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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Luis Miguel Echegaray

USA 1-0 Canada: international friendly – as it happened

Lee Nguyen
Lee Nguyen (left) beats Canada’s Steven Vitoria to the ball. Photograph: Paul Buck/EPA

Congrats, Jozy.

USA 1-0 Canada

Well everyone, that does it. In retrospect, this wasn’t a fantastic performance by either team. Granted, a lot of these players are still shaking off the rust as they prepare for their regular season and historically speaking this was never going to be a goal fest. But Ethan Finley saved the day with a great cross for Jozy Altidore. So USA are 2-0 in 2016 and Jozy is one goal behind Eric Wynalda. Amazing. Right, I’m off. I’ll be back this Sunday to do the Super Bowl en español! Have a great weekend.

Full Time - USA 1-0 Canada

That’s it, folks! Ref blows the whistle!

90+1 min: Apologies. This was the last sub. Altidore comes off. Standing O.

GOAL! USA 1-0 Canada (Altidore 89 min)

Ethan Finley makes an immediate impact and crosses a beautiful ball to Altidore. That’s 33 goals for Jozy. One behind Eric Wynalda in the all-time list.

87 min: USA with their last substitution. Ethan Finley for Jordan Morris. He’s had a good night. Not great, not average....good.

86 min: Bingham has looked very composed. yes, it’s been quiet for him but everything he has had to deal with, he’s done it with ease and maturity.

Agreed. He’s been busy.

84 min: Canada make their last substitution. Dixon for De Jong.

83 min: A good point by the commentator. A lot of these players are still going through pre-season as their 2016 campaign hasn’t even started yet. Canada takes a deep free kick but Bingham picks it up. An audacious chip attempt nearly creeps in for USA but the keeper scoops it out!

80 min: Altidore’s free kick goes just wide to the left. That makes it 15 shots for USA and three for Canada.

78 min: Beautiful move by Kiesewetter as he dribbles past two players, goes inside the box but finds noone at the end of his pass. Altidore gets fouled at the edge of the box and Henry gets a yellow. He totally fell for Jozy’s spin. Free kick.

76 min: Bradley with a nice ball to Dagbe and then he gets shoved outside of the box. Free kick. This could be dangerous. Diskerud off for Trapp.

74 min: Canada with a little more to show for but still nothing. Larin tries to turn in the box but Besler has it covered. A few more players about to come in.

71 min: Canada make a substitution and it’s Hume for Akindele. Hume had a short run for Leicester City back when they were in the Championship.

70 min: A great chance for Vincent as morris plays him in on the left hand side but the keeper makes another save. There are only three forwards for the U.S in the box and still they find space.

69 min: Reaching 20 minutes left and it’s still 0-0. Altidore really, really wants a goal and is beginning to look frustrated. Canada are running out of steam so I feel like it’s only a matter of time.

65 min: Altidore with another header but again it goes wide. USA pushing and still nothing to show for it. Canada struggling to deal with the aerial battles.

Great shot.

62 min: What a shot by Dagbe! He shoots a bullet and it hits Vitoria in the face. Ouch. Subs making an impact for USA.

60 min: Now here comes Canada as a deep cross finds Larin in the box but he cant quite trap it. Klinsmann with changes as Kiesewetter replaces Zardes and Dagbe replaces Nguyen.

57 min: USA get a corner and Bradley nearly sneaks it in the goal...Thierry Henry-esque, but the keeper clears it. Another corner is cleared and USA retain the ball. Canada can’t get out of their half right now.

Nice pic, MLS.

54 min: Altidore smashes it but it goes straight to the keeper. It’s all USA now.

53 min: Canada failing to find better touches in the final third as USA is perfectly comfortable defending their movement. America’s strategy is to keep passing the ball with pace. A great cross into the box gets cleared and then Diskerud finds Altidore at the far post but Jozy’s header just goes wide! Great chance.

49 min: Canada’s changes: Ledgerwood, Lefèvre and Froese off and Henry, Bekker and Nakajima-Farran in. USA moving a lot more inside Canada’s half with more intent with their passing. Canada staying compact.

46 min: And we’re back. Canada enter the second half with more pace. Vincent comes on for Acosta and three changes for Canada.

At least they’re singing someone’s name!

You win, Revs.

I agree, but I’d replace Altidore with Kiesewetter or Shelton too. We know what Jozy can do. Let’s see some other young players.

Half time: USA 0-0 Canada

Well, it’s all even (were you surprised?) at the half and nothing much to talk about. USA has had the better chances but Canada has had moments through their counter-attacking. Morris has played well and Larin needs more support. Let’s hope we see an improvement in the second half.

44 min: USA come back with an attack down the middle as Altidore passes to Zardes but the ball ends up in the hands of the keeper. Not long now til the end of the half and we don’t expect any additional time.

42 min: Some great passing from USA gets broken up by Canada and as they counter with Larin, Besler fouls him and picks up a yellow. Free kick.

39 min: USA now gaining some momentum and Bradley finding more space. First, he gives a lovely pass to Zardes who holds it, returns to Bradley. He takes a shot but it’s directly at the keeper. Diskerud tries to break the defenders with a pass to Morris but it’s too long.

38 min: A great chance for Jordan Morris as he plays a beautiful one-two with Altidore. He tries to chip the keeper but his touch is too heavy. Great play.

35 min: Canada now enjoying more of the ball as a deep cross in the box is cleared. Still, they keep pushing but with only 3 men in the box.

Directly related to the fact that he has someone on him almost immediately.

32 min: It’s a fairly even half with USA perhaps doing a little better, already forcing three saves and having more of the possession. Larin is doing all the work up front by himself and at some point that has to change.

29 min: Canada are making it very difficult for USA to get much time on possession but it only takes one mistake for America to capitalize. Larin with a great run and Jones tracking back with no idea how to get him. Hi shot gets deflected and the chance evaporates.

Here’s the pass from Morris.

I must say, it’s pretty depressing to see such an empty stadium. There could have been more of an effort to advertise this game. If anything, make it a free event for local children and their families.

25 min: Again, the majority of USA’s play is on the right hand side as Zardes wins another corner. Bradley takes it and a great header goes directly to the keeper’s arms.

24 mins: USA controlling more of the game now, as Canada’s back four don’t really know how to deal with America’s pace. Jones, however, could do something ridiculous and Larin could capitalize.

20 min: Morris with a great ball to Zardes and his shot directly at the keeper as he pushes it away.

19 min: Crepeau acting as if he was Manuel Neuer. He leaves his box everytime Canada get possession. Crazy! Canada attacking USA’s box. Larin falls as he contests one with Jones and there are claims for a penalty but the ref doesn’t fall for it. Looking at it again, the appeal was understandable. I’ve seen them given.

16 min: Zardes again on the right hand side with so much space finds Morris but he struggles to find anyone and the ball is cleared. USA taking over possession now. Zardes again on the right finds Altidore and with a low shot it nearly goes in! But the keeper saves it to the post. Best chance of the match!

Great memory, Daniel. And yeah, De Jong is not gonna stop being De Jong. Let’s hope he doesn’t do it to Morris.

“I’m still not over Nigel de Jong for that tackle on Stu Holden before South Africa. I never properly got to vent my animosity towards him, but now that he’s with LA and I’m a Seattle fan, it’s game on. Good luck to Stu and his family.”

Agreed. There’s a lot of passion here.

12 min: USA are also using their speed and pressing everyt ime Canada take a bad touch (which is quite often.) Zardes will be a handful tonight. Free kick to Canada, 4o yards out. It reaches the box but USA clear it for a corner.

9 min: Just as I thought, Canada’s strategy is to press the playmakers and high up. Everytime Bradley gets the ball, with his back to the goal, someone is chasing him. USA still looking for more possession in Canada’s half. They finally achieve it as a deep cross finds Morris but he can’t do enough and it’s collected by the Keeper.

7 min: Jones is going to have a long day, I think. There is no way he is going to be able to deal with Canada’s pace up top. Another corner for Canada but it gets collected by Bingham.

5 min: The game, in the early stages, is still looking for a rhythm as possession begins to even out. Akindele takes the ball on the left hand side and now it’s a corner for Canada. Corner is cleared, but not well enough as Canada keep pressing and nearly get a chance in the box but it gets scrambled away.

1 min: And we’re off! USA kick-off and straight away Zardes pushes on the right hand side, using his pace and his cross gets deflected for a corner.

And the teams are out and ready to sing the national anthems. First up, “O Canada.” It’s an operatic song, simple but effective. Next up...well you know. The crowd, though small, show a lot of support. We’re moments away from kick-off.

What do you mean??? I am so psyched for this game. I’ve had 6 cups of coffee and a Red Bull. I AM PUMPED, I CAN’T WAIT, I REALLY CA-

We’re getting closer to kick-off. 17 minutes.

This is a first. Matt Besler stops warming up, goes over to the FOX panel and is now doing an interview. Meanwhile, his team go back into the locker room and leave him by himself on the pitch. So random. Michael Bradley now does another interview. What is this? I guess it’s a friendly so it’s ok...

This is awesome.

FOX showing a very cool piece on Zardes, Morris and Kiesewetter, the new breed of American strikers. It’s a great time to be a US fan as this squad is going through a a great transition. Mark my words: USA makes the World Cup Final in 2022.
I’m getting ready for the emails.

Who?

Teams are out and warming up. The FOX team congratulating Stuart Holden on his retirement and new addition to the family. I like him as an analyst. Smart without being smug. An American version of Gary Neville before he took on the Valencia job.

I had more people at my sister’s quinceañera...

Predictions? I think it’s all down to how the formations deal with strategy. If Canada’s attempt is to control the midfield and press, Bradley and Diskerud might struggle to find space. Also, Larin will play with extra fire tonight proving that he is the real deal. Canada takes it 1-0.

And here is Canada’s line-up:

Ehrm...LA GALAXY know about this?

USMNT starting line-up. Huge night for Jordan Morris.

Still waiting for the line-ups but I can tell you that this is a great night for MLS as both squads combine for 32 players from the league. For Don Garber this is his Super Bowl. Remember, the 21st season kicks-off on Sunday, March 6, when every single team will play that day.

Hello! Welcome to this international friendly between USA and Canada as Jurgen Klinsmann ends his winter training camp with a North American derby at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. Now, the pessimist in me will tell you that this match will feel longer than an episode of Due South (see what I did there?) and just like their previous two meetings - Toronto in 2012 and Houston in 2013 - it will end goalless. However, I am an optimist and I loved the aforementioned TV show, so I’m hoping the men will take a lesson from the women’s game and give us some entertainment.

The U.S have not lost to Canada in 35 years and haven’t lost at home since 1957 when “Les Rouges” won 3-2 in St.Louis. For Klinsmann - after seeing his team beat Iceland 3-2 last Sunday - this is a great opportunity to see a little bit more from certain fringe players who either had little or zero playing time against the Europeans. As Graham Parker pointed out, both Jordan Morris and Jerome Kiesewetter (Amazing last name, btw) impressed when they came on last week, and Darlington Nagbe will be looking to make most of this opportunity.

For Benito Floro I feel this is a now-or-never situation in Canadian soccer. They have two huge qualifiers against Mexico next month and he needs a good performance in order to evaluate what needs fixing before those matches arrive. I am really looking forward to seeing what Cyle Larin (2015 MLS rookie of the year for Orlando) can bring tonight and let’s also remember Tesho Akindele (2014 MLS rookie of the year for Dallas) is no slouch.
Let’s hope we get a good game tonight. I’ll be back with the line-ups!

Luis will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Sean Keeler on why USA and Canada need to crank up their rivalry:

When the Yanks and Les Rouges hook up in hockey, it’s an event. On the pitch, it’s a shrug.

Look, we know what you’re saying, at least south of the border: that’s the way we like it, no stress, no fuss. There’s already enough bile in the US-Mexico series to fill the Aleutian Trench, and the last thing Jurgen Klinsmann needs is another sharp wooden stake to hand to his detractors.

Yet it’s curious that the US and Canadian national teams, post-world war two, have rarely been relevant – OK, relevant-ish – at the same time. Since Fifa created world rankings, USA have averaged a No19 slot; Canada No77. Over the last 23 years, the North American twosome have only been ranked in the top 50 in the same year twice: In 1993 (US 22nd, Canada 44th) and 1996 (US 18th; Canada, 40th).

When Les Rouges was flying high in 1986, the first and only time they’ve qualified for a World Cup, US soccer had nearly bottomed out. In 2014, while World Cup fever gripped the States, Canada endured a 958-minute goal drought and saw its Fifa ranking dip to 122 that August, the lowest mark in the country’s history.

But what if both sides of the border actually had incentive to sit up and take notice when America and America Nice locked horns? USA v Mexico is fun for the same reason, by and large, as Broncos v Patriots and Cruz v Trump: anythingcould happen. El Tri still lead the overall series with USA, but since the 1994 World Cup marked the perceptive rebirth – or rediscovery – of football in American circles, the northerners hold a 15-10-8 edge.

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