(East Los Angeles, CA) [From The Editor’s Desk]: The U.S.A.’s Mens Soccer team played their second consecutive draw in their highly featured match, on Friday, 11/25, this time resulting a scoreless draw with England. They have been credited with (2) points in the Group B Round-Robin/Pool play. They will play again next Tuesday, November 29th against their final opponent in the group, Iran, currently in 2nd place behind England. Kick-off will take place at 11:00 AM | PT.
Advertisement
{Preview} Stepping up their games a very considerable notch against the #5 ranked team in the world, England, the young American squad played a very different match, one that showed greater urgency, after coming off a lackluster and subpar opening (1-1) draw vs. Wales. The Soccer world’s experts have given the U.S. a chance to advance out of this group into the upcoming “knock-out” round next, but it is contingent upon a Group B win against Iran. As the tried and true saying goes…“they hold their fate in their own hands.”
[Photo Gallery Credit & Info-Graphs]: Major League Soccer (MLS)
-Match Summary-
Advertisement
{1st Half} The pace and the rhythm suited the U.S. as they were often positioned correctly in most phases of their game plan. Lacking was a consistent ability to accumulate a great deal of offensive pressure with shots on goal. The energetic and precise play of Team Captain, #4/Tyler Adams, #10/Christian Pulisic, and #8/Weston McKennie drove the U.S. to dominate matters in the midfield areas. However, the squad was faulted for not claiming many more shots on goal.
In this first half of the match, include the stellar play of goalkeeper #1/Brian Turner, who made good saves, and the huge block in front of their goal by #3/Walker Zimmerman at minute (15:00). Add on the near-miss by Pulisic, when at minute (32:00), he managed to hit the top-left crossbar and then see it flail off to the left of the pitch.
[HALF TIME SCORE]: USA 0 England 0
Advertisement
{2nd HALF} The teams retuned to the pitch and continued to stave off each other’s attacking measures. There were no substantial highlights to speak of as the match wore on and the battle on the pitch was a persistent “toe-to-toe” type of combat. Neither side was willing, nor permitting the opponent to mount any type of a threat or customized attack. In the final phase of the match, substitutions were evident as both Head Coaches reached their magical time to make their line-up changes in finishing the battle. The globally-watched “tug-of-war” ended in the proverbial “draw” as both team walked off the pitch with at least a single point to their credits.
[FULL TIME SCORE]: USA 0 England 0
[CUP ADVANCEMENT OUTLOOK]: In the upcoming final day of group play, a win insures Team USA through to the Round of 16. With a loss or draw, they’re out when also factoring in last Monday’s (0-0) draw vs. Wales.
[NEXT UP]: Iran, Tuesday, Nov. 29th at 11:00 AM | PT. To watch, go to FOX, Telemundo. For Streaming: FOXsports.com; Peacock.
