USMNT is a lucky team, but cannot do the same in Mexico

ARLINGTON (Texas) — Can a win still be the worst? U.S. Men’s National Team Performance in the Gregg Berhalter period? Thursday’s 3-1 Triumph over Jamaica This distinction is deserved. It was the luckiest.

There were efforts made to find positives from a match, which when you look closely at the numbers looks like an epic win, thanks to a stoppage time equalizer and two goals. Haji Wright Both goals were scored in extra time by substitutes who assisted each other Gio Reyna.

Berhalter said, “You don’t play your best every time. But champions find ways to win and get the job done.” “I think that’s the lesson we’re learning from it.”

The U.S. showed a fighting spirit that has been a trademark of the team for years to win the match. A closer look reveals, however, that no amount of polishing could have brought this one to life.

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Talent-wise, it was clear that the U.S. dominated. Yes, recent encounters between the Reggae Boyz and the United States have been close. They are organized and strong defensively. While there have been some humiliating results during Berhalter’s tenure, including a defeat to Trinidad and Tobago by 2-1 last November, this was a test the U.S. shouldn’t have had any trouble passing.

The U.S. spent the first 95-minutes, including stoppage-time, chasing after the game, thanks to Greg Leigh’s goal, just 31 seconds following kickoff, at which point the entire U.S. defence fell asleep. Jamaica, to its credit, sank in with a 5-4-0 formation that looked more like a 5-5-0. It worked for most of the evening. The U.S. never looked like they had the inventiveness to beat the Reggae Boyz. Reyna was a spark from the bench, but the defeat loomed.

With literally seconds left in the second-half stoppage, a goal was scored that brought a new kind of March Madness. Berhalter called the goal “miraculous.” Christian Pulisic Swung into a corner Miles Robinson The slightest touch with his head was enough to knock Jamaica forward Corey Burke off his game. Burke ended up sending a powerful heading into his own goal. The USMNT had not only recovered, but was soon sprinting as if in full health. They took complete control in overtime to seal their place in Sunday’s final against Mexico.

How lucky were the U.S. citizens?

According to ESPN Stats & Information, the USMNT hadn’t benefited from an opposing own goal in stoppage time to tie the score or take the lead in the past 30 years. At 95:24 the goal was the last regulation goal during the Berhalter era. It was also the latest goal the USMNT had scored in regulation since Ricardo Clark’s goal in the seventh minute stoppage time against Venezuela In a friendly, on Jan. 21, 2012

The luck didn’t end there. Jamaica had a golden opportunity to seal the game when Renaldo Cephas escaped on a breakaway in 62nd minute only to shoot tamely towards goalkeeper Matt Turner.

Wright’s moment almost never came. Wright was on his way to Dubai with his girlfriend, family and friends last Sunday after being originally left off of the U.S. roster. Then he received a call telling him he had been added late because Josh Sargent Wright was injured. Wright was given a few moments to tell his family. When Wright called Berhalter back, he said: “I’m there.”

Wright added: [shocked]I was excited to hear that he had called me. So I just wanted to get into the team and help them really.”

He did it, giving the offensive push that the team needed, even though most of his family didn’t yet know what he was doing due to the time change. Wright said: “My mother texted, but i don’t believe anyone else is up.” Wright is the only player in USMNT’s history to score multiple goals in a knockout game as a sub.

Wright and Reyna aside, this victory shouldn’t be celebrated but rather remembered as a cautionary story. This was a lucky, but not so great escape. Is Berhalter responsible? Yes, and so are the players. It’s not acceptable that the U.S. was unable to defend itself and fell behind early. And the USMNT continues to struggle in attack – especially against teams like Jamaica who tends to huddle up. Berhalter blamed the lack of space on the wings for the USMNT’s struggles.

“To me, it’s all about the speed of ball movements, combinations, especially in wide areas, to get behind them, and hurt their defense,” he said. “And we didn’t do that enough. We created opportunities when we did. I think Expected Goals was something like 2.6, so there were enough but… I don’t believe it was consistent enough.”

A match that starts with Reyna in the field, at the risk of sounding repetitive, would be helpful. It’s understandable that Berhalter prefers to give minutes to those players who are getting playing time at their clubs. Reyna’s lack minutes with Nottingham ForestIt wasn’t a big shock that he didn’t make the starting XI. Malik Tillman Getting the nod. Berhalter should make an exception in Reyna’s case. Reyna is a creative player who makes a difference on the field. Thursday’s match was no exception. The U.S. offense is a bit more frantic, and Reyna has an air about him that is unpredictable. The U.S. is better with him on field.

Reyna’s ability to last the entire match is still an open question. He was wise to not force Berhalter into a corner by saying that he would “do whatever it takes” for the team to win on Sunday. It makes sense to maximize his minutes by getting him on the pitch in any way that will allow. Reyna, who has been the U.S. manager since Berhalter’s return in September last year, has also contributed more goals than any other U.S. players (three goals and three assists in five matches).

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The team needs to be more mentally sharp. If Jamaica can take advantage of the U.S.’s slow start, imagine what Mexico could do after its revitalization. 3-0 Win over Panama The other semifinal is also on the schedule.

“We came into the room after the game, and we weren’t even celebrating at all,” said Tyler Adams, who had a successful return with the USMNT after a 37-minute stint. “In fact, it felt like a loss because we know that we can do better and finish the game within the first ninety minutes. We just lacked the competitive edge from minute one.”

Mexico will not sit back and play it safe like Jamaica. This should make for an open match. The U.S. will be able to recover from its poor performance better if Mexico doesn’t sit back like Jamaica did.

The USMNT needs to bounce back. The USMNT can’t rely on this luck to continue.