The US national team lost to Guatemala for the first time in nearly 30 years on Friday night. So, don't be surprised if many of the resulting report cards from a thoroughly frustrating World Cup qualifier end up being put into hiding.
The damage was done early in the 2-0 away defeat, and the visitors never recovered. The game plan was all wrong from the start, with numerous players made to work out of favored roles. It showed, too, as the USMNT will now deservedly head home in a must-win situation when all the pre-match talk had been of clinching their hexagonal ticket early.
The Starters
Tim Howard (5.5) - The Everton and soon-to-be Colorado Rapids goalkeeper made just one save. It's not always best to ding a goalkeeper for giving up a breakaway goal, but Howard would probably gripe about the second Guatemala tally getting through him.
Geoff Cameron (6.5) - No one in the away side was as mentally present or forceful as Cameron, who split time at right back, central defense and as a sweeper. And yet, he managed to complete 13 positive passes in or into the final third. Even as the lone central defender, the Stoke City stalwart was the team's best engine to the Guatemala end.
Omar Gonzalez (4) - Unlike the dialed-in Cameron, Gonzalez was rather scattered over his 66 minutes. It took him half the opening frame to make his first defensive stop of any kind. By that time, he'd already combined to allow Carlos Ruiz free for the second Guatemala goal. That wasn't the last time he was beaten on the ground and he was absent in set piece defense.
Michael Orozco (4.5) - Equally as culpable as his central partner on the "Pescadito" breakaway calamity, Orozco was mildly better over his 59 minutes.
Edgar Castillo (6) - Despite making his first US appearance in over two years, the Monterrey left back was relatively solid. Castillo worked several passes up his flank to set up attack postures, while posting team highs with four tackles and three pass picks. He also won four free kicks in the US end after they went to three at the back to help keep hope alive.
Mix Diskerud (4) - Even though he was guilty on both goal leaks, it's almost rudely unfair to grade the NYCFC midfielder for this game. He should not be positioned as the gate-keeper in a midfield diamond and he should certainly not be the corner kick defender found closest to goal. When he managed to get across midfield, Diskerud actually was able to play a few quality attack passes (otherwise known as what he does best).
Michael Bradley (4.5) - This was easily one of the midfield general's least influential US performances. Charged with acting as the main playmaker, he did little to control tempo and didn't complete a final third pass until after the hour, when he had already been shifted to a deeper role. A couple of decent shooting looks from the top of the box were badly miss-hit and his restarts failed to cause much stress for the hosts.
DeAndre Yedlin (5) - Starting on the wing, he was more underutilized than bad before moving back into defense near the hour. Still, other than a fine cut-back that could have earned him an assist shortly after intermission, Yedlin completed just one ground pass in the final third. He also shipped a handful of disappointing crosses when the team needed a good one.
Alejandro Bedoya (5) - Of course, the Nantes attacker worked his tail off and piled up some defensive plays. He also worked himself into several good attack positions, but was unable to make them count. He had a pair of point blank chances stopped and, like Yedlin, could not get most of his crosses to a teammate.
Clint Dempsey (5.5) - Before he tired near the end, nearly every good US advance went through him. Dempsey had a pair of outstanding early set-ups go unrewarded, but he would eventually return the disfavor. The 56th minute chance he fired straight at the 'keeper simply had to be taken better.
Bobby Wood (5.5) - Before he faded badly during the last half-hour, Wood's effort level made him quite troublesome and it was his keen set-up that Dempsey squandered on 56 minutes. Though the ref was a bit unkind, the Union Berlin forward still managed to earn the team three quality restart opportunities. Nevertheless, he failed to get a shot off on the night.
Coach Jurgen Klinsmann (0) - Some may find this rude, but the phrase "how he wants them to play" has lost all meaning as an explanation. The manager simply cannot continue trying to force tactics that are overtly illogical and unhelpful to the team. On Friday night, Klinsmann actually sent out an entire midfield that was playing away from their regular positions in a CONCACAF road game of record. His adjustments were then too late and too subtle, and only increased the already staggering disorganization. If space permitted, we could go on and on, but let's just cut straight to the point. This kind of showing should not happen, end of story.
Subs:
Darlington Nagbe (5.5) - Entering at halftime, Nagbe quickly won a couple of balls in midfield and executed a couple of nice set-up maneuvers. However, they were mixed with a few bad turnovers and he then gradually lost influence.
Gyasi Zardes (5) - The Galaxy man wasn't really the answer, at least on the right flank. He effectively squeezed Wood out of his previous action zones and without replacing the questions his teammate had been asking of the Guatemala defense.
Jozy Altidore (6) - After coming on in the 66th minute to play in a strange spot along an overly crowded front line, it took Altidore over 10 minutes to even see the ball. When he finally got his big chance nine minutes from time, the Toronto FC striker was utterly robbed by a toenail save.
