The US players celebrate their winning goal. Photo: Brandon Wade
(Photo: dpa)
Three days earlier, the Klinsmann team had started the friendly phase with a 3-1 win against Puerto Rico.
“I think it was a very good game defensively. Having two games in such a short time already gives the players a taste of the Copa America,” said Klinsmann. The Swabian had to wait until the 90th minute to celebrate the goal.
Then Union Berlin striker Bobby Wood headed in for Darlington Nagbe, who scored his first international goal to win from close range. “This goal gives me a lot of self-confidence,” emphasized Nagbe. His late goal was the deserved reward for a significant improvement in the Americans’ performance in the second half.
In the first half, the 9893 spectators saw a game with a typical friendly character. The guests seemed a bit more agile, but could not embarrass the US defense with Bundesliga professionals John Anthony Brooks (Hertha BSC) and Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach). On the offensive, the Americans lacked ideas and creativity.
That all changed after the break with the substitutions of a trio that hinted at just how valuable it can be for the USA in the future. The future HSV professional Wood (23 years old), Darlington Nagbe (25) and the only 17-year-old Christian Pulisic from Dortmund provided more dynamism and goal scoring. Above all, Pulisic impressed on the left wing with his quick starts.
The USA will play their final friendly against Bolivia in Kansas City on Saturday before opening the Copa America Centenario against Colombia in Santa Clara, California on June 3. The three-week tournament with 16 teams from North, Central and South America and the Caribbean will be held in the USA for the first time to mark the 100th anniversary of the South American football association CONMEBOL.
