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

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 Brian O’Connell and Sean Donahue contributed ratings for the USA’s 1-0 loss to Ecuador.

Tim Howard – Average Rating: 5.75 (Brian 6, Sean 5.5)
Stood strong in goal, organized the D, made some brave clearances, but too many aimless balls down the field. (Brian) … Nothing he could do on the goal and not too many chances otherwise, but looked uncomfortable at times with the ball at his feet and distribution was lacking. (Sean)

Timmy Chandler – Average Rating: 5.75 (Brian 5.5, Sean 6)
Liked what he did early, combined well with Shea. Added fire to the attack with good crosses; creativity somewhat lacking in the final third. (Brian) … Shut down the left flank and found ways to be useful in the attack despite favoring his right foot. (Sean)

Carlos Bocanegra – Average Rating: 6 (Brian 6, Sean 6)
Mopped up in the rear, cool and composed pushing forward, and despite the yellow, played well in the back. (Brian) … Good positioning an communication with Onyewu kept Ecuador from really threatening Howard’s net. (Sean)

Oguchi Onyewu – Average Rating: 6.25 (Brian 6, Sean 6.5)
Clogged up the inside channel, seems to be resuming his gritty and physical – not to mention effective – self. (Brian) … Huge upgrade over the other center backs that have been paired with Bocanegra. Strong in the back and even aided the attack when the U.S. was pushing for a late equalizer. (Sean)

Steve Cherundolo – Average Rating: 6 (Brian 6, Sean 6)
May have been beaten for speed occasionally, but made good passes and runs forward. Quality on both sides of the pitch. (Brian) … Shut down the right flank until replaced by Spector. Good service getting forward and providing aid to Williams on the wing. (Sean)

Brek Shea –Average Rating: 6 (Brian 6, Sean 6)
Blazed down the wing, showed good vision, but passed up a couple of sure fire shots; otherwise, anther good showing. (Brian) … Looks a bit hesitant in the box, but continues to tear up the wing with his speed and creativity. (Sean)

Kyle Beckerman – Average Rating: 5.5 (Brian 5.5. Sean 5.5)
Confident on the ball, helped out his defenders, but looked a little too casual deep in the midfield. (Brian) … Thrives at winning the ball as a deep midfielder, but would like to see him get a bit more involved when the U.S. is searching for a goal. (Sean)

Maurice Edu – Average Rating: 5.75 (Brian 5.5, Sean 6)
Enhanced the offense with good runs into the attacking third, but whiffed badly on 45th minute ball. (Brian) … Provided good support to the offense, linking between Beckerman and the wings and forwards, but should’ve done better with his late first half chance that instead led to a counterattack. (Sean)

Danny Williams – Average Rating: 5.5 (Brian 6, Sean 5)
Breezed through the midfield and wings, good on the dribble, but lost pace in the second half. Promising performance. (Brian) … Continues to show promise with good runs, but slipped on a good chance in the first half and disappeared in the second half. More experience with the national team shoud help. (Sean)

Clint Dempsey – Average Rating: 5 (Brian 5, Sean 5)
Dangerous early, but finishing wasn’t there. Took a few too many touches. (Brian) … Led the U.S. attack in the first half, though he did have on bad turnover. Faded in the second half. (Sean)

Jozy Altidore – Average Rating: 4.75 (Brian 5, Sean 4.5)
Quiet night, dull around the area, played a physical game but never threatened to put one through. (Brian) … Best chance came in the first minute, otherwise failed to make much of an impact of combine with Dempsey. (Sean)

(sub) DaMarcus Beasley – Average Rating: 5.5 (Brian 5.5, Sean 5.5)
First touch good, sharpened the attack with good runs, but appeared somewhat shaky a few situations. (Brian) … Continues to show promise that he has returned to the form that made him so deadly nine years ago. Decent shot, but service is still a bit inconsistent. (Sean)

(sub) Michael Bradley – Average Rating: 4.75 (Brian 5, Sean 4.5)
Free kick comes close to squeaking in; defensively soft; crossing not particularly remarkable. (Brian) … Set pieces were good, but failed to make the impact Edu did. (Sean)

(sub) Jonathan Spector – Average Rating: 4.5 (Brian 4.5, Sean 4.5)
Poor clearance early in nearly led to a dangerous shot; didn’t do much on the counterattack. (Brian) … Didn’t have the impact of Cherundolo offensively or defensively.

(sub) Juan Agudelo – Average Rating: 5.5 (Brian 6, Sean 5)
Stepped right in combining with Dempsey; good runs, helped out on D as well. (Brian) … Couldn’t get much going on the dribble, but had some nice plays setting up Dempsey. (Sean)

(sub) Edson Buddle – Average Rating: 4.25 (Brian 4.5, Sean 4)
Composed himself on the ball, made a few decent runs; could’ve linked better with Dempsey and Agudelo. (Brian) … Failed to make an impact after enter. (Sean)

(sub) Tim Ream – Average Rating: 4.25 (Brian 4.5, Sean 4)
Outmuscled on the Ayovi goal; but otherwise, made the most of the remaining challenges. (Brian) … Beating on Ecuador’s game-winning goal and didn’t have much to do after that. (Sean)