The US national team emerged from a shaky first half with a lead and made it stand up in a 2-0 friendly win over a second-string South Korea side on Saturday afternoon in Carson, Calif.
With both rosters largely confined to domestic-based players, the hosts generally carried play without ever dominating.
Nick Rimando (6) - The Real Salt Lake netminder caused trouble for himself with a couple of poor distributions, but managed to stand tall enough to post his third career US shutout.
Brad Evans (4.5) - Yikes. This was not the performance to give in starting a World Cup roster stretch drive. Evans had all sorts of trouble dealing with Korean wingers and was docked for a few bad turnovers. He did get forward well, but final ball impact was minimal.
Matt Besler (5.5) - The Sporting KC man had some very shaky moments in the opening half-hour or so, but settled down until coming out in the 62nd minute. Besler did pitch in with several strong aerial clearances.
Omar Gonzalez (5.5) - Like Besler, Gonzo enjoyed some terrific clearances mixed with shaky incidents in the first half. And like Besler, he smoothed things out as the game developed.
Michael Parkhurst (6.5) - For the most part, it was a professional and efficient outing from the recent Columbus catch. Parkhurst did not get forward as much as bookend Evans, but had considerably less defensive help from his wingers.
Kyle Beckerman (6.5) - Like most players at the US back, the dreadlocked midfielder looked a bit off in the opening phase of the game. After that, though, the RSL ace again showed why he is in the fight for a summer trip to Brazil. His pressure valve passes were on point Saturday.
Mikkel Diskerud (6.5) - The smooth midfielder is looking more and more like a necessary tool for the World Cup squad. Mix's ability to split defenders and change the point of attack with passes out of traffic is unmatched by anyone in the current pool not named Landon.
Graham Zusi (7) - The Sporting KC playmaker reminded everyone why he is a good bet to make the World Cup team with a solid two-way display. Zusi had a hand in both goals and got back often to help struggling defenders.
Landon Donovan (6.5) - While perhaps a bit underwhelming with final-third decisions, Donovan was his usual motoring self going forward. He also tracked back to make a couple of key defensive plays.
Brad Davis (5) - Things started well enough, with the Houston Dynamo man providing the opening assist with a stretched volley on goal. As the game wore on, however, Davis became quite sloppy with the ball in bad spots.
Chris Wondolowski (7) - Wondo made no mistake with his two on-the-spot chances. Apart from that, the San Jose hitman was decent, but likely nothing that will threaten the top four or five US forwards at this time.
Coach Jurgen Klinsmann (6) - Some of the minute disbursements were a bit curious, but it is hard to fault the boss when he is working with a few conflicting aims in a friendly. Still, one has to be concerned by the fact that the US only bothered to take three shots (and none outside the two goal plays) against an opposition lineup more weakened by absences than their own.
Subs:
Eddie Johnson (6) - The strike sub came on and kept it simple.
Clarence Goodson (6.5) - As soon as he came on, the US defense calmed down. Goodson notched more clearances in 28 minutes than Gonzalez did in 90.
Benny Feilhaber (6) - The late sub took care of the ball well, but never got the chance to show he can pick apart a defense.
DeAndre Yedlin (5) - The debutant entered with a lot of energy, quickly showing that his recovery/help speed is a real defensive weapon. However, he has to be much more selective with passes toward the middle in his own end.
Luis Gil (6) - See Feilhaber, only with 15 minutes for the youngster instead of the elder midfielder's 32.
Eric Alexander (-) - It was another mere USMNT cameo for the Red Bulls midfielder.
