Published 4/23/2007 10:24:29 PM by staff from topdrawersoccer.com

The USA opened their 2007 Ballymena International Tournament campaign with a 1-1 draw against Scotland at Wellington Rec, Larne this evening. Scotland took a 1st half lead slightly against the run of play, and though the States created enough opportunities to win the match, they had to settle for a point which was earned courtesy of a Parker Walsh strike five minutes from full-time.

Brian Maisonneuve’s side, with the wind at their backs during the opening period, began brightly but passed up a decent opportunity to open the scoring in the third minute. Dersu Abolfathi made a break down the right flank and bamboozled the Scottish left-back before sending a dangerous cross into the center. Unfortunately, Ryan Finley missed his kick and when the ball broke to Eder Arreola he lost control and the chance went begging.

Scotland’s first chance fell to Alex Cooper on nine minutes, but the Ross County winger’s left-footed volley from 20 yards dipped just over Cody Mizell’s crossbar.   The States passed the ball pretty well and Scott Caldwell and Arreola at the heart of their side’s most promising attacks. On 17 minutes Arreola combined with Finley who slipped an excellent pass into the path of Ben Speas. The Cleveland-area midfielder had made an intelligent run to collect the ball but this was not matched by his finish which was high, wide and not very handsome.

The US threatened again just sixty seconds later when the diminutive Caldwell won possession in midfield before releasing Arreola down the left flank. Arreola sent a cross into the middle but Finley was closely marked and his headed effort sailed harmlessly over the bar.

Scotland were by no means playing poorly. They were physical but were determined to get the ball on the floor and play decent football. They went close in the 27th minute when Bob McHugh took a pass from Gordon Smith, jinked past Gale Agbossoumonde and, from the edge of the penalty area, sent a shot narrowly wide of the post.

The opening goal arrived just before the half-hour mark from what looked to be a well-rehearsed set-piece. David McAulliffe sent an inswinging corner towards the far post where it was met by the head of Scott Durie. The ball was deflected towards goal but Caldwell was on hand to head the ball off the line. However, the clearance dropped only as far as McHugh who slammed the ball home from eight yards.

The US thought they had restored parity in the 34th minute. Arreola sent a brilliant ball into the area from the right flank and Kofi Sarkodie dived to head it powerfully into the back of the Scottish net. However, the referee had spotted an infringement, blew his whistle and disallowed the goal.

The only remaining action of the first half came with four minutes remaining when the ball broke kindly to McHugh in the penalty area only for Mizell to dive bravely at his feet and snuff out the danger.

The Scots had the first chance of the second period when Smith dispossessed Arreola and laid the ball into the path of Stephen Forbes who had ventured forward from the right-back berth. With the US defenders backing off somewhat, space opened up for Forbes to shoot, which he did, but the effort drifted wide of Mizell’s right hand post.

The US got into their groove shortly thereafter and began to exert some pressure on the Scottish rearguard. On 49 minutes Caldwell clipped a freekick into the penalty area were it was met by Speas, but his header lacked power and was easily gathered by Grant Adam in the Scottish goal. Two minutes later, after some combative work by the USA midfielders, the ball broke to Walsh whose shot deflected off Forbes and went behind for a corner.

An injury to McHugh fifteen minutes into the 2nd half delayed the game somewhat and disrupted the rhythm which the US were beginning to find. They did, however, almost manage to get in behind the Scotland defense in the 64th minute when substitute Adedoja Akinsanya burst past Forbes to get on the end of a clever pass from Speas. But before the winger could either get a shot or a cross away, Durie made an excellent recovery tackle and averted the danger.

Mizell then had to field long-range efforts from Cooper and Archie Campbell in the 66th and 72nd minutes respectively, before the States’ deserved leveler arrived on 75 minutes. Adam picked up a backpass on the edge of his area and from the subsequent freekick Abolfathi rolled the ball to Walsh who smashed it through the wall and beyond Adam who, it seemed, had not managed to get a sight of the ball until it was too late.

The States, who had switched to a 3-4-3 formation just before claiming the equalizer, might actually have snatched victory in the dying seconds but, having timed his run perfectly from his own half and latched on to a hooked pass from Agbossoumonde, Hasani Sinclair lost control of the ball at the vital moment as he bore down on the Scottish goal and Adam was able to advance from his line and clear the danger.

“I would have liked a better result,” admitted Maisonneuve post-match. “I thought, with the wind behind us in the first half, we might have been a bit more dangerous in front of goal. We had two clear chances in the first 25 minutes which we didn’t even manage to get on frame, so we have to do better with that. We had multiple set-pieces around the box and had some good service from out wide which no-one could get on the end of, so we have to get someone who will make those runs and get on the end of those crosses.

“We did OK defensively,” continued Maisonneuve, “but I’m really upset with their goal. We knew they would be good in the air and good on set-pieces and we somehow allowed them to get a free header in the box. But their front two played very well and gave us a couple of tests one-on-one, but we didn’t give up a whole lot and when Cody [Mizell] was called upon he did well.”

Looking ahead to tomorrow’s match against the Czech Republic (to whom the US have lost in each of the last two finals at Ballymena), Maisonneuve expects another tough match. “We haven’t seen the Czech Republic at this age group, but we know in the past they have been well organized with some very good individual players and they have a good all round team, so we are expecting a difficult match tomorrow.”

USA Line-up

1-Cody Mizell; 8-Kofi Sarkodie (c), 3-Gale Agbossoumonde, 9-Aubrey Perry, 12-Parker Walsh; 5-Amobi Okugo, 10-Scott Caldwell (17-Chad Barson, 73mins), 14-Ben Speas (6-Hasani Sinclair, 59mins); 4-Dersu Abolfathi, 16-Ryan Finley (7- Adedoja Akinsanya, 59mins), 13-Eder Arreola (15-Korey Veeder, 45mins)

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