LANDOVER, Md. — The U.S. males’s nationwide crew entered its June window searching for to realize precious expertise in opposition to two of CONMEBOL’s greatest, however Gregg Berhalter’s aspect as an alternative started with their worst defeat in current time.
A 5-1 blowout loss to Colombia at Commanders Area marked the primary time since 2009 that the People conceded 5 targets in a match. It additionally was the biggest margin of defeat for the USMNT throughout Berhalter’s two spells as head coach and one which received’t have followers too excited heading into the upcoming Copa America.
“Actually disenchanted, clearly, with the outcome,” Berhalter stated in his postmatch press convention. “We’re not framing it as a lesson discovered, we’re really framing it as a wake-up name.
“Actually poor efficiency in opposition to a prime crew, and should you give a crew like that the alternatives we gave them, you’re going to haven’t any likelihood to win. It’s by no means going to occur From the seventy fifth minute on, I feel it was I feel a scarcity of respect for our opponents [and] for the sport of soccer,” he added.
There have been errors galore from the USMNT, who by no means actually bought into sync within the full 90 minutes. Jhon Arias’ sixth-minute opener got here off a missed Antonee Robinson clearance whereas Rafael Borre’s overhead end within the nineteenth minute occurred after Jefferson Lerma beat each Johnny Cardoso and Joe Scally to a header off a nook kick.
Regardless of Tim Weah’s medical end within the second half to chop the USMNT’s deficit in half, the errors and psychological breakdowns continued. Richard Rios’ right-footed strike with 13 minutes to play got here after Yunus Musah was a step behind Luis Sinisterra’s reduce cross.
Weah’s turnover within the 84th minute allowed Jorge Carrascal to curve dwelling Colombia’s fourth objective of the match earlier than Cameron Carter-Vickers’ errant move 4 minutes later allowed Sinisterra to ship his first worldwide objective since 2022.
It was a surprising efficiency from the USMNT defensively, who admitted their efficiency wants to enhance majorly in the event that they wish to keep away from an early exit from the Copa America.
“We have been nowhere close to the extent that we have to play at if we wish to win video games, coming into Copa América,” stated USMNT captain Christian Pulisic. “Completely, yeah, for positive it’s higher that it occurred now. However we will’t be wherever close to taking part in like that and count on to win video games.”
Attacking clever, the USMNT additionally struggled to supply a lot within the match regardless of slicing the deficit in half at 2-1. Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Haji Wright have been held in verify whereas Malik Tillman and Luca De La Torre didn’t supply a lot off the bench.
Colombia’s cussed protection held the USMNT to just one shot on the right track, one other development that should change, beginning with Wednesday’s ultimate tune-up vs. No. 5 ranked Brazil. Bettering on the defensive finish must be a place to begin in opposition to La Seleção, but additionally not being afraid to strive issues within the ultimate third can also be a should.
“For us, it’s nearly respecting the sport,” goalkeeper Matt Turner stated. “I feel we’re a great crew, little doubt about that. We had some vivid moments inside the recreation, fought again, 2-1 down, actually pushing ahead. However then it’s only a little bit of a naivety, respecting the sport, respecting what the opponent brings. We actually simply opened up and allowed them to do precisely what they have been planning on doing to us.”
“There have been some optimistic chunks within the match, however total at 5-1 it’s arduous to actually say it was a great efficiency,” Berhalter stated. “We are going to look again at it and attempt to see what we will repair for Wednesday as a result of it is going to be one other robust opponent in Brazil.”