Junior All Whites: Game Two vs USA
New Zealand 0-4 USA
Well… look. So long as we beat Myanmar on Friday, then it’ll all be fine. But with the caning we took here, it’ll have to be a win or else we’ll probably fall short of our targeted knockout dream. On one hand, we still haven’t scored a goal in 180 minutes of football. On the other hand, Myanmar just shipped 6 of them in a single half to Ukraine (who we kept scoreless). The fact is that this game didn’t really matter, we knew we were about to be outclassed and it didn’t take long for any illusions otherwise to fade away.
Six minutes. That’s how soon we fell behind. A corner, the ball lobbed into the mixer where Carter-Vickers wins the header with abrasive ease, nodding the ball into the post with a thunderous ping, then Rubio vulturing Bradford Jamieson’s shot as it was about to cross the line. A little too easy, and certainly a little too early. If we’d been able to hold them out, frustrate them for a while, then we’d have only grown in confidence. Instead we played from behind for 84 minutes of the game.
There was only one change from the Ukraine game, Noah Billingsley in place of Alex Rufer up front. That was a logical move to make after Billingsley’s efforts off the bench last time and again he was happy to get himself involved. Not for much reward, granted, not against this team, but at least he put himself about.
There’s actually not too much to say about the game because nothing really changed from the first whistle to the last. New Zealand got more threatening as the game progressed, but possibly that only happened as the Americans loosened up with the game already won.
America bossed the midfield with the kind of control they oughta implement for automatic weapons in their country. Emerson Hyndman is playing further forward than some expected, though that’s likely to squeeze in Gedion Zelalem, and both were fantastic. They had so much time on the ball whereas we had none. They had options to pass, three or four of them, whereas we had maybe one. They pressed hard to win the ball back whereas we stood off. But that all comes from simply being in a better class.
Also having more players to choose from (by about a million of them). Their side were mostly all superior athletes. They had us for size and technical ability both. Compare the first touches, a guy like Zelalem was able to put the ball exactly where he needed it for his next touch. Meanwhile Clayton Lewis, again just an example, had a couple opportunities where he might have been able to fashion something in the final third only for a bobble off the boot forcing him to one side or another. America linked their defence to their midfield to their striker (the very talented Rubio Rubin – already capped three times as a full international). We hit roadblocks at every stage.
And the number of times we were skinned for pace was rough. Our fullbacks had real trouble just staying in the dust of their markers at times, a low/high-light being when Zelalem fantastically nutmegged Jesse Edge. What can you even do in that situation?
30 total shots conceded is far too many. Maybe we’d have done better with a more balanced midfield, like drop Ridenton deeper than the advanced midfield role he’s been playing in, possibly to shut down Zelalem. To be honest, Bill Tuiloma’s work rate isn’t his best factor, sometimes you see him standing still where a teammate needs a passing angle, though it’s never fair to blame your best player (as a defensive shield at the base of midfield, he's fantastic). Moses Dyer next to him is a hard-worker, who misses a few passes but has a lot of ability, the pair have struck up a decent partnership in midfield except they were outnumbered against America, whose movement and energy was superb. Their coach Tab Ramos was pretty furious after their 2-1 win over Myanmar, and seeing what they’re capable of on a good night you can understand why.
But let’s write this one off. If we played the USA 100 more times, we’d probably lose 98 and draw 2. They’re really, really good… full of current professionals in leagues far more prestigious than the ASB Premiership. Anything we got from this game would have been a bonus and the game against Myanmar was always the one to target. Nothing has changed. We can still do this.
The Highlights:
GOOOOOOAL!!!
This the pick of them from the Americans, Gedion Zelalem distracting three players before releasing Paul Arriola, who masterfully lets the ball run across him and slams it first time off the inside of the post and into the goal. A little teaser as it crossed so shallow but it was never being saved.
The Moment:
There wasn’t really one moment so much as 90 full minutes that illustrated the USA’s dominance (could they be a championship threat…?) but conceding so early certainly didn’t help. Carter-Vickers completely slaughtered our defence in winning this header.
The Lads:
Shot, Bro:
If Monty Patterson isn’t starting next game, then it’ll be a shame. He came on for Matt Ridenton, who seems to be struggling to impact a game playing in the Rojas Role (in behind the striker, between the inside-wingers), and immediately offered something different. Patterson has plenty of skill and the knack of linking up with teammates in tight spaces – which few of his comrades have been able to do.
Sort It Out, Mate:
Basically everyone involved in this disaster. Three people standing and watching, each waiting for another to do something about this trespassing football drifting across the six yard box. Rubio Rubin poking it home for his second goal of the match. 3-0 certainly would’ve been more generous.
Up Next:
Junior All Whites vs Myanmar, Friday 7pm @ ‘Wellington Regional Stadium’