LOS ANGELES (AP) — Brandon Vazquez scored to steer a US lineup with seven starters making their worldwide debuts, however the People misplaced 2-1 to Serbia on Wednesday night time of their first match for the reason that 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 People in all debuted throughout a energetic 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 operating 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 offer 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 children and MLS gamers in its winter camp, which falls outdoors 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 rather more motion and attacking aptitude than regular in these annual January exhibitions, however the US crew has received simply certainly 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 gaggle that includes not one of the starters from the crew’s final World Cup match towards Switzerland.
Goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina was among the many most US starters making debuts since 9 towards 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 towards 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 sector mixed to begin the sport had solely 28 mixed video games of worldwide expertise. Paul Arriola got here on late in its place after being dropped late from the US World Cup roster.
The US went forward when Vazquez rose to move residence a wonderful cross from Gressel, his former teammate. Vazquez, a San Diego native who might play for the US or Mexico, grew to become the 59th participant to attain in his US debut.
Vazquez scored 18 objectives for Cincinnati final season, tied for probably 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 formidable recreation 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 formidable third strike that went simply vast.
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.
.