USA Y Colombia they tied this Saturday without goals in a friendly match played in Los Angeles (USA) with a large presence of the ‘coffee’ crowd in the stands (0-0).
Neither of the two teams was able to pierce the rival goal despite the fact that they had numerous chances in a very entertaining and colorful first half. In the second half, the rhythm slowed down and the defenses comfortably prevailed over offenses without imagination or success.
As it is not a FIFA date, this friendly played at the LA Galaxy’s Dignity Health Sports Park did not include players from both teams that compete in Europe. The USA, led by interim coach Anthony Hudson, had just lost 1-2 in another friendly against Serbia on Wednesday, while the Colombian team led by Néstor Lorenzo only had this game on the calendar.
These two preparation games for the Stars and Stripes team came amid much controversy as the US Soccer Federation (USSF) is investigating the previous coach, Gregg Berhalter, for a sexist assault that occurred in 1991.
The USSF found out about that event –recognized by technician Through the parents of Gio Reyna, a Borussia Dortmund player and American international who had a much-discussed confrontation with Berhalter during the World Cup in Qatar.
The duel started with a lot of rhythm on both sides, with quick and impetuous attacks and with little interest in controlling the midfield. The first chance came for the USA in the 6th minute with a run down the right flank by Matthew Hoppe, who gave up the ball to Paxten Aaronson but his shy, low shot did not get goalkeeper Álvaro Montero into trouble.
Colombia’s response came with a ride from Diego Valoyes on the right without any partner appearing for the shot. With the match in a round trip that was very entertaining, Aaronson returned to haunt the goal but his shot -after a heel from Paul Arriola- crashed into the post at minute 14.
Daniel Ruiz tries to wrest the ball from Aaronso (USA)
Without reaching the middle of the first half, the coffee growers scared goalkeeper Sean Johnson once again, but the shots, first by Yilmar Velázquez and then by Cristian Arango, went wide. It seemed difficult that they could maintain that intensity and both teams took a little breather before the break.
In those last 20 minutes, Hoppe barely had a chance, but he again lacked accuracy in the finish, and the game went into the break without goals and with less speed than at the beginning.
Néstor Lorenzo opted for Diber Cambindo in the restart instead of an unfortunate Arango, but the Deportivo Independiente Medellín striker could not revive the Colombian attack either. It was difficult for Colombia to braid plays with an uninspired Juan Camilo ‘Cucho’ Hernández in attack.
Nor was the USA able to boast of their scoring nose and Jesús Ferreira wasted a ball inside the area that Arriola had served him. More stuck and with less continuity, the duel did not find the way to the goal despite the numerous substitutions and tests on both teams in the second half.
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