By Mike Woitalla September 7, 2024USA-CANADA EXPRESS: Sept. 7 in Kansas City, Kan. USA 1 Canada 2. Goals: de la Torre 66; Shaffelburg 17, David 58. Att.: 10,523. Redemption from its poor Copa America performance went unrealized for the USA as it fell, 2-1, to Canada on Saturday. Outshot 11-1 in the first half, the USA went into the locker room trailing 1-0 and conceded again before the hour mark. Only after a flurry of subs from both sides did the Americans start threatening the Canadian defense. Luca de la Torre's first national team goal provided a generous scoreline for a U.S. team that lacked cohesion, creativity and spirit. USA Player Ratings (1=low; 5=middle; 10=high.) GOALKEEPER Patrick Schulte made a one-handed save in the 3rd minute on Jonathan David's close-range volley. He used the same left hand to block Cyle Larin's shot after a poor Tim Ream pass resulted in the breakaway and Larin shrugged off Chris Richards' challenge. Schulte saved another close-range Larin effort in the 43rd minute thanks to remaining poised on the goal line until Larin pulled the trigger. It's hard to imagine a goalkeeper stopping the shots on either of Canada's goals. Player (Club) caps/goals (age) 7 Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew) 2/0 (23) DEFENDERS Canada winning a corner kick — its first of seven to the USA's two — 10 seconds after kickoff put the Americans on the back-foot from the get-go and their backline didn't respond well. It wasn't until the second half that Kristoffer Lund and Joe Scally made the offensive contributions from their outside-back positions the USA relies on too much with its three-man midfield formation. Lund sparked the counterattack on the USA's goal, a sequence that included Scally delivering the ball to Aidan Morris, who got the assist. Defensively, the outside backs made wing play comfortable for the Canadians. Interim head coach Mikey Varas started the same central defenders, Tim Ream and Chris Richards, despite their unsatisfactory Copa play. They disappointed again, closing in attackers too late and failing to marshal effective buildup play. Ream gifted the ball to David ahead Canada's second goal (2-0). Player (Club) caps/goals (age) 4 Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER) 15/0 (21) 3 Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG) 22/1 (24) 2 Tim Ream (Charlotte FC) 62/1 (36) 4 Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/ITA) 4/0 (22) MIDFIELDERS Johnny Cardoso coughed up the ball on the first Canadian chance and on its opening goal (1-0). He seemed oblivious of nearby Stephen Eustáquio when the Canadian shot just wide in the 16th minute. For sure, the midfield contributed to the backline's struggles in buildup play and none of the trio played skillfully enough on the ball to play positively out of pressure. The USA's flattering possession stat came from unimaginative passing. Malik Tillman for the umpteenth time failed to translate his attacking productivity for PSV to the national team. With Yunus Musah's lack of forward creativity, the USA essentially fielded a midfield of defensive midfielders who didn't defend well. Playmaker traits were nowhere in sight as the frontline starved for service. Player (Club) caps/goals (age) 3 Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA) 40/0 (21) 2 Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/ESP) 15/0 (22) 3 Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED) 13/0 (22) FORWARDS Winger Brenden Aaronson made a cameo when he helped in the buildup on USA's only first-half chance, a Christian Pulisic volley hit wide from a difficult angle. Pulisic managed a cross that Richards headed to the goalkeeper and his brightest moment came with his low delivery across the goal area that helped set up the U.S. goal (2-1). Folarin Balogun shot straight to the keeper from 10 yards in the 47th minute and from 17 yards in the 50th minute. His ball set up Pulisic's only chance. The starting frontline trio suffered in a game when only fleetingly did the USA spend time with the ball in the final third. Player (Club) caps/goals (age) 3 Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG) 43/8 (23) 4 Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA) 16/5 (23) 4 Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA) 72/30 (25) SUBSTITUTES Aidan Morris and Luca de la Torre entered in the 62nd minute and four minutes later, Morris scrambled the ball through the penalty area to set up de la Torre's close-range finish. Haji Wright ended a U.S. foray a minute after entering with a foul, then misplayed a pass on a promising counterattack. Cade Cowell's sprints down the wing proved fruitless. Player (Club) caps/goals (age) 5 Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough/ENG) 6/0 (22) 6 Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP) 23/1 (26) 3 Haji Wright (Coventry City/ENG) 12/4 (26) 4 Cade Cowell (Guadalajara/MEX) 9/1 (20) nr Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED) 29/10 (21) TRIVIA: Canada's win was its first over the USA on U.S. soil since 1957. NOTABLE: Five U.S. starters (half of the field players) were raised abroad: Johnny Cardoso (Brazil), Folarin Balogun (England), Kristoffer Lund (Denmark), Yunus Musah (Italy/England), Malik Tillman (Germany). UP NEXT: The USA hosts New Zealand in Cincinnati on Tuesday (7 pm ET). Sept. 7 in Kansas City, Kan. USA 1 Canada 2. Goals: de la Torre 66; Shaffelburg 17, David 58. USA — Schulte; Scally, Richards, Ream, Lund; Musah (Wright, 71), Cardoso (Morris, 62), Tillman (de la Torre, 62); Aaronson (Cowell, 77), Balogun (Pepi, 82), Pulisic. Canada — Crepeau; Johnston (Laryea, 25), Bombito; Cornelius (Waterman, 70), Davies; Ahmed, Eustáquio (Osorio, 67), Choinière (Saliba, 90+4), Shaffelburg (Millar, 67); David (Afrifa, 90+4), Larin (Oluwaseyi, 67). Yellow cards: USA — Balogun 53; Canada — Larin 63. Red cards: none. Referee: Keylor Herrera (Costa Rica). ARs: William Uriel Chow (Costa Rica), Victor Fabian Ramirez. 4th official: Felix Mojica. Att.: 10,523. Stats: USA/Canada Shots: 8/17 Shots on target: 5/7 Saves: 5/4 Corner Kicks: 2/7 Fouls: 18/11 Offside: 1/1 Possession: 58%/42%
Crew gambled by not having a keeper on the bench. Keeper goes out with a red card in the 1st half. Oops. Thankful for Seattle, they did better than we did against Mike MacGee. They scored on literally the 1st play with the "field player keeper", and then a few more times after that.
That was the USMNT being coached by Gregg's boys from Mikey Varas to Nico Estevez... first loss at home to Canada since 1957
The broadcast crew said that they had the option of signing a Crew II player to a contract basically just for the game but chose not to because they want to give contracts to "reward players for good play", not due to emergency. Whatever. You can be all principled like that if you want but I'd call that a gamble. I don't think Nancy cares all that much in any case. They gambled, they lost. Now move on. His whole philosophy is about being willing to take risks.
There is no official backup goalkeeper on the bench for #Crew96 tonight. Both GKs from Crew 2 Johnson and Lapkes have had 4 allowed short-term contracts used this seasonIt was confirmed that Columbus asked for an expectation for this match, but were denied by MLS https://t.co/p12ZcczVM4— Brianna Mac Kay (@brimackay15) September 7, 2024
OK, well the broadcast team had a completely different explanation, the one I mentioned. By the way, what kind of English is this? "Both GKs from Crew 2 Johnson and Lapkes have had 4 allowed short-term contracts used this season" Huh? and "It was confirmed that Columbus asked for an expectation for this match, but were denied by MLS"
I guess to try to reconcile that tweet with what they said on the broadcast, Columbus was out of short-term contracts for the season (and didn't get an "expectation" from the league) but still could have signed a guy to a regular contract so that they have a backup keeper, but chose not to.
Well they're not going to sign anyone to a regular contract when that guy will be their #4 keeper after one game when their first and second goalkeepers return from national team duty.
Wouldn't be unheard of. We've got 5 GK's listed on our roster. The broadcast crew framed it as something they considered but decided against.
In any case if you’re the only GK available on the team maybe it’s not a good idea to come barreling 30 yards out of the box and take a wild swing at the ball(?) that winds up connecting with the attacker’s chin.
Why not? She thinks its time, she's pregnant supposedly, and she can retire with a huge fanfare, sadly today it will be out shadowed by the NFL opening weekend.
Wow! I had no idea she was pregnant. I used to follow her husband, Servando Carrasco when he was with the Cal Bears. I know he played in MLS with a few different clubs but was mostly a reserve and haven’t seen him in a while. I know they are living in San Diego. Wonder if they will be involved with the new SD MLS franchise?
Servando could have been a good long career MLS player, but he couldn't stay healthy. His best run was with Orlando City, he retired with Ft. Lauderdale Strikers. I don't think Servando will be involved with San Diego, Alex Morgan could join ownership group I'd imagine possibly.
Monday, September 9, 2024 Alex Morgan bids farewell after building a larger stage for her successors by Theodore Lloyd-Hughes Alex Morgan. (San Diego Wave Photo) (San Diego Wave Photo) Alex Morgan in Soccer America, 2025. Alex Morgan. (San Diego Wave Photo)
Her daughter kissing her mom's clearly pregnant belly was kind of a giveaway P.S. She did not become pregnant "a few weeks ago" -- I'm guessing she's about 4 months along