US Just Misses Clinch

Allow Late Goal to Tie Netherlands

August 10, 2008

The Netherlands took command early on a goal by Liverpool’s Ryan Babel, but the U.S. answered in the second half with a 64th minute goal by Sacha Kljestan and took the lead when Jozy Altidore struck in the 72nd.

However, in the third of three minutes of added time to the second half, Netherlands substitute Gerald Sibon drove a low free kick under the U.S. wall from 21 yards out to tie the game.

Freddy Adu received his second yellow card of the Olympics on Sunday. (CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

"It's tough," said U.S. head coach Peter Nowak. "As I told the guys in the locker room, that's the way the game goes sometimes. Not too many people gave us a chance tonight against the European champions, but we were very close to beating them. We have unfinished business. Going into the game with Nigeria, any result other than a loss, and we will pass into the quarterfinals."

The U.S. needs a win or tie in their final match of Group B vs. Nigeria or a loss by the Netherlands to Japan on Wednesdayto advance to the quarterfinals.

The U.S. will be heading into the game against Nigeria without the services of forward Freddy Adu and midfielder Michael Bradley, who were both issued their second yellow cards of the tournament. Adu earned his in the 78th minute for a challenge with Dutch goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer in which the U.S. forward stuck a foot in and hit the goalkeeper in the hand and forehead, while Bradley was booked for wasting time on a restart in stoppage time.

Nowak started the same lineup as the first match, including Revolution defender Michael Parkhurst manning the back line.

The Netherlands got things going in the 16th minute. Jonathan de Guzman caught up with a pass near the end line on the right and chipped a touch cross to the top of the six yard box where Ryan Babel headed it on goal. U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan dropped to the ground to make the save, but the rebound fell right back to Babel, who in the middle of three U.S. defenders who were late to converge, calmly slotted a high shot into the back of the net for the 1-0 Netherlands lead.

The U.S. leveled the score at 1-1 in the 64th minute on Kljestan’s goal. He started the play with space on the right side at midfield. He brought the ball inside playing a quick one-two with Holden and then a one-two with Adu, getting the ball back just outside of the area. Kljestan cut with the ball into the middle, kept possession after a challenge from a defender, and blasted a right-footed shot into the back of the net as Vermeer got a touch on the ball.

The second U.S. goal was opportunistic, coming during a scramble in front of the Dutch goal in the 72nd minute. The ball bounced out to Bradley, who got a touch playing it forward with his back to goal. Two Netherlands defenders were unable to clear, and the ball fell wide left to Michael Orzoco. Orozco took a settling touch and drove a low cross that deflected slightly off Calvin Jong-a-Pin as Altidore crashed and put it in the center of the net off his leg.

The U.S. was successful fending off the Dutch attack for much of the remainder of the match, with Guzan keeping command of his area and the U.S. back line winning most of the air battles. But a foul from Stuart Holden gave the Netherlands the chance they would need.

Holden fouled Sibon just outside of the penalty area, earning a yellow card. Sibon then stepped up and drove the free kick under the U.S. wall that jumped in unison and past Guzan to stun the U.S. and tiw the score, 2-2.

In the other Group B match, Nigeria topped Japan 2-1. Going into the final day, the U.S. is on top of the group on a tiebreaker with four points. Nigeria also has four points, while the Netherlands is in third place with two points, and Japan is last with no points.

U.S. MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM GAME REPORT:

Scoring Summary:
NED – Ryan Babel 16th minute
USA - Sacha Kljestan (Freddy Adu) 64th
USA - Jozy Altidore (Michael Orozco) 72nd
NED - Gerald Sibon 93rd+

Lineups:
USA: 18-Brad Guzan; 2-Marvell Wynne, 6-Maurice Edu, 15-Michael Parkhurst, 3-Michael Orozco; 7-Stuart Holden, 4-Michael Bradley, 16-Sacha Kljestan, 14-Robbie Rogers (12-Jozy Altidore, 65); 11-Freddy Adu (Benny Feilhaber, 80), 17-Brian McBride – Capt.

NED: 18-Kenneth Vermeer, 2-Gianni Zuiverloon, 3-Dirk Marcellis (Roy Makaay, 75), 4-Kew Jaliens, 7-Jonathan de Guzman, 8-Urby Emanuelson, 12-Hedwiges Maduro, 15-Royston Drenthe (Gerald Sibon, 75), 17-Otman Bakkal, 11-Ryan Babel, 16-Roy Beerens (Calvin Jong-a-Pin, 69)

ADD TO YOUR SOCIAL BOOKMARKS: Blink Del.icio.us Digg
Furl Google Simpy Spurl Technorati Y! MyWeb