U.S. Falls in Chile, 3-2
- Updated: January 28, 2015
Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz
Brek Shea and Jozy Altidore put the United States Men’s National Team in the lead twice, but the team failed to hold it both times on their way to a 3-2 loss at Chile. New England Revolution star Jermaine Jones started the match and went the full 90 minutes, while Revolution MVP Lee Nguyen entered at halftime.
Shea gave the U.S. the lead in only the sixth minute, but Chile scored an equalizer four minutes later. Altidore’s 31st minute goal gave the U.S. a lead going into halftime before 67th and 75th minute goals would give Chile the win.
With Wednesday not being an international fixture date and thus clubs not being obligated to release players for the game, the U.S. started the match in an experimental 3-5-2 formation with nine of eleven starters based in MLS. Jones anchored the defense, while Matt Besler and Steve Birnbaum completed the backline in front of veteran Nick Rimando in goal. Former Revolution star Clint Dempsey started in central midfield along with Mix Diskerud and Michael Bradley with Shea and DeAndre Yedlin on the flanks. Altidore and Bobby Wood got the start up top.
Chile’s 3-4-3 formation was made up entirely of players based in Chile.
The U.S. grabbed the lead in just the sixth minute through new Orlando City SC signing Shea. Besler played a lobbed through pass down the left flank and Shea broke into the box before sending a one-time shot past Chile ‘keeper Johnny Herrera to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead.
The advantage was short lived, however, as Chile equalized four minutes later. A cross from Mark González on the left flank found a wide open Roberto Gutiérrez, who made no mistake, heading past Rimando to make it 1-1.
The U.S. nearly re-took the lead in the 14th minute after a mistake from Chile allowed Yedlin behind the defense. Yedlin looked to find Wood at the far post with a pass, but the ball was just a bit too far in front of Wood for what would’ve been an easy tap-in.
A minute later Birnbaum directed a powerful header on frame off a Bradley corner kick, but his effort was too close to Herrera, who made the save.
Altidore would get the U.S. back on top in the 31st minute after some intricate passing in the box. Yedlin found Diskerud on the right side of the box and Diskerud sent a pass back to Altidore who slotted it inside the post to make it 2-1.
A Jones giveaway almost handed Chile an equalizer after it sent Diego Valdés through on goal. Only a huge save from Rimando kept the U.S. in the lead.
Gutiérrez thought he had added to his tally just before halftime, after he beat Jones and headed in from close range, but the Chilean striker was ruled offside in a close decision.
The U.S. made one change at the half, bringing on Revolution MVP Lee Nguyen for Wood. Dempsey moved up to after the substitution and Nguyen took his spot in midfield.
Chile had the U.S. a bit on the back foot early in the second half, but Bradley nearly scored on a long range shot in the 61st minute. The Toronto FC midfielder’s impressive shot was denied only by the crossbar.
The hosts found an equalizer in the 67th minute after Marco Medel played Mark González behind the defense. González ran in on goal and beat Rimando inside his near post.
Eight minutes late Chile would take the lead. Rimando made a huge save on a long shot from Medel, but the rebound fell to González, whose deflected shot beat Rimando to make it 3-2.
Nguyen nearly equalized a minute later after some nice work by Yedlin and Bradley on the right flank, but his shot from the top of the box was just wide of the near post.
Substitute Chris Wondolowski also threated in the 80th minute off a lobbed pass from Bradley, only for his headed effort to be saved by Herrera.
Another substitute striker, Gyassi Zardes, got behind the defense in stoppage stime, but shot his effort right at Herrera.
From there, Chile held on for the win. The U.S. returns to action on February 8th at the StubHub Center in California.
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