The USA put the past three games of less-than-their-best behind them, and showed the kind of performance we have come to expect from the USA against inferior CONCACAF opponents. I have to admit to being a bit nervous when I saw Mexican referee, Marco "Eddie Munster" Rodriguez, but it was the USA that got the benefit of a questionable call, leaving Jamaica a man down. For the first time in the Gold Cup, the USA put the energy in from the opening whistle. Unlike the Panama game where the USA also domintated, today's game always felt to me like the USA was going to score more than one. The only downside was that Altidore, Jones and Cherundolo all got banged up and we'll just have to wait to see how badly. (mwc)
We are using a 1-10 scale, with 1 being the worst rating and 10 being the best. Do you agree or disagree with our ratings? Let us know in the comment section below. CONTINUE READING AFTER THE JUMP.
HOWARD:
7: Timmy's save in the third minute gave the US the chance it need to put on the performance it did – if that ball goes in, the game goes whizzing off in another direction. (Jared)
7: Kept us in the game by making an early crucial save against Ryan Johnson. I'm starting to wonder if the games we win are just the ones where Howard makes the save in the first 10 minutes and the games we lose are the ones where he doesn't. (Evan)
7: Had a huge stop early in the game to keep the US from falling behind yet again. It was a game changer. Off topic, but how does Fox Soccer Channel not show an in-game replay of that? (mwc)
CHERUNDOLO:
6: The Hannover skipper wasn't as sharp as he has been when in possession of the ball, but his defending, per usual, was stout. (Jared)
6.5: Had some great overlapping runs and service in the box, solid if unspectacular. (Evan)
6: Continued his very solid tournament. No one got past him tonight. (mwc)
BOCANEGRA:
6: Aside from leaving Luton Shelton completely unmarked in the box in the third minute, Bocanegra captained a sound and – at times – stifling defense. Enter generic comment about his poor distribution here. (Jared)
6: Didn't really have much to do the whole game. His distribution wasn't great as usual. (Evan)
6: Stepped up several times to win balls in the air keeping the pressure on Jamaica's defense. (mwc)
GOODSON:
6.5: I'm finding it hard to deny that Goodson is the US' best-choice center back right now – his positioning has been great and getting the ball around that giant frame has been difficult for CONCACAF foes all four games. (Jared)
6: Pretty much the same as Boca. (Evan)
6: He was given the opportunity and has taken advantage of it. It is his position to lose now. (mwc)
LICHAJ:
6: The wrong-footed left back was an absolute menace with his runs down the left flank in the opening 45 minutes, but he seemed to scale things back for the second half. Not sure if that was Bradley's call or his, but the US looked more dangerous when he did as much. (Jared)
7: It must be tough to switch from right back to left back and Lichaj sometimes struggles with his service using his left foot, but he neutralized Dane Richards and nearly scored a goal. Great performance from Lichaj. (Evan)
6: Did very well to contain a quick Dane Richards and still got forward. I am waiting for the US to start using his long throw-in like a free kick in the offensive end. (mwc)
BEDOYA (subbed off 65')
6.5: Quite a tournament from a guy that wasn't in the original 23. Bedoya made the most of his call to the XI, making lively runs with and without the ball and opening up space for the midfield to move in underneath him. (Jared)
5.5: I'm not drinking the Bedoya Kool-Aid like others are, but he was solid tonight. He probably should have scored on a header in the first half. (Evan)
6: Surprise starter tonight. Had his best game in a USMNT uniform, in my opinion. (mwc)
JONES (subbed off 75')
6: Quite the polarizing match for Herr Jones: he netted his first goal in a U.S. shirt, but many are complaining about his (alleged, I'll add, as I didn't think it was a complete simulation) dive that got Jamaica's Taylor sent off. Get over it, people, that wasn't the first dive we've seen from an American, and it certainly won't be the last. No one was complaining last year when Jozy's dive against Slovenia set up what should have been a good goal from Maurice Edu in the World Cup. (Jared)
7.5: Very complete performance from Jones today. He scored the game winner, won balls and distributed well. He embellished the red card a little bit, but he was fouled. This was Jones' best performance as a member of the USMNT. (Evan)
6: Did a lot of things well, but whiffed on a good chance in the first half and got a yellow for a stupid foul that he just cannot commit at this level. I have been waiting for him to unleash a shot from long range. (mwc)
BRADLEY
6.5: His passing was more sporadic than it has been of late and he over-committed on Jamaican dribblers to set up the Reggae Boyz's two best chances, but Bradley worked his ass off and played some lovely through balls to create dangerous opportunities for the US. Also, note that attempted full-volley in the second half – Bradley is playing with great confidence right now. (Jared)
4: Bradley had his worst game of the tournament. He struggled to keep the ball. His only real highlight was his through ball that Lichaj nearly scored on. (Evan)
6: Another good game moving the ball around and winning balls. Had a couple of dangerous passes that split the defense, but admittedly a few bad turnovers. (mwc)
DEMPSEY
7.5: Dempsey's passing was much more deft this game – particularly when linking with Agudelo – and he was constantly dangerous. Also, this time, he was right to take a touch 1 v. 1 in the box. (Jared)
7.5: According to Opta he had six shots on goal while no other US player had more than one. Dempsey simply wasn't going to be denied today. His first touch on his goal was amazing. (Evan)
6: Always dangerous tonight, with three solid shots before getting his goal. Bounced back from his worst game in awhile with his best game of the Gold Cup. The last time I saw him do that John Cena thing was when he scored for Fulham after a spell on the bench. A Clint with something to prove is a very good Clint. (mwc)
KLJESTAN
7.5 – My man of the match. Many (myself included) have been imploring Bradley to deploy a 4-5-1 that features a true point to the central-MF triangle (either Kljestan, Feilhaber or Torres) for ages and –SHAZAM! – look what happens when he does – a convincing dos-a-cero result against a hot team and the most aesthetically pleasing game we've seen the Yanks put together in some time. (Jared)
7: Hollywood had his best game in a long time for the USMNT. He was asked to play as an attacking midfielder and he did an excellent job at it. His through ball to Landon Donovan was what this team had been missing. (Evan)
6: He had several good ideas tonight, although his touch betrayed him on a couple. I wasn't a big fan of his corner kicks and I don't see him as being capable of being our #10 against better teams, but he earned more playing time. (mwc)
ALTIDORE (subbed off 9')
-- Not fair to give Jozy a grade, though – and I don't mean to sound insensitive – the ball movement was much stronger with a different forward on. Even if he is healthy, does Jozy deserve a start Wednesday? I say no. (Jared)
10: Wait, that was the number of minutes he played...N/A for Jozy...Get better! (Evan)
-- Injured too early to get a rating. It is too bad, as he has been playing well. (mwc)
AGUDELO (subbed on 12')
7: I know he didn't score, but this was Agudelo's best shift in a US shirt – his movement and interplay with Dempsey, Bedoya and Kljestan was superb, his passing was sharp and decisive, his work rate was fantastic and he kept the ball well. In short, he dominated CONCACAF opponents the way you'd expect Altidore to do. (Jared)
6: Was put in a tough spot and responded pretty well. He made the second goal, but he also drifted out of the game for long stretches, including most of the first half. (Evan)
6: Good hold up play and tracked back on defense. His assist highlighted his excellent vision and composure with the ball. (mwc)
DONOVAN (subbed on 65')
4: His one-touch pass to spring Agudelo set up the second goal, but Donovan's touch otherwise – particularly on the through ball he flubbed – continued to be troubling. I'll give him a pass for being so fatigued – Donovan has battled for the US for a decade and almost always makes himself available to don the red, white and blue. Just don't let it happen again, sir. (Jared)
6: Donovan was pretty good, but also a bit rusty. You could tell that he was tired, but he definitely helped. (Evan)
6: Came on late, but had a positive impact with some nice interplay, including being involved in the second goal. Here's some trivia -- when was the last time Donovan and Adu both started a USMNT game on the bench? (mwc)
EDU (subbed on 75')
5: He sent a howling shot that just missed the near post, but Edu didn't stamp an imprint on the game when he came in. This is understandable, I think, as Edu isn't really the type of guy to come in and make a difference in limited time. (Jared)
-- Didn't play long enough for a rating. (Evan)
5: Held his own in limited time. (mwc)
