Well Window 4 went according to form thus far in WQ qualifying. The Nats were consistent in several regards. They consistently controlled the possession. With 63/37, 64/36, and 73/27 versus El Salvador, Canada, and Hounduras, respectively. And they outshot their opponents 17-6 , 13-5, and 16-2. But the problem once again was the lack of finishing. Scoring only 4 goals in the window and getting shut out up in Canada.

But all in all they are still in fine shape for qualifying going into the last window next month. Here are the current (tentative??) standings at the moment.

May be an image of text that says 'USA Concacaf QUALIFIERS RAD WORLD CUP QUALIFYING STANDINGS AFTER MATCHDAY 11 TEAM GP w CANADA L D 11 GF 7 USA GA 0 GD 4 19 PTS 11 6 5 MEXICO 2 +14 3 25 11 16 6 7 2 PANAMA +9 3 21 14 11 8 5 4 COSTA RICA +6 2 21 11 14 4 13 3 +1 SALVADOR 4 17 8 11 2 7 6 JAMAICA +1 3 1 16 6 11 1 13 6 HONDURAS -7 4 9 9 11 0 16 8 -7 3 7 5 22 -17 3'

Then you might ask what is tentative about the current standings? Well potentially nothing. But and its a big but. Costa Rica beat Jamaica last night 1-0 which wasn’t a good result for the USMNT as it put CR in a position to qualify. Had they lost they would have been all but eliminated. However, CR played the match last night with 2 players who had tested positive for Covid when they entered Jamaica on Tuesday. Jamaica has said they will file a formal protest with FIFA. FIFA being the spineless entity that it is likely won’t do anything. However, they would clearly be correct to declare a forfeit and award the match 3-0 to Jamaica. This will be interesting to watch.

So lets take a look at the three matches this window and what went right and what didn’t.

US – El Salvador

They got the win 1-0 but many fans were calling, once again, for manager Gregg Berhalter to get canned. They controlled the match from start to finish but you have to score goals in these matches where you are clearly the better side. I am, however, a big fan of the expected goals metric. I think that is a more true indicator of a teams performance than the number of goals scored. And the xG for this match was 2.9 for the US to 0.3 for El Salvador which fairly reflects the control the US displayed. They had their chances and had they converted closer to expectation then a comfortable win would have been the result rather than being on pins and needles wondering when ES would score some miracle goal and walk away with a draw. Thankfully they didn’t and we got the needed 3 points at home.

Canada – US

Canada clearly knows how they want to play the US. Sit back, absorb pressure, and rely on their clinical finishers to score a goal on a counter attack. And its worked in qualifying. Doesn’t matter than in both the match in the US and the one Sunday in Canada if the US was the more dominant side by the metrics and even the eye test. Sunday once again the US maintained possession and had the shots. The problem was two fold. First they didn’t do a good job of putting their shots on frame and when they did Canada’s keeper, Milan Borjan, forevermore now knows as Mr. Sweatpants, came up big. On the other end of the field the Canadian attackers did put their shots on frame and Matt Turner couldn’t find a big save. And much of the fault for Canada’s first goal just minutes into the match fell squarely on Turners shoulder with an absolute horrible goal kick. End result being a 2-0 loss which was much closer than the score indicated. And the clamoring for Berhalter to get fired just cranked up another level.

US – Honduras

From the frozen tundra of Hamilton Ontario to the ultra frozen north of Minneapolis, MN is a superb display of concacafery. Oh the horror of making the poor Central American players play in such cold conditions. Well pay back’s a bitch. Perhaps in the future they will stop scheduling matches down there in the middle of the day when its 95 degrees and near 100% humidity. Oh all after having let it sneak out the hotel where the US is staying so they can host last minute pre game parties all night outside the US hotel. Sorry not sorry. Now that said hosting the game there last night was a poor decision on the part of the USSF.

Matchwise it was all US from start to finish. They controlled the play, and demonstrated something that had been missing thus far in qualifying. The ability to score off of set pieces which has traditionally been a strength of the US program. However going into last night they had failed to score a single set piece goal in their previous 10 matches. Well they turned that around last night in a big way finding the back of the net 3 times from set pieces. Starting with this stunner from Weston McKennie in the 8th minute.

And they never looked back after that. Kudos to the team for coming out on fire under the adverse conditions. As former player and analyst Alexi Lalas stated in the pregame (while dressed like he was going polar bear hunting) “suck it up buttercups this is world cup qualifying.” Well suck it up they did!

Composite Player Ratings

Matt Turner – 4. Not a good window for the current #1 keeper. He was ok against El Salvador but a little shaky with his feet. But against Canada he was flat dreadful. No excuse for his early goal kick. With two defenders staying back and out wide for the possession play Turner elected to just kick it downfield. Which is fine except that if you are going to kick a 50-50 ball then launch it. He didn’t hitting it short directly to an wide open Canadian attacker for a quick counter. With two defenders out of position a quick goal ensued. Yes Miles Robinson was bad 1v1 there but it started with the poor goal kick plus he was in position to come up with a big save and he didn’t. Against Honduras he as perfect. But then any HS kid of the street could have been as he had just nothing to do.

Antonee Robinson – 7. Cemented his claim to the left back spot with three fine performances. Was solid defensively and supported the attack as we come to see. Oh, and he scored the game winner against ES.

Miles Robinson – 5. A terrible match against Canada (perhaps his worst showing with the Nats) and a very solid match against Honduras. Seemed to be more comfortable playing with Walker Zimmerman than Chris Richards.

Chris Richards – 4. His inexperience shown through this cycle. Fine against ES although he didn’t have to do much and committed some unnecessary fouls. Weak defensively against Canada. His passing was fine but he needs to get more solid with is positioning and communication with is center back pairing. Not the window we needed from him and after suffering an ankle injury Sunday it remains to be seen if he is in the side for the last window.

Walker Zimmerman – 8. Don’t think there is any doubt that the two time running MLS Defender of the Year is THE man in the middle of the defense. He is just solid defensively and is getting better and better with his passes out of the back. He’s always been fine in that regards but a bit on the safe side. Against ES he made several superb lofted balls over the top to a running winger. Other than for resting purposes pretty much an auto starter now.

Sergino Dest – 7. Solid performances against both ES and Canada. Effective on defense and dangerous supporting the attack down the right wing. His combination play with Tim Weah was excellent against Canada (oh how we missed Weah in that match) and the two seem to really be building something special.

Reggie Cannon – 6. Got the spot start for the resting Dest against Honduras and was in fine form. Tracked back on defense, or at least what little tracking back there needed to be. His passing was good for the possession game. Would have like to see him add a bit more to the attack but all in all a fine match.’

Tyler Adams – 5. A tale of two matches. His usual solid performance against ES but a pretty woeful match against Canada. He was just not sharp in that second match. His positioning was ok but he let Canada physically dominate him and his passing was not sharp at all. He’ll be fine but him having an off day against the Canucks was bad timing.

Weston McKennie – 8. Overall the best US player right now. Just does so much box to box and finds way to impact the game both defensively and in the attack. And our most dangerous player on set pieces. McKennie only sits in my lineups if he is just out of gas or the game doesn’t matter.

Yunas Musah – 5. Very solid against ES as demonstrated by his insane passing completing 48 of 49 passes. So important to the possession and buildup play Berhalter wants this team to use. Had some defensive lapses against Canada which need addressing.

Luca de la Torre – 6. What a wonderful start for him against Honduras. Was a little shaky to start (nerves?) but just grew into the game as it went on. Has terrific vision and has real creativity to his runs and passes. We will see more of this kid down the road.

Christian Pulisic – 4. Was pressing and trying to do too much against ES. And they recognized that. Once again he tried to dribble far too much. Whe he draws 2 and 3 defenders he has to be better to find a quicker outlet. Dispossessed 9 times in that match. He’s better than that. Unfortunately he didn’t look any better against Canada and his free kicks and corners were just not good. Earned him a start on the bench against Honduras. But the good news is he looked dangerous in his minutes last night and scored the final goal. Hopefully that will spark him in the next window.

Tim Weah – 7. Terrific match against ES. Continually getting behind them deep and getting his crosses into the middle. Wonderful combination play with Dest makes them a dangerous duo. Unfortunately did not get to travel to Canada due to them changing their covid travel requirements but was back in there last night. And he was solid again. Should have scored but his play was smart and he ran circles around the Honduran defense. Although there were times he needed to pass quicker and surely he’ll see this in the film room.

Jordan Morris – 5. The good news is he stretched the Honduran defense. The bad news is he wasn’t sharp as he needs to be but just coming off an ACL injury its understandable. Could be a factor in the next window as he’ll have additional training and several MLS matches prior to then.

Jesus Ferreira -6. Solid start against ES and got himself into dangerous positions on numerous occasions. Had an opportunity to stake at least a partial claim on the #9 position. While he played well he missed two great chances. Somebody still needs to step up and find the scoring touch.

Ricardo Pepi – 5. Solid sub role against Canada. One of the few US players who had a good match. Then got the start against Honduras. Good movement in the attack but tracked back a bit too deep given the game situation. And failed to score again even though he had a solid chance.

Gyasi Zardes – 5. Started against Canada and while he pressed well he didn’t create any dangerous situations in the attack. Not what he needed to show if he wants to be in the side come Qatar. Still had the high energy and physical play but at some point that has to translate into actual goal creation.

Brenden Aaronson – 6. One of the better players against Canada. Managed to find some space and create some forward momentum but just never turned it into anything real dangerous. Then same thing off the bench against Honduras. Very energetic and covered lots of ground but didn’t rally translate into the final third. Did have a couple of quick give and go’s with Pulisic so the game is there just needed a bit more consistency.

Paul Arriola – 8. Very limited play this window but by far our best player in Canada. Got more chances in his short mintues than the rest of the team did on the day. Always a place on the roster for guys like Arriola who know how to get things going.

Cristian Roldan – 7. Got a few cameo minutes last night and dang near scored. Guy just knows how to get into the right spot. Not ever going to be a starter in key matches but provides good and necessary depth.

Greg Berhalter – 5. Fine approach to all three matches but he has to find the players/tactics that can generate more goals. Certainly he isn’t out on the field and can’t finish for them but at the end of the day everything falls to the coach. The up side is that he has them playing outstanding defense. They have only allowed 7 goals in their 11 matches and that second Canada goal Sunday is not a coaching issue. Down a goal teams pressing for a late tying goal often conceded a counter. His roster selection still is curious in that he didn’t call in a second left back (yes Dest can play there) or a power forward such as Dike or Pefok to bring on when you need a late goal and you want a big man in the box. Still his starting rotation and substitutions were good.

Well we are down to the wire now. One window left in late March with the US playing at Mexico, at home with Panama, and finishing on the road in Costa Rica. Be watching the Panama match in Orlando as that one’s the key.

Steve Birrer
Steve Birrer

Soccer Analyst

Steve is an avid fan of all things soccer and the O’s. Originally from the west, he grew up in the Baltimore area. He returned to the west for college where he earned a BS degree in Chemical Engineering from Montana State University and spent 36 years working at the Idaho National Laboratory prior to retiring in 2013. It was during his school years in Baltimore where he learned to play soccer and that developed into a life long passion. He played competitively for over 40 years and was a four year starting goalkeeper at MSU. He also coached and refereed in the Idaho premier soccer and High School programs for many years.

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