Final, 3-2 Chile: It’s all over at the Estadio El Teniente. Team USA falls to Chile in its first game of 2015.
The new year began as the previous one ended for the United States: In defeat. Team USA conceded twice, and its game unraveled amid Chile’s second-half resurgence. Gonzalez’s double overturned the lead Shea and Altidore had given the United States. Tream USA will return home following the loss to Chile. It faces Panama on Feb. 8 in an exhibition game in Southern California.
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Postgame analysis of USA-Chile >>
90th minute +2, 3-2 Chile: Zardes is through on goal and shoots from a tight angle, but the well-positioned Herrera saves it.
Nguyen’s through-ball created the opening for Zardes.
90th minute, 3-2 Chile: There will be a minimum of four minutes of added time in the second half.
89th minute, 3-2 Chile: Gonzalez departs to a thunderous ovation. Sagal replaces Chile’s goal-scoring hero.
87th minute, 3-2 Chile: Wondolowski shoots on goal, but Herrera saves it with little fuss.
87th minute, 3-2 Chile: The United States is struggling to win, keep and use the ball in the closing stages of the game. Team USA also has pushed its back line toward the halfway line, leaving giant spaces into which Chile can counter-attack.
80th minute, 3-2 Chile: Bradley passes over the top of Chile’s defense into the penalty area. Wondolowski heads Bradley’s pass on goal, but it goes straight to Herrera.
79th minute, 3-2 Chile: The hosts make a personnel change in the midfield, replacing Medel with Diaz.
77th minute, 3-2 Chile: Nguyen’s curling shot from 16 yards out misses the target.
76th minute, 3-2 Chile: Gonzalez scores again, as Chile takes the lead.
Gonzalez struck at the near post again. This time it was after Rimando made a save, and the rebound bounced his way.
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74th minute, 2-2: Klinsmann replaces Altidore in the United States’ latest substitution.
72nd minute, 2-2: Chile makes another substitution. Fierro enters. Espinoza departs.
69th minute, 2-2: Gutierrez heads a shot over the crossbar in Chile’s latest goal-scoring effort.
68th minute, 2-2: Zardes replaces Dempsey, as Klinsmann brings adds a fresh face in the attack.
Zardes joins Trapp and Birnbaum in the ranks of Team USA players making their international debuts against Chile.
66th minute, 2-2: Gonzalez ties the score with a composed finish past Rimando at the near post.
The goal came via counter-attack on the right side of the U.S. defense.
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65th minute, 2-1 USA: Carrasco heads a corner kick over the crossbar, as Chile continues to threaten in the second half.
62nd minute, 2-1 USA: It’s a nervous moment in Team USA’s goal mouth, as a Chile cross hits Birnbaum’s knee and pops into the air for Rimando, who catches the ball on his goal line.
61st minute, 2-1 USA: Bradley rockets a long-range shot off the crossbar, as the United States threatens to extend its lead.
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59th minute, 2-1 USA: Klinsmann counters with a substitution of his own. Trapp enters in the midfield. Diskerud, who set up Altidore’s goal, exits.
59th minute, 2-1 USA: Delgado replaces Valdes, as Chile makes its first substitution.
55th minute, 2-1 USA: Chile’s spell of possession in the United States’ half ends with a “Roja” player firing a shot over Rimando’s goal from 25 yards out.
53rd minute, 2-1 USA: Now the referee shows Jones a yellow card.
51st minute, 2-1 USA: The referee cautions Nguyen for a foul in the midfield.
46th minute, 2-1 USA: The second half is underway.
The United States made one change during the interval, replacing Wood with Nguyen.
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Team USA reverts to a four-man back line, as Dempsey assumes a forward’s role.
Halftime, 2-1 USA: That’s the end of the first half. Team USA leads by one.
The United States leads at the break thanks to goals from Altidore and Shea. Chile had the better chances during the frantic opening period, but the visitors were more clinical in converting their few opportunities.
The first half lacked rhythm and fluidity, as both teams familiarized themselves with new teammates. But the contest was fast-paced and competitive.
Team USA’s three-back formation left a lot to be desired. Besler and Jones weren’t in total sync, which created numerous opportunities for the ever-dangerous Gutierrez. The United States must tighten its defense in order to avoid conceding late goals, which plagued it in the post-World Cup period in 2014.
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45th minute, 2-1 USA: Gutierrez thinks he has scored, but the referee’s assistant rules him offside.
Gutierrez escaped Jones’ and Besler’s marking, rose above the defense and headed the ball past Rimando. Replays show the Chile striker was onside when the ball was passed.
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43rd minute, 2-1 USA: Rojas is cautioned for fouling Altidore on the edge of Chile’s penalty area.
41st minute, 2-1 USA: Gonzalez narrowly misses connecting with a free-kick just six yards away from the U.S. goal.
39th minute, 2-1 USA: Gonzalez pounces on a loose ball in the U.S. penalty area and shoots into the side netting at the far post.
Team USA is living dangerously at the back. Chile hasn’t punished the Americans’ individual mistakes.
37th minute, 2-1 USA: Valdes dispossesses Jones, dribbles into the United States’ penalty area and shoots from a tight angle. Rimando is well positioned and palms Valdes’ shot away.
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37th minute, 2-1 USA: Bradley is cautioned.
35th minute, 2-1 USA: Chile fails to clear Bradley’s free kick. The ball falls to Jones, who heads over the bar from 10 yards out.
31st minute, 2-1 USA: Altidore buries his shot inside the far post, and the United States has the lead again.
The goal came on the right after Yedlin and Diskerud combined near Chile’s penalty area. Diskerud made a cut-back pass to Altidore, who beat Herrera with a first-time shot. Altidore was unmarked.
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22nd minute, 1-1: Medel steps up from the midfield and shoots from 35 yards out, but his effort swerves wide of Rimando’s goal.
19th minute, 1-1: Chile spurns a promising scoring chance, as Gutierrez shoots over the crossbar from just 8 yards out.
15th minute, 1-1: Birnbaum heads Bradley’s corner kick on goal, but Herrera saves it.
14th minute, 1-1: Yedlin races in behind the defense, but his pass into the goal-mouth is too powerful for Wood, who arrives a step late.
10th minute, 1-1: Gutierrez flashes a header past Rimando, and Chile has restored parity.
The goal came down the left side from Gonzalez, whose cross into the U.S. penalty area met the head of Gutierrez. Neither Jones nor Besler was marking the Chile striker.
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Sixth minute, 1-0 USA: Shea fires home the opener before the game clock reaches double digits.
The back-spin Besler put on his through-ball set the ball up nice for Shea, who rocketed his shot past Herrera into the goal.
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It’s another fast start for Team USA.
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Kickoff: USA-Chile is underway at the Estadio El Teniente.
Pregame: Klinsmann is employing a new formation with Team USA, fielding the starters in a 3-5-2 setup.
Jones is converting to a central defender in his international career. He starts next to World Cup holdover Besler and debutant Birnbaum.
Shea returns to the U.S. lineup after a lengthy absence. He starts on the left wing opposite Yedlin.
Dempsey, Bradley and Diskerud will patrol the center as midfielders.
Altidore and Wood start up top.
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At least two U.S. national teamers are watching from afar and hoping for the best.
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5:45 p.m.: Here are the lineups:
United States
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Chile
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4 p.m. ET: The road to the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup begins in earnest Wednesday for the United States men’s national soccer team.
Team USA faces Chile at the Estadio El Teniente in Rancagua, Chile in its first game of 2015. U.S. Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann brings a squad mixed with veterans and national-team newcomers to Chile, as he prepares his team for this summer’s regional championship and the next phase of the 2018 FIFA World Cup cycle.
Chile sits 14th in the latest FIFA rankings has its eyes set on this summer’s 2015 COMNEBOL Copa America. Head coach Jorge Sampaoli is giving a chance for domestic-based players to prove themselves on the international level. Europe-based stars like Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez will play no part against the United States. Nevertheless, Team USA, ranked 27th, faces a stern test in its first exhibition game in South America since January 2000 (a 2-1 win over Chile).
The United States has brought nine veterans of the 2014 World Cup to Chile. Klinsmann hopes the likes of Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore can assist the growth of their teammates’ international careers. Eight of the 23 players on the U.S. roster are in contention to make their international debuts. One or more of them might join the aforementioned stars as Team USA regulars in the coming months.
USA-Chile kicks off at 6 p.m. Join us right here for all the action from the Estadio El Teniente.
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Photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
