US fall 1-0 in Spain
The US Men's National Team fell 1-0 today against the Spanish National Team at Estadio El Sardinero in Santander, Spain. It was clearly a better performance from the US than last week's loss to England with Eddie Johnson and Freddy Adu looking better up top in the first half than Josh Wolff paired with Johnson had. All-time leading scorer and assister Landon Donovan again missed out with an injury.
Johnson had a couple of good chances in the first half, including a header from the 6-yard box off an Eddie Lewis cross that he should have done better with, but headed just wide of the net. Johnson was played through on goal earlier with a nice pass from Adu and finished past Real Madrid 'keeper Iker Casillas, but was ruled offsides. Adu, however, came off injured at half time and DaMarcus Beasley came in to play on the right flank with Clint Dempsey moving up top before Wolff eventually subbed into the match. The US proved less dangerous in the second half without Adu on the field.
Xavi Hernandez scored the lone goal of the match in the 79th minute after Sergio Ramos and Cesc Fabregas were defended well and kept wide on the right flank. Fabregas, however, found Xavi near the top of the box and a flat-footed US defense failed to react. Oguchi Onyewi and Carlos Bocanegra were both beaten and barely put up an effort as the Barcelona midfielder dribbled into the box and slotted a shot past Chivas USA 'keeper Brad Guzan to give Spain the 1-0 lead.
The US had a chance to equalize in the 90th minute, with Michael Bradley getting wide open (though appearing offsides on replay) for a Frankie Hejduk cross, but the 20 year old midfielder sent his header weakly wide of the target.
The defense, with the exception of the first few minutes of the first half, kept Spain from testing starting goalkeeper Tim Howard. Throughout the second half they looked a bit more shaky, but Guzan played well despite giving up the goal, and again likely will attract the attention of some European clubs this summer with his recent performances.
Johnson had a couple of good chances in the first half, including a header from the 6-yard box off an Eddie Lewis cross that he should have done better with, but headed just wide of the net. Johnson was played through on goal earlier with a nice pass from Adu and finished past Real Madrid 'keeper Iker Casillas, but was ruled offsides. Adu, however, came off injured at half time and DaMarcus Beasley came in to play on the right flank with Clint Dempsey moving up top before Wolff eventually subbed into the match. The US proved less dangerous in the second half without Adu on the field.
Xavi Hernandez scored the lone goal of the match in the 79th minute after Sergio Ramos and Cesc Fabregas were defended well and kept wide on the right flank. Fabregas, however, found Xavi near the top of the box and a flat-footed US defense failed to react. Oguchi Onyewi and Carlos Bocanegra were both beaten and barely put up an effort as the Barcelona midfielder dribbled into the box and slotted a shot past Chivas USA 'keeper Brad Guzan to give Spain the 1-0 lead.
The US had a chance to equalize in the 90th minute, with Michael Bradley getting wide open (though appearing offsides on replay) for a Frankie Hejduk cross, but the 20 year old midfielder sent his header weakly wide of the target.
The defense, with the exception of the first few minutes of the first half, kept Spain from testing starting goalkeeper Tim Howard. Throughout the second half they looked a bit more shaky, but Guzan played well despite giving up the goal, and again likely will attract the attention of some European clubs this summer with his recent performances.
posted by Sean Donahue at
7:02 PM
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