USMNT Look Sharp Heading Into Gold Cup, Dismantle Guatemala

from faz.net

Much of the focus has been on the USWNT this month and rightly so as the women’s squad takes aim at the World Cup title this weekend.

However, it was the men’s squad that not too long ago was garnering headlines when it shocked Germany and Belgium, and now, defeat Guatemala by an impressive 4-0 scoreline.

The Jurgen Klinsmaan era has brought promises of a more aggressive style but not much in the way of tangible results until last month’s impressive results over  Belgium and Germany.

However, it was consistency and style that his team had lacked but that consistency.

It had shown a propensity to rise up to the level of the competition but then play down to squads like Guatemala.

However, last night was different.

The US dominated play and possession, created a myriad of chances and buried four of them en route to a very clean and solid win.

The US had an opportunity to score in the 16th minute, but Jozy Altidore’s penalty attempt was saved.

Moments later, Deandre Yedlin worked the right flank and fired a cross in that was headed into his own goal by Carlos Castillo and the US would have their 1-0 lead at the 19 minute mark and the lead would remain that way until the break.

The second half belonged to the United States.

They surged for 3 tallies including a brilliant score by Timmy Chander who fired home from range in the 58th minute with the left foo cutting it across goal into the back left corner.

Clint Dempsey, who lost his captaincy to Michael Bradley, converted coolly from the spot to put the US up 3-0, and they iced the game on Chris Wondolowski’s goal in the 86th minute.

Wondo was set up by a brilliant take by newcomer Gyasi Zardes who dribbled through the Guatemalan defense and slotted back to a late-running Wondolowski who calmly converted in front of goal.

It is the type of performance the US needs against lesser competition that they will largely face inn the Gold Cup.

Should the US win the Gold Cup, they will earn a slot in the 2017 Confederations Cup, a slot they missed out on in 2013 when Mexico won the slot.

Should the US fail to win the Gold Cup, there is still a way that they can make the Confederations Cup.

Their win of 2013 will earn them a playoff against the 2015 winner to get into the Confederations Cup.