The United States men’s team arrived in Orlando on the brink of crisis. He will emerge with his chest swollen and his pride intact, on stable ground as he moves forward. America Cup.
It arrived amid protests and pressure, following a 5-1 win over Colombia.
He responded with a statement: a 1-1 draw with Brazil, “a great comeback performance,” as goalkeeper. Matt Turner he said after the game.
Of course, it wasn’t the signature victory they craved. He was far from perfect, and if it weren’t for Turner’s 11 saves, interpretations and narratives may be different. Brazil had twice as many shots (25) and almost twice as many quality opportunities. Brazil was better; Brazil is better. That has not changed.
But the United States fought.
He demonstrated – to himself and to the world – that the post-Colombia panic was perhaps a little excessive.
“What we did today,” Turner said on TNT, “can kind of put an end to that (Colombia game).”
It was demonstrated, once again, that can compete with the best international soccer teams. What he hasn’t accomplished yet, in five years under coach Gregg Berhalter, is beat one of them. But, like against England in the World CupHe was close to a victory, close enough to maintain confidence that, one day, he will achieve it.
“We feel like we’ve taken a small step,” Berhalter said. “It’s not a big step, but it’s a small step.”
And, most importantly, it was collective.
He was emphatic, not in the score but in the tone. He USMNT had collapsed against Colombia. The players knew, how Chris Richards He said: “One thing we really need to change is our mentality.” They left little doubt they had in Wednesday’s opening exchanges.
First, Yunus Musah shook the crossbar with a 30 yard blast.
Next, Christian Pulisic, Captain America, came in and fired. A few minutes later, Pulisic brought down Brazilian winger Raphinha, the first of several fouls that raised the temperature of the game.
Pulisic was the American catalyst. He scored a goal, with a clever free kick; He nearly got a second after the break that would have put the Americans ahead.
Turner, however, was probably man of the match. His 11 saves were the most by a USMNT goalie since Tim Howard’s 16 at the 2014 World Cup against Belgium. And they were emblematic of the American response, because Turner’s night began as he finished his weekend.
The USMNT’s undisputed number one was poor against Colombia. The rust on him, after half a season on the bench Nottingham Forest, seemed to show. Then, in the 17th minute, with the ball at his feet, he opted for a meaningless pass, which Brazil intercepted. Seconds later, he was overtaken by Rodrygo; The United States was behind; and Turner’s confidence seemed to shake.
However, over the next 70 minutes, he rebuilt it, brick by brick, save after save.
“He stayed calm,” Berhalter said after the game. “And that is the most important”.
The USMNT, in general, could have given in to the occasional Brazilian blitz. Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr. and then Endrick were all threatening. But Joe Scally held his own against his second successive elite winger. Gio Reyna was shoulder-pulling the Brazilian midfielders as they threw passes. Tim Ream, 36 years old and half a step slower, used his guile and calmness to stabilize the USMNT by maintaining possession in its own penalty area. This, in every respect, by players young and old, was a performance for adults.
With the Copa América approaching — it starts on June 20; The USMNT’s first game is June 23 against Bolivia; many concerns remain. Ream and Richards looked vulnerable to the pace. All six defenders were too often trapped with the ball in dangerous areas. Antonio Robinson, for the second consecutive game, seemed somewhere between exhausted and absent. Ricardo Pepi, starter as forward, barely considered his place in the eleven.
But a draw with Brazil (only the United States’ second result in 20 meetings between these teams) was a statement: that this USMNT, on its day, can go toe-to-toe with giants.
And it was a necessary reminder before a massive tournament: “We know we have a strong team,” Scally said on TNT. “We know we can make a deep run.”