.S. keep possession in the first half. (Sean) … Too uninvolved in midfield because he was defending so often and he made quite a few needless tackles. (Julian)

Kyle Beckerman – Average Rating: 5.75 (Sean 6, Julian 5.5)
It may go unnoticed, but Beckerman played a great pass to find Brek Shea on the left in the play that led to the U.S. goal. The defensive midfielder helped to keep the game moving offensively and outside of a few misplayed passes, quietly had a solid showing. (Sean) … Some passing was crisp, other passing was terrible. Very hot and cold, though he did well considering Torres and Jones were virtually nonexistent. (Julian)

Jose Torres – Average Rating: 3 (Sean 3.5, Julian 2.5)
Easy to forget he was out on the pitch for 45 minutes. A non-factor in the match. (Sean) … A ghost. Never made many plays or runs. Not involved in the attack or in the defense. So, where was he exactly? (Julian)

Danny Williams – Average Rating: 4.25 (Sean 4.5, Julian 4)
Some decent work tracking back defensively, but wasn’t able to get anything going in the attack and turned the ball over too cheaply. (Sean) … Passing out of the back was poor and he seemed to be one step behind on too many plays when he went forward. Not too bad defensively. (Julian)

Landon Donovan – Average Rating: 4.25 (Sean 4.5, Julian 4)
Held fairly quiet and didn’t see enough of the ball, but still looked dangerous when he did get a chance to run at the defense. A bit too unselfish, however. (Sean) … Too injured/locked down to make much of an impact. Didn’t do very well with creating or finishing attacks when he did get some space though. (Julian)

Herculez Gomez – Average Rating: 4.25 (Sean 4.5, Julian 4)
First touch let him down at times. Hit a free kick on frame, but it was right at the keeper. Looked like he needed a partner up top. (Sean) … Got forward nicely, though his final pass or shot was often very questionable. (Julian)

(sub) Terrence Boyd – Average Rating: 6 (Sean 6, Julian 6)
Promising showing from Boyd off the bench. Fantastic assist to set up the goal. (Sean) … Just another body banging heads and feet- which was exactly what the U.S. needed. Nifty back heel to find Orozco for the goal.

(sub) DaMarcus Beasley – Average Rating: 4.25 (Sean 5, Julian 3.5)
Didn’t get on the ball too much in his time on the field, but did make a few decent runs through the center and helped to stretch the field in the lead up to the U.S. goal. Signs were there that he could still be useful. (Sean) … Really didn’t add much to the game. Hardly any pace and his passing was all over the place. (Julian)

(sub) Graham Zusi – Average Rating: 5.25 (Sean 5, Julian 5.5)
Didn’t see much of the ball in his half hour on the pitch, but kept the play moving when he did and put in solid set pieces. (Sean) … Added an interesting dimension to passing and set pieces and his work in the middle was solid. (Julian)

(sub) Michael Orozco Fiscal – Average Rating: 6 (Sean 6, Julian 6)
Might not have had the chance to show whether he deserves another chance at center back, but certainly positioned himself well to get the winning goal. (Sean) … Definitely at the right place at the right time but still, for a defender, good job of getting in position and not freaking out when in front of net. (Julian)

(sub) Brek Shea – Average: 6.75 (Sean 7, Julian 6.5)
Looked like Shea was back in peak form out there. Great set-up of the goal off the bench and looked dangerous on other occasions as well. (Sean) … Made an immediate impact to get the assist. He helped the U.S. get their game-winning goal in their first win at Azteca, enough said. (Julian)

(sub) Joe Corona – Average Rating: N/A
Not enough time to make an impact.

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