U.S MNT 0-0 draw against Serbia
The U.S. Men’s National Team opened Bruce Arena’s second tenure as head coach with a spirited 0-0 draw against Serbia at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. Forward Jozy Altidore earned his 100th cap in the match, becoming the second youngest player in U.S. MNT history to hit the century mark at 27 years, 84 days.
Earning Budweiser Man of the Match honors in his first international start, Darlington Nagbe provided the best two chances of the first half for the U.S. In the 29th minute, Michael Bradley’s penetrating pass found him on the left edge of the box where he cut back inside and curled his effort just wide of the right post. Nine minutes later, a quick counter attack saw Jozy Altidore hold up the ball for Jermaine Jones, who cleverly flicked into Nagbe’s path. The midfielder entered the box and again cut back, bending his low shot just past the right post.
Altidore nearly celebrated his 100th cap with a goal early in the second half when Sacha Kljestan slipped the veteran forward into the penalty area on the right only to have Serbia goalkeeper Filip Manojlović quickly advance off his line to deny the effort in the 47th minute. The U.S. knocked on the door again in the 58th minute when Nagbe slid a ball to halftime substitute Sebastian Lletget on the left. The MNT debutant took some space before his cross to the far post found Sacha Kljestan whose glancing header popped just wide of goal.
A pair of handy second half saves from Nick Rimando helped preserve the clean sheet, as the veteran goalkeeper turned away a 71st minute effort from Miloš Simonović and 89th minute rocket from Lazar Jovanović.
The U.S. had one last chance in the 90th minute when Juan Agudelo’s individual effort led to the ball falling for Chris Pontius, but the midfielder’s quick shot trickled inches wide of the left post.
Next on the Schedule: The U.S. MNT heads east to take on regional rival Jamaica in its first-ever match in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Friday, Feb. 3. Kickoff from Finley Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET and can be seen live on FS1, UniMas and UDN.
Highlights of Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
USA – Chad Marshall, 24th minute: After a quick combination out right, Serbia midfielder Aleksandar Paločević slipped into the box and moved past Michael Bradley before Marshall stepped through just outside the six-yard box to clear the danger.
SRB – Filip Manojlovic, 47th minute: Moments after entering the match, Sebastian Lletget did well to win the ball at midfield before springing Alejandro Bedoya down the right. Bedoya cut a pass inside for Sacha Kljestan who slipped Jozy Altidore into the box on the right, before Manojlović came off his line to deny the effort and push out for a corner kick
USA – Nick Rimando, 71st minute: Enver Alivodić’s swung a free kick into the box from the before the ball fell at the feet of Miloš Simonović whose quick shot was well held by Rimando.
USA – Nick Rimando, 89th minute: In the dying moments of the, Serbia forward Lazar Jovanović broke free into the area up the left before powering a shot that Rimando strongly extended to preserve his clean sheet.
NOTES:
With the draw, the U.S. moves to 0-2-1 all-time against Serbia.With the start, Jozy Altidore became the 17th player in MNT history to earn 100 caps. At 27 years, 84 days, Altidore is the second youngest player to reach the century mark, trailing only Landon Donovan (26 years, 96 days)MNT captain Michael Bradley made his 127th international appearance, tying him with Marcelo Balboa for fifth on the MNT’s all-time caps list.Sebastian Lletget, Chris Pontius and Jorge Villafaña made their international debuts. Lletget entered for Jermaine Jones at halftime, Pontius came on for Philadelphia Union teammate Alejandro Bedoya in the 65th minute and Villafaña replaced Greg Garza in the 69th minute. The entire pool of players has performed well and has made roster decisions very difficult. Entire roster were taken to the next step on the game against Serbia in San Diego, which score ended up 0-0 draw.
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