There won't be many frowns when the reports cards are delivered for the US national team's serviceable 4-0 blanking of guests Guatemala in Friday's last tune-up for Gold Cup.
The hosts needed some help putting ball in net for about 58 minutes, in part thanks to an early Jozy Altidore penalty miss. Powered by flank play, the US kept at it until they busted loose with a trio of late goals to post a rout.
Brad Guzan (6) - The 'keeper rang up four fairly comfy saves and added a strong punch. However, Guzan was incredibly lucky to get away with a bad 46th minute spill.
Timothy Chandler (6.5) - It was quite the Jekyll/Hyde night for the Eintracht Frankfurt right back, who was guilty of a small array of mistakes in the US end over the opening 40 minutes. He then pitched in a couple of aggressive plays prior to the break and emerged from intermission thoroughly energized. On one of numerous surges up the right side, Chandler delivered a heavenly cross that normally would have compelled a better finish out of Clint Dempsey. On another, he fired home one stunner of a goal. By the end, he'd completed a dozen positive passes in or into the attacking half – and clumsily offered Guatemala a pair of late danger free kicks.
Omar Gonzalez (5) - Before leaving at the break, Gonzo had a hot-and-cold time of it. Badly beaten over the top on 21 minutes and guilty of a bad turnover near halftime, the Galaxy star did come up with a pair of nice line holds to spring the offside trap.
John Anthony Brooks (7) - The Hertha Berlin man may well have worn a suit and tie because he was all business on a Friday night. In addition to clearing away anything that came near, Brooks managed to cram seven long passes in or into the Guatemala end and seven successful switches into 62 minutes.
Fabian Johnson (7) - Stationed at left back for this contest, Johnson seemingly spent most of his 45 minutes of action slaloming through Guatemala territory on the dribble. He didn't get caught up raiding, either; the 'Gladbach ace completed 19 of 20 passes.
Mikkel Diskerud (7) - Cast in the unusual role of gatekeeper, the man they call Mix showed some improvement as a disrupting force. More up his usual alley, the New York City FC midfielder also went 22-for-22 in passing in the first half, only missed on one the whole night and connected a total of 12 positive passes in or into the attacking half.
DeAndre Yedlin (7) - It was truly a fast and furious full right midfield shift from the Tottenham prospect. His decision-making in the final third and final-ball delivery did not always measure up, but Yedlin continued to blow and blow and eventually helped knock down Guatemala's house with a darting cross on the own goal opener and an easy assist on Chandler's rocket. He even found time to make a few nice defensive plays.
Graham Zusi (5) - The Sporting KC midfielder worked both sides of the ball and provided some link play in US builds. However, his set-up play was often lacking and there were a couple of troubling turnovers in the US end before Zusi departed at halftime.
Michael Bradley (7) - While it surely was not the bald eagle's most efficient display and his restart serves were off, there was still plenty to admire from the skipper. His patented long set-up game was on the fritz, but Bradley still piled up 12 positive passes in or into the away half and repeatedly offered help defense to teammates. To top it all, Bradley earned Dempsey's spot kick with a drive into the box.
Clint Dempsey (7) - And now we've arrived at the only US player who can start a fast break from the seat of his shorts and not raise an eyebrow. Dempsey also offered up a handful of nifty link touches to grant space on the ball to teammates and buried his penalty in style. Things also seemed to liven up for the Nats when Deuce dropped out of the two-striker set to help midfield with the transition game.
Jozy Altidore (5) - On the other hand, Altidore could muster no better than a decent effort from the spot kick he earned himself, and decent efforts are occasionally denied. Other than that, Altidore was solid if a bit bland.
Coach Jurgen Klinsmann (6.5) - Yours truly is not a fan of the diamond, and some cracks were evident against a B+ Guatemala starting lineup. The team still seems to operate better when Bradley and Dempsey fall back a bit to aid possession and direct attack, and the wide players push past them to provide targets. Still, the USMNT controlled much of the contest, put up a four-spot for the second time in three games and booked an acceptable result leading into Gold Cup.
Subs:
Ventura Alvarado (6) - Alvarado is still plagued by inconsistent focus, but he also continues to show growth at this level. His smooth step into a passing lane started the Chandler goal play.
Gregory Garza (5.5) - It was generally a good second-half show by Garza, who can really tilt the field on the left flank, but he has to eliminate those odd mistakes. Poor decision-making on the ball put his team in trouble a few times.
Gyasi Zardes (7) - Other than a pair of bad passes in the US end, Zardes was money. He more than replaced the push of Johnson when his efforts created the capping goal. The LA Galaxy attacker also enjoyed perhaps his best US shift tracking back.
Tim Ream (6) - The center back sub looked pretty comfortable, both with and without the ball.
Alfredo Morales (6) - The Ingolstadt midfielder was largely tidy, but nearly overrun a couple times.
Chris Wondolowski (6.5) - Just in time for another Gold Cup, the San Jose star harnessed the mystical power of the third "W" to net his first US goal in 15 months. Aside from that, there was not much else to talk about.
