Post by durfish on Mar 31, 2009 7:56:18 GMT -5
Team USA player ratings and comments from Soccer Times for the El Salvador qualifier.
www.soccertimes.com/usteams/2009/men/mar29
U.S. player ratings
Starters
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan - 5: Not pressured most of the night, but should have done better on the second Salvadorian goal. Seemed shaky at times.
Defender Heath Pearce - 5.5: He seemed to have some problems with the speed he was facing and did not push forward effectively or often.
Defender Frankie Hejduk - 7.5: Took the match on his shoulders over the final 20 minutes and made the difference. He put in a strong defensive performance, even though he allowed Castillo to elevate over him for El Salvador's second goal. when he had to scramble into the middle.
Defender Danny Califf - 4.5: His positioning was poor throughout the night and he was not where he should have been on either Salvadorian goal. Just coming back from injury, he looked rusty.
Defender Carlos Bocanegra - 5.5: Not one of his better efforts. He obviously missed Onyewu in the middle and too often had to provide cover for others.
Midfielder Sacha Kljestan - 4: A very poor outing. The few good things he did were more than negated by frequent misplays. He has to do much better or he will be watching matches from the bench or on television.
Midfielder Michael Bradley - 5.5: He was good and bad in equal measure, and his worrisome tendency to excessive fouling and verbal disagreements led to a yellow card.
Midfielder Landon Donovan - 7: An all too typical Donovan night. Absolutely brilliant at times, yet at other times one would be hard pressed to realize he was on the field.
Midfielder DaMarcus Beasley - 3.5: A forgettable night. His play raises the question whether he did so poorly because he is not playing for Glasgow Rangers or whether he is not playing in Scotland because he is playing so poorly like this.
Forward Clint Dempsey - 6: Like Donovan, he was brilliant in spots and then seemed to disappear for awhile. He did a lot of small things just right and suffered playing wide while the U.S. tried to force the ball up the middle or over he top.
Forward Brian Ching - 6: The unsung U.S. player. His work rate was terrific and his play was solid throughout.
Reserves
Forward Jozy Altidore (61st minute for Pearce) - 6.5: Took some time to settle in and made a couple of significant errors early, but once he found his pace, scored a great goal and was a constant threat over the final 15 minutes.
Midfielder José Francisco Torres (72nd minute for Kljestan) - 6.5: Did much better than the player he replaced. Probably earned himself a start in the near future.
Midfielder Maurice Edu (95th minute for Bradley) - no rating: Rushed on for the final moments to replace a bleeding Bradley.
SoccerTimes U.S. Player of the Match: Frankie Hejduk.
www.soccertimes.com/usteams/2009/men/mar29
U.S. player ratings
Starters
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan - 5: Not pressured most of the night, but should have done better on the second Salvadorian goal. Seemed shaky at times.
Defender Heath Pearce - 5.5: He seemed to have some problems with the speed he was facing and did not push forward effectively or often.
Defender Frankie Hejduk - 7.5: Took the match on his shoulders over the final 20 minutes and made the difference. He put in a strong defensive performance, even though he allowed Castillo to elevate over him for El Salvador's second goal. when he had to scramble into the middle.
Defender Danny Califf - 4.5: His positioning was poor throughout the night and he was not where he should have been on either Salvadorian goal. Just coming back from injury, he looked rusty.
Defender Carlos Bocanegra - 5.5: Not one of his better efforts. He obviously missed Onyewu in the middle and too often had to provide cover for others.
Midfielder Sacha Kljestan - 4: A very poor outing. The few good things he did were more than negated by frequent misplays. He has to do much better or he will be watching matches from the bench or on television.
Midfielder Michael Bradley - 5.5: He was good and bad in equal measure, and his worrisome tendency to excessive fouling and verbal disagreements led to a yellow card.
Midfielder Landon Donovan - 7: An all too typical Donovan night. Absolutely brilliant at times, yet at other times one would be hard pressed to realize he was on the field.
Midfielder DaMarcus Beasley - 3.5: A forgettable night. His play raises the question whether he did so poorly because he is not playing for Glasgow Rangers or whether he is not playing in Scotland because he is playing so poorly like this.
Forward Clint Dempsey - 6: Like Donovan, he was brilliant in spots and then seemed to disappear for awhile. He did a lot of small things just right and suffered playing wide while the U.S. tried to force the ball up the middle or over he top.
Forward Brian Ching - 6: The unsung U.S. player. His work rate was terrific and his play was solid throughout.
Reserves
Forward Jozy Altidore (61st minute for Pearce) - 6.5: Took some time to settle in and made a couple of significant errors early, but once he found his pace, scored a great goal and was a constant threat over the final 15 minutes.
Midfielder José Francisco Torres (72nd minute for Kljestan) - 6.5: Did much better than the player he replaced. Probably earned himself a start in the near future.
Midfielder Maurice Edu (95th minute for Bradley) - no rating: Rushed on for the final moments to replace a bleeding Bradley.
SoccerTimes U.S. Player of the Match: Frankie Hejduk.