LOS ANGELES (AP) — Brandon Vazquez scored to guide a US lineup with seven starters making their worldwide debuts, however the Individuals misplaced 2-1 to Serbia on Wednesday evening of their first match because the World Cup.
Veljko Simic scored the go-ahead aim within the opening minute of the second half for Serbia, which gave debuts to 14 gamers. Eight Individuals in all debuted throughout a full of life pleasant that felt like spring coaching at BMO Stadium close to downtown Los Angeles.
The American crew is in transition with interim head coach Anthony Hudson working the present whereas the US Soccer Federation determines the way forward for coach Gregg Berhalter, whose contract expired on the finish of final yr. Hudson is utilizing the crew’s annual January camp and the accompanying exhibitions to provide expertise to a brand new crop of prospects after the US was eradicated within the spherical of 16 on the World Cup in Qatar.
The US makes use of kids and MLS gamers in its winter camp, which falls exterior a FIFA worldwide window. The present group has 11 gamers getting their first callup and simply 5 members of the World Cup roster.
Hudson’s inexperienced group placed on an thrilling efficiency with far more motion and attacking aptitude than regular in these annual January exhibitions, however the US crew has gained simply considered one of its final eight matches, with 4 attracts and three losses.
The US hosts Colombia on Saturday.
Luka Ilic scored late within the first half for Serbia, which fielded a beginning lineup with eight debuting gamers and simply 15 mixed worldwide appearances. LA Galaxy ahead Dejan Joveljic led a bunch that includes not one of the starters from the crew’s final World Cup match in opposition to Switzerland.
Goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina was among the many most US starters making debuts since 9 in opposition to Guatemala on Jan. 10, 1988. Slonina at 18 years, 8 months, 8 days grew to become the youngest US goalkeeper, breaking a mark that Tony Meola set at 19 years, 3 months, 18 days in opposition to Ecuador on June 7, 1988.
Additionally debuting had been defenders Julian Gressel and Jalen Neal, midfielders Aidan Morris and Alan Soñora, and ahead Alex Zendejas plus second-half sub DeJuan Jones.
US captain Walker Zimmerman made his thirty eighth worldwide look, whereas the opposite 21 gamers on the sphere mixed to start out the sport had solely 28 mixed video games of worldwide expertise. Paul Arriola got here on late instead after being dropped late from the US World Cup roster.
The US went forward when Vazquez rose to go dwelling an attractive cross from Gressel, his former teammate. Vazquez, a San Diego native who may play for the US or Mexico, grew to become the 59th participant to attain in his US debut.
Vazquez scored 18 targets for Cincinnati final season, tied for essentially the most by an American in Main League Soccer. Berhalter claimed the US did not have time to combine him into its roster earlier than the World Cup.
Gressel, a 29-year-old German fullback who gained US citizenship final yr, grew to become the oldest participant to make his first look for the American crew since Chris Pontius in January 2017.
Slonina, a Chelsea prospect from Chicagoland, made a handful of spectacular saves.
However after Ilic evened it for Serbia on a brief free kick within the forty third minute, Simic capitalized on a turnover by Neal to place Serbia forward within the forty sixth.
San Jose ahead Cade Cowell performed a powerful sport down the left facet in his second US look. The 19-year-old rang two pictures off the posts within the second half together with a powerful third strike that went simply large.
Alejandro Zendejas made his US senior crew debut after spending the earlier six years as a Mexican worldwide. The Membership América ahead, a teammate of Christian Pulisic on the 2015 Below-17 crew, rejoined the US program however nonetheless hasn’t determined the place he’ll play in the long run.
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