Usmnt’s Listless Defeat To South Korea Causes Alarm Bells Again As World Cup Looms

The United States men’s nationalist team’s summertime of experimentation has been extended each nan measurement to nan autumn equinox, and connected Saturday evening against South Korea, truthful excessively did nan disappointing results. The 2-0 nonaccomplishment against nan Taeguk Warriors connected a steamy and damp evening astatine Sports Illustrated Stadium whitethorn person provided US caput coach Mauricio Pochettino pinch valuable caller insights astir his additions to nan US subordinate pool, arsenic he said was his extremity for this world window. It whitethorn person confirmed pre-conceived theories astir which players from an MLS-heavy roster tin make nan measurement up to nan world level. It whitethorn person done nary of those things. Whichever way, it surely served arsenic a continuation of a malaise for a squad that desperately needs to break retired of its slump conscionable 279 days earlier hosting nan first crippled of a location World Cup that is meant to beryllium transformative.

There was nary specified malaise for South Korea, moreover pinch caput coach Hong Myung-bo nether dense disapproval astatine location for nan team’s caller old performances. The capacity crowd successful Harrison, New Jersey surely had thing to do pinch that evident rejuvenation, pinch nan immense mostly cheering for nan visitors – a truth that whitethorn look astonishing until you see nan municipality is conscionable down nan measurement from Fort Lee, location to a increasing South Korean diaspora. The nation’s accepted “Daehan minguk” chants collapsed retired much than 20 minutes earlier kickoff, and continued passim arsenic chaotic cheers accompanied each thrust from Hong’s counterattacking side.

The US tin reasonably expect much favorable crowds astatine a location World Cup, but they’ll dream to time off nan shape they showed connected Saturday acold behind. Pochettino’s broadside started decently, and had nan amended of play done overmuch of nan opening 15 minutes. But arsenic it was successful a likewise experimental crippled against Turkey earlier this year, first flashes did not cookware retired into thing affirmative complete nan 90 minutes.

Key among nan side’s failings was a deficiency of connection successful defense. Tristan Blackmon, nan 29-year-old debutant who was 1 of a mates astonishment inclusions successful Pochettino’s squad, was astatine nan halfway of a fewer of them, but nary US subordinate was immune. Time and again, players arsenic knowledgeable arsenic Tyler Adams, Tim Ream, and Sergiño Dest were scrambling to drawback up pinch a Korea squad that seemed 1 measurement up throughout.

As was suspected, Son Heung-min began nan crippled successful a comparatively caller domiciled arsenic nan Taeguk Warriors’ starting striker. The recently signed LAFC man made it clear that he tin beryllium a quality shaper successful that position – scoring nan game’s opening extremity successful nan 18th infinitesimal successful what was a crystal clear illustration of some US disjointedness and South Korean verve. With nan US flat-footed and pinch immense gaps wrong and betwixt nan midfield and protect lines, Son publication nan situation, parked himself successful betwixt Ream and Blackmon, sewage nan ball, turned, and made nary correction pinch his finish.

For nan 2nd goal, Son was played done connected a elemental give-and-go astatine nan apical of nan box, and slipped past Ream and Blackmon to flick nan shot distant from nan onrushing goalkeeper Matt Freese. Lee Dong-gyeong’s flicked decorativeness was acold from elemental and well-executed, but nan circumstances that led to it were difficult to fathom from a squad hoping to make sound connected nan world’s stage.

South Korea generated respective much chances and near-misses connected nan backmost of US mistakes. Just six minutes aft conceding, Christian Pulisic and Adams near ample gaps successful nan Americans’ style by sprinting to nan aforesaid spot, wherever Korea trim disconnected entree to some pinch a well-coordinated precocious property that yet forced Freese into 1 of respective close-call clearances connected nan night.

South Korea did make mistakes of their own, but nan US many times grounded to capitalize. In nan 27th minute, a sloppy giveaway while playing retired of nan backmost put nan operation of Diego Luna, Josh Sargent, Pulisic and Tim Weah successful connected goal. They couldn’t find a decent model connected extremity though, and Weah’s effort was saved.

Pochettino opted to make a rash of subs successful nan 61st minute, bringing connected Alex Freeman for Dest, Chris Richards for Weah, Folarin Balogun for Sargent, and Cristian Roldan for Adams. Along pinch those introductions came a displacement successful formation, from a backmost 4 to a back, 5 pinch Freeman and Max Arfsten pushing guardant connected either touchline.

The US do not often play pinch a backmost five, and neither person astir of Pochettino’s sides passim his clip arsenic a manager. On this occasion, a fewer much scoring chances did travel nan shift, though it’s difficult to opportunity if nan caller statement aliases nan US’s expanding desperation was to convey for nan improvement.

It culminated successful a mates of chances that were inches distant from breakthroughs. In one, a set-piece fell to Richards, who looked for illustration nan cardinal defender he is, arsenic nan shot ricocheted disconnected his thigh and into nan grateful arms of goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo. In another, Jo was nan leader again, redeeming 2 consecutive point-blank efforts from Balogun earlier nan striker had a 3rd wound of nan cherry, putting his last effort disconnected nan crossbar. Balogun was put done connected extremity again successful nan game’s dying moments, and Jo saved again.

Missed chances, large and small, proceed to travel this squad arsenic their infinitesimal successful nan spotlight looms, progressively ominously.