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USMNT vs. Uruguay score, player ratings: USA draw in final tune-up ahead of Concacaf Nations League
Neither team could get a goal in a match where the South Americans had the best chances
By
Chuck Booth
•
1 min read
The United States men's national team drew a talented Uruguay on Sunday in an international friendly, 0-0. It was a pretty open match as Diego Alonso kept up his unbeaten record as Uruguay manager while the two teams have now played to their third draw in four meetings. It was a match of missed opportunities as both USMNT's Jesus Ferreira and Uruguay's Darwin Nunez had multiple chances to score but they couldn't make it count. Uruguay missed a golden chance in the final seconds as Edinson Cavani failed to put a shot on an open goal, sending it just wide, much to his disbelief. This was the first time under Alonso that Uruguay have failed to score in six games.
Gregg Berhalter will be happy to end the team's Nations League tune-up matches with a win and a draw after having beaten Morocco before this match, but none of the key questions have been answered. No striker scored from open play and the left center back position is as open as it ever was. Fixing these will be key ahead of Nations League matches versus Grenada and El Salvador. The U.S. have allowed just three total goals in their last six matches.
Without Walker Zimmerman, this match could've ended much differently as he had to block three shots while on cleanup duty. Berhalter will be happy with the clean sheet but the defense wasn't good enough as Joe Scally left a lot of space that Uruguay's experienced attack took advantage of. It was a learning opportunity for the 19-year-old as he was dispossessed three times and dribbled past two more.
The attack shined as the two teams were close when it came to expected goals metrics. The United States took nine shots for an xG of 1.24 while Uruguay took 12 for an xG of 1.36. The best chance was Ferreira's the 20th-minute header right in front of goal from DeAndre Yedlin's cross, but he couldn't bring it down. Uruguay's was a shot from Mathias Olivera that Sean Johnson showed impressive awareness to stop with his shin right on the line. It was a match that at times had World Cup-level intensity which both coaches will be happy about as they continue their preparations.
USMNT ratings
| Name | Minutes | How did they do? | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
(GK) Sean Johnson | 90 | Was calm in goal, looking strong in both passing and keeping control of his lines, and he made a few big saves. It's tough to see Johnson starting in Qatar but he did make a case for making the trip. | 8 |
(DEF) DeAndre Yedlin | 62 | Showed his experience in defense keeping Uruguay in check and made a key block on the line early in the match. Not a great match going forward for Yedlin but on another day, his fine cross into the box ends in a goal. | 7 |
(DEF) Walker Zimmerman | 90 | Zimmerman was picked off once in possession but his long passing was critical when the midfield couldn't get things going. Had a team-high four clearances, blocked three shots and had an interception as a one-man cleaning crew. | 8 |
(DEF) Aaron Long | 45 | Had a tough day with how much space was between Joe Scally and him. Tough to tell if it was down to communication but while Long did better than ERik Palmer-Brown, the role is likely Chris Richards' to lose when healthy. | 7 |
(DEF) Joe Scally | 90 | Getting caught up field far too much this match was a good learning experience for Scally. He was better at right back due to having Zimmerman on that side but allowed Uruguay far too much space to attack into. | 6 |
(MID) Tyler Adams | 90 | Was forward much more than normal, taking a shot and getting recoveries higher up. The Leipzig man was only dribbled past once in a match where Uruguay were beating everyone when they had the chance. | 7 |
(MID) Yunus Musah | 85 | Everything that Musah struggled with on the ball versus Morocco, he fixed in this match. A strong performance linking the defense with the attack and while his passing will need to improve, any plays he can make with his feet are helpful for a team that struggles with ball progression. | 7 |
(MID) Weston McKennie | 45 | A little rusty with some of his decision making, it was still a solid return to the starting lineup overall for McKennie. He created two chances but wasn't as involved as usual on the defensive end. | 6 |
(FWD) Tim Weah | 45 | Didn't touch the ball as much as you'd like in the first half with how strong Uruguay's defense was, but his touches were driven as he looks to create an attack every time he gets the ball. One thing that Gregg Berhalter needs to figure out is how to play Weah and Brenden Aaronson at the same time. | 7 |
(FWD) Jesus Ferreira | 61 | Had two good chances to score and missed both, continuing the USMNT's striker woes. Ferreira's off-ball movement was good when it came to creating space for Christian Pulisic and Weah to run into, but he'll be judged by goals. | 6 |
(FWD) Christian Pulisic | 90 | Pulisic is determined to carry this team to greatness. His anticipation and in-game reads were on full display. The Chelsea man created four chances and was only dispossessed once in the match but only got one shot off. | 7 |
| Substitutes | Replaced | How did they do? | Rating |
Erik Palmer-Brown | Long (45') | While he's more comfortable in a back three, it was a day to forget for Palmer-Brown as he was beaten multiple times | 6 |
Paul Arriola | Weah (45') | Wasn't up to the challenge that Uruguay posed. Arriola has a place in this team but not playing 45 as a winger versus top teams. This would be a game where his work rate is better suited deeper in midfield as keeping Weah on gives the United States a better chance at winning. | 6 |
Brenden Aaronson | McKennie (45') | Was marked out of the game entering in central midfield on Sunday. While Aaronson can play there, against stronger teams like Uruguay, Berhalter will need to see how he can keep him on the wing. | 6 |
| Antonee Robinson | Yedlin (62') | Got beaten a few times but so did everyone on defense against Uruguay's high-powered attack. Robinson did create some good chances going forward. | 6 |
| Haji Wright | Ferreira (61') | If you forgot Wright was out there tonight, you'd be forgiven as he only had four touches in almost 30 minutes. Taking three passes and completing one, he didn't do nearly enough to build on a strong match versus Morocco. | 5 |
| Luca de la Torre | Musah (85') | Didn't have enough time to really make a difference as he spent about five minutes waiting to come into the match. | N/A |
| Manager | Subs used | How did the manager do? | Rating |
Gregg Berhalter | 6 | The United States had good enough chances to win, so it's a job well done for Berhalter. In a match where he is looking to find out what his team can and can't do, it's tough to have a gripe with any of the subs in a game that overall told him a lot about his team even if some of it was bad. | 8 |
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The points are shared in a 0-0 draw
Both teams could've won this one but the United States are now unbeaten in 25 straight home games but they can thank Cavani for that.
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Oh, Cavani!
It's good that he's a little rusty as Nunez played him clear in but he shoots it wide. Uruguay should be winning this game.
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Diego Rossi was a runaway train
It looked like Uraguay was going to score as Palmer-Brown was put through the mixer but Walker Zimmerman came in to clean up the mess. Scary moments for the defense.
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Luca de la Torre enters for Musah
This gives a little more mobility in midfield with five minutes left to chase a winner.
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It's another corner for the US
Uruguay have settled into things but the US will want to win this match. Pulisic's lofted corner finds Zimmerman but he can't get enough on it.
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Uruguay have made more subs than allowed
It seems like some negotiation is happening with the fourth official as Pellistri was Uruguay's seventh substitute of the match. Will the US get an extra sub in exchange?
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Sean Johnson with a massive save
Uruguay have moved into a 4-4-2 and immediately had two players free in front of Johnson. He made the save with his shin but this is getting quite nervy.
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More changes are incoming from the United States
It's a change at striker as Ferreira will be replaced by Haji Wright. Can a US striker put the ball into the back of the net? DeAndre Yedlin has also been withdrawn for Antonee Robinson which will see Joe Scally move to right back.
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It's Nunez again
After Zimmerman is beaten in the air, Nunez was already past Yedlin. It's a good test for the United States to play Nunez and so far they're losing.
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The second half is a bit tamer so far
After the first half was open on both ends, the second has seen the US grow into things more. Pulisic got a one on one situation but couldn't get his shot on target.
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Time for a homecoming
Big opportunity for Kansas City native Erik Palmer-Brown replacing Aaron Long at the time. He's in his old home park from his time with Sporting Kansas City.
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Three subs are coming at the half
Erik Palmer-Brown will enter for one of the center backs, Brenden Aaronson for Weston McKennie, and Paul Arriola for Tim Weah. Aaronson will be important to watch as he was knocked off the ball a little versus Morocco and Uruguay are a stronger team.
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A rare shot on goal from Tyler Adams
Scally plays a cross in then McKennie plays keep away with the Uruguay defense. With the half coming, this has been a mostly positive shift for the United States.
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Zimmerman bailed out
Nunez has been a thorn in everyone's side as this time he picks off Zimmerman but his pass to set up the attack wasn't good enough. The United States may be hoping Uruguay puts in a new striker at the half.
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Early change coming for Uruguay
Jose Gimenez is down after a tackle on Tim Weah where he seemed to have over extended. He'll be replaced by Coates who will remember Yedlin from their Sunderland days.
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Walker Zimmerman is really pinging long passes
After already setting up Ferreira, Zimmerman has played Pulisic into space too. Against teams with a stronger midfield, it's good to see that the United States can skip that phase of play.
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At the first Hydration Break
Uruguay is taking advantage of the youth of the United States when it comes to Musah and Scally. Nunez has had chances and will score if he's allowed to continue to get into space but the USMNT have done well on the counter. Ferreira should arguably have a goal but it's promising that the counter attack is working well.
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A promising attack
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Yedlin's cross deserved a goal
It's Ferreira again and he couldn't nod it down. As the game goes on, the United States are poking at Uruguay's defense and creating chances.
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It's a chance for the US
Jesus Ferreira had the first real attack and forces Muslera into a save. This was following another dangerous Uruguay attack where Darwin Nunez was free in the box but no one could find him.
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Pulisic creates a chance
After picking off a pass from Godin, Pulisic puts a little too much on his cross to Tim Weah and Muslera was able to claim the cross. The United States will need to capitalize on mistakes from Uruguay as there won't be many.
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Big from Yedlin!
The USMNT are holding on as Yedlin made a clearance off the line. The United States midfield can't get things going versus Uruguay's defense and the defense are being peppered because of it.
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Uruguay using space
Scary moments as Caceres was able to float into the acres of space between Scally and Long to play a cross to Nunez. With the season that he has had you expect that to end up in the back of the net but the United States were lucky that time.
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Uruguay starts on the front foot
A good start for Yedlin keeping track of his man but Musah already ended up on the ground after trying to charge into midfield. It's a good example of the lumps that the United States will take during this one.
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Time for the anthems!
Kickoff is coming shortly
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What a return for Weston McKennie
While he's only expected to play one half of soccer this is his first start for the national team since February. It shows how quickly his recovery has gone as Berhalter expected him to play about 20 minutes during this international window. With 60+ minutes hopefully under his belt before Nations LEague, it will help McKennie prepare for preseason with Juventus.
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Joe Scally's first start
It's been a long time coming but this is quite the opportunity for Scally as the backup left back job is wide open. WIth George Bello not playing consistently, standing up to opposition as strong as Uruguay will go a long way in booking Scally a trip to Qatar.
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Uruguay goes with a strong lineup
Starters: 1-Fernando Muslera, 2-Jose Giménez, 3-Diego Godín, 4-Guillermo Varela, 6-Manuel Ugarte, 10-Fernando Gorriarán, 11-Darwin Nuñez, 17-Matias Viña, 18-Maxi Gómez, 20-Mauro Arambarri, 22-Martin Cáceres
Substitutes: 12-Sergio Rochet, 23-Sebastian Sosa, 5-Matias Vecino, 7-Nicolas de la Cruz, 8-Facundo Pellistri, 9-Diego Rossi, 13-Damián Suárez, 14-Lucas Torreira, 15-Federico Valverde, 16-Mathias Olivera, 19-Sebastian Coates, 21-Edinson Cavani
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Antonee Robinson didn't recover in time
This means that Joe Scally will offer a different look at left back for the national team.
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