The United States men’s national team looked like a team without its stars and still learning to play together in a 1-1 draw with Panama to kick off their Gold Cup run on Saturday in Nashville.
[ MORE: Match recap | 3 things ]
Who upped their stock, who middled, and who wasn’t much to watch on Saturday?
Starting XI
Brad Guzan -- 8 -- An exceptional game from the Atlanta United backstop, who -- let’s face it -- spared the U.S. the humiliation of an opening loss.
Jorge Villafana -- 6 -- Remains the side’s top option at left back for now, and the reps help for the WCQ ahead.
Omar Gonzalez -- 5 -- Not inspiring confidence, but not a garbage fire. Always delivers a highlight play to moves hopes upward, so we’ll withhold our Gold Cup judgement.
Matt Besler -- 8 -- An exceptional night for the one star man from a back line that struggled mightily.
Graham Zusi -- 4 -- Regardless of what’s cooking at SKC, he’s a midfielder playing right back. That’s not really on him, and he had some moments later pushed further up the pitch that saved him from an even lower number.
Dax McCarty -- 5 -- Some good breakups in the first half, but altogether didn’t make the expected impact.
Kellyn Acosta -- 5 -- Two-straight equalizers where he’s swimming upstream. He’s going to be a very good American player, and that should make this match one of his more forgettable ones.
Kelyn Rowe (Off 69') -- 7 -- Was perhaps the only source of danger for the U.S. in the first half, then provided an assist before playing a significant role in Panama’s equalizer.
Alejandro Bedoya (Off 85') -- 6 -- Not an awful day for the captain, who came close to earning a penalty in the final 10 minutes.
Joe Corona (Off 63') -- 5 -- Some decent moments of creativity, but a touch too slow to be a difference maker on the day.
Dom Dwyer -- 7 -- Didn’t have a lot to do, but took his chance well to make sure U.S. fans could cheer a home goal.
Subs
Juan Agudelo (On 63') -- 6 -- Provided a lift almost immediately, and will get a more prolonged chance to impress somewhere down the line.
Gyasi Zardes (On 69') -- 5 -- His lacking confidence from club showed, as both he and fellow sub Morris have two goals in 28 MLS matches this year. Morris has both.
Jordan Morris (On 85') -- N/A -- Still not a lot to love with the left foot.