The United States men’s national team opened up its Gold Cup participation with a 4-0 triumph over outmatched Guyana as Tyler Boyd scored twice, while Paul Arriola and Gyasi Zardes each scored. It was the national team’s first focused match under new mentor Gregg Berhalter, and things required a significant stretch of time to get moving. Fielding a beginning lineup that has never played together in a game, it required a significant stretch of time to gel true to form, yet at last it was an result that will carry out the responsibility in the standings however insufficient for fans who have doubts after poor form in ongoing friendlies. Here are three takeaways from the match:
The score won’t satisfy doubters, yet it’s a work in progress
On paper, the U.S. ought to maybe be beating Guyana by additional. However, fans complaining that there weren’t more goals need to understand that it’s a work in progress, it’s the first run through these folks have all played together, and it going to be a while before they hit the fifth gear.
There were harsh spots and there were some splendid spots on the night. Generally the U.S. moved the ball around well in midfield, kicked it into high gear the ball wide and played cautiously. It wasn’t perfect and it felt like there were five wingers on the field on the double, yet they were entrusted with going out and winning and did only that.
Here’s the triumphant goal from Arriola which was a fine finish, yet look that assist from Weston McKennie to play him through:
A decent begin to the tournament, that is without a doubt. We probably won’t know a mess about this team however until it plays some genuine challenge, yet credit to Guyana for its battle as the adversaries had a few minutes.
The U.S. might have itself a player in Boyd
Boyd is an intriguing player. The 24-year-old attacker plays in Turkey and was really conceived in New Zealand to a dad from that point and an American mother. He experienced childhood in California and moved back to New Zealand as a child. After five tops with New Zealand, he got the chance to change to the United States and did and was called up to the Gold Cup list. On Tuesday, he was ostensibly the best performer. He scored twice, he almost had an assist and was lively. With pace and smarts, he really looks like he can be a key contributor for quite a while. He doesn’t have much size but uses his body well to shield the ball, and with two goals it’s going to be hard to keep him off the field. Here’s his first goal, which was a fine hit down low:
For a 24-year-old, he looks like has the ability to truly stick. Credit to Berhalter and his scouts for discovering him.
Still sloppy at the back
You can expect it was a fine defensive exhibition since the U.S. didn’t yield, however it is Guyana. Very little was normal from them in the last third. They had only one shot on goal, however defensively the U.S. still has a huge amount of work to do. A portion of the passing was messy in spite of searching for low, short passes. It was hard for them at times to build properly out of the back, but more so through Aaron Long and not Walker Zimmerman. It wasn’t bad, but it was just a bit sloppy from time to time, though it’s nothing that can’t be fixed. The truth is, this isn’t the ideal backline for Berhalter. Ideally, he would have John Brooks, DeAndre Yedlin and Tyler Adams leading the way, but they all missed the cup due to injury.
In the end, it does the job but it’s far from where this team wants to be. It’s early, and patience is a must.