The emotional whiplash continues. After Sunday’s depressing loss to Panama, the US bounced back with a good performance at home against an aged Costa Rica side. In some ways, the early goal against may have been helpful. The ensuing performance was reminiscent of the match against Portugal in the 2014 World Cup. Going down early instills a sense of urgency that can’t be generated any other way. Still, it’d be nice if summoning that sort of fire didn’t require conceding a goal in the first minute.
Berhalter has once again done enough to mostly keep people off his back and make sure his job is under no real threat.
But what to make of him at this point? I have no idea anymore, so let’s make a pros and cons list. 🤣
I’m sure I’ve missed some things that others would have included, but I think that’s a fair summary of the situation. Technically, I did come up with six cons and only five pros…so he goes?🤣 There have been enough pixels spilled on Berhalter at this point. Let’s talk about how the players performed in this one.
Grading Beverage: Noah’s Mill Bourbon – Willet distillery products are some of my favorites. Very high proof (this one is 114), but don’t burn too bad and still taste good.
If you haven’t read one of these USMNT (+/-) Player Grades articles before click here for an explanation of the system.
Grades
MOTM – Yunus Musah (+10.5)
After being a little lower on his performance than some others against Jamaica, I thought Musah was excellent in this one. The Musah-Dest-Weah triad was too much for Costa Rica too handle (especially in the first half). He’s such a load with the ball it’s hard to remember that he’s 18. What’s he going to look like on the ball when he’s 26?! Good luck with that future opponents. Part of the reason I think he looked better in this match is that he spent time in midfield, but shaded right to be in many of the same spaces he takes up when he’s with Valencia at right mid.
The things he can do with the ball are special. I tweeted this out earlier, but take a look at this outside of the foot pass up the line to Dest:
How many players in the pool can hit that pass? One or two others, maybe? If he can start combining passing like that with the dribbling skills we see pop off the screen then Valencia and the USMNT have a star on their hands. Just a reminder of what he can do on the dribble too:
Other Positive Performances
Tyler Adams (+10.5)
Yunus got the nod as MOTM since he had a little better per/90 score. Adams is a machine and probably the most important piece of the USMNT lineup. I think Berhalter can afford to rotate one of the starting #8s in these three match windows, but Adams is undroppable. There is no one that moves the ball as fast as he does, commands the field, and provides acres of field coverage.
In this match, it was the ball movement that impressed me the most. After watching most of the midfield get stuck on the ball all game against Panama, the speed Adams played at was refreshing. This is a little moment, but watch:
Maybe this is unfair, but I can’t help but think we lose this ball if that is Acosta or Lletget in that position. Adams was aware of the man coming and knew exactly where to go with the ball. Impressive. He didn’t have nearly as much to do in defense this match, but he still cleaned up loose balls and won 50/50s as he tends to do. I also noticed a little disguise on his passes. I love this sort of stuff:
It’s not a huge thing, but the deceptive hips give Musah a little extra space and then he can play it to Dest and game on. Adams is really good and getting better. Captain for the foreseeable future.
Sergino Dest (+10)
He slowed down some in the second half, but in the first half he was toying with Costa Rica. Occasionally, in American football, you’ll see a receiver matched up with a corner back that has no hope of covering the dude and the QB proceeds to throw him the ball every play. In this match, that’s what Dest was to poor Ronald Matarrita. That’s a bad feeling and Dest had no compassion on the man. The US really needed a special moment to get back level and Dest provided it. Sure is nice to have players this good available, isn’t it?
What a strike by Sergino Dest 💥
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 13, 2021
The USMNT ties it up in a BIG World Cup Qualifier match against Costa Rica
(via @TUDNUSA)
pic.twitter.com/B77vi8kbUd
Brenden Aaronson (+8.5)
Aaronson is a hard worker. He’s a little like Arriola, but with more to offer in final product. There weren’t any real highlights, but there were a bunch of moments where Aaronson found space. Look at this one:
You see him recognize the space and start running right at the start of the gif? If that ball is a yard further he’s one on one with the goal keeper. He’s the best pressing winger in the pool and he reads space very well too. Having him as an option as one of those inside wingers is going to be very useful for a long time. Plus – my kids love him and call him “Frodo” because of the curly hair.🤣
Sub of the Game – Gianluca Busio (+3.5 or +26.3 per/90)
Since there is no one deserving of a “Room to Improve” section, I thought I’d throw this in here. Busio looked good in his 12 minute cameo. I really need to make more of an effort to watch Venezia because he appears to be growing rapidly. He did come into an open game against a tired, old side, but he looked dangerous. In his time on the field I had him down for six events and it was mostly quality passes.
He’s moved ahead of Lletget/Acosta as the first #8 I’d like to see rotated in behind McKennie and Musah.
The November Window
Next up is Mexico in Cincinnati and Jamaica in Kingston. I think four points is acceptable from those two games in whatever combination of results. Obviously, you’d like to go back to taking all three points from Mexico like we have in most of the recent World Cup qualifying campaigns. If the pool gets/stays healthy then I would be disappointed if we don’t get that result. I’ll be there in person, so seeing a win would be nice from that perspective. Hope to meet a couple of you down there.
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That was excellent. Thank you. It will be interesting to see what Berhalter does with Reyna when he is back and healthy. If he drops back to midfield, that pushes Lleget down depth chart. I think it will be at least one more cycle before Lleget moves behind Busio and Del La Torre, though.
Just completely senseless to ever have Lleget play over Busio again.
Yeah, this is a great little recap. Thanks again for the effort.
Leaving this before I forget- on the play where you think Acosta or Lleget would turn that one over. I have no opinion on Lleget making that play work or not. Acosta *should* be fine one timing it with his left foot to clear the pressure there. He’s good with his left and does it automatically. His issue would be with the speed of play. It’s the argument of Europe vs MLS summed up in one play really. I think Acosta would regularly make that play if his routine included playing in a league with quicker speed of play. Minus that, well…anyway, hope he gets a loan or something after this MLS season lets out.
The way we played was so refreshing. I kinda just chuckled a little bit when the first goal was scored in the first minute, like ahhh you guys can’t make it easy can you? But, for some reason, I knew we’d find a way to win? Musah is a treat. Dest, when he’s on, is electric. Tyler Adams. Man, wish we could take whatever he drinks before the game, bottle it up, and label is “Tyler’s Secret Stuff” to share with the whole squad. See you in Cincy!