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Berhalter: USMNT lacked 'desire' in Canada loss

Published in Soccer
Tuesday, 15 October 2019 22:37

TORONTO -- U.S. men's national team manager Gregg Berhalter bemoaned his team's lack of desire in its 2-0 loss to Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League.

The triumph for the Reds was their first over the U.S. in 34 years, snapping a winless streak of 17 games. Alphonso Davies broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute, bundling home Scott Arfield's low, driven pass to the far post. Lucas Cavallini added Canada's second in the second minute of stoppage time to make the game safe.

- U.S. player ratings: Pulisic, Yedlin struggle in nightmare loss
- CONCACAF Nations League: All you need to know
- Stream replay of U.S.-Canada on ESPN+

The match was the first road game for the U.S. in 2019, and the visitors wilted against an inspired, physical Canada side. Canada now needs to just earn a draw in next month's return fixture against the U.S. to advance to the semifinals of the competition.

"The first thing that stands out to me, was desire; desire of Canada," said Berhalter. "Give them credit. But having said that, the minimum we expect is to match that. We need to compete on every single play in games like this, and that's important. I don't think it was a lack of effort. I don't think it was purposeful. But I wasn't happy with the desire that we displayed tonight to win the soccer game. Too many 50-50 balls we lost, and that hurt us."

play
1:18

Twellman: U.S. in crisis mode after Canada defeat

ESPN's Ian Darke and Taylor Twellman slam the USMNT for an "alarming" performance against Canada.

U.S. midfielder Christian Pulisic had a glorious chance to put the U.S. ahead in the 51st minute, after good work from Jordan Morris, but could only put a weak shot from 10 yards directly at Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan.

Pulisic struggled for most of the night, but it was still a surprise when he was substituted for Paul Arriola nine minutes later. Berhalter said that Pulisic had been suffering from flu-like symptoms for the previous two days.

"He wanted to continue," said Berhalter about Pulisic. "You could see the disappointment in his face, and we had to make that decision. We made the decision based on being not sure how much he had left. We wanted to inject some energy into the team."

But this was a match in which Canada outplayed the U.S., and was deserving of their victory. The U.S. struggled for most of the night to consistently generate much of an attack.

"What stands out to me is just the sloppiness with the ball; too many mis-controlled touches, too many missed passes, too many easy things that we normally make that we weren't making tonight," said Berhalter. "What they did with their midfield is they played a diamond. They were very compact in the central spaces. Our idea was to move the ball from one side and find the free fullback on the other side of the field, penetrate, and then we can start opening up that diamond. When we did that, it was good. We were able to gain ground, and move them around the field. When we didn't do that due to a lack of cleanliness on the ball, or playing down the same side and letting that diamond shift over, we got trapped. That hurt us from developing nice buildups."

The match will do little to quell concerns about the state of the U.S. program, especially now with Canada appearing to be on the rise. Berhalter said his side would continue to work to improve.

"I wouldn't make a statement about the program based on this game," he said. "The reason why is that these games are difficult. It was never going to be easy and come here and win the game. There was no way. When you look at their team, when at their quality, when you look at where they are right now, it wasn't going to be an easy game. We have to accept that. I think all of us have to accept that. We wanted to win the game, and hopefully we're going to keep improving and hopefully we're going to start winning games on the road, but tonight wasn't the night to do it."

TORONTO -- Just over two years since the United States men's national team failed to qualify for the World Cup, U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter had his own Couva-lite moment.

Sure, the stakes in Tuesday's 2-0 CONCACAF Nations League defeat against Canada weren't nearly as high as that night in Trinidad. We're talking about a spot in the World Cup compared to a nascent regional competition. The disaster against Trinidad and Tobago was also the final chapter in that qualifying run. In the case of the Nations League, the U.S. will have an opportunity to get some payback next month against the Reds when the two teams meet in Orlando, Florida, for the return fixture. On this performance, a strong argument can be made that Tuesday's opponent was more talented, too.

- CONCACAF Nations League: All you need to know
- USMNT ratings: Pulisic, Yedlin 2/10 vs. Canada
- Carlisle: Why rebuilt Canada can take down the U.S.

Yet the 2-0 defeat to Canada is another dagger into the heart of the U.S. men's program. The U.S. was beaten by a team that was hungrier, technically adept and executed better in every part of the field. With a bit more sharpness in front of goal, Canada could have run away with the match and won 3-0 or 4-0. As the final whistle sounded, the crowd at BMO Field celebrated its first victory over the U.S. in 34 years, and one that was totally deserved.

It was a sobering contrast indeed for the U.S., though Berhalter chose to focus on his team's lack of fight.

"I think the first thing that stands out to me was desire, the desire of Canada," Berhalter said. "Give them credit, but having said that, the minimum we expect is to match that. We need to compete on every single play in games like this. That's important. I don't think it was lack of effort. I don't think it was purposeful. But I wasn't happy with the desire that we displayed tonight to win the soccer game. Too many 50-50 balls we lost, and that hurt us."

That this was the case is an indictment of both Berhalter and the players.

But this defeat goes beyond desire. On the night, the U.S. could look at Canada and see what it once was, a team that was competitive all over the field, but one that also played to its strengths and used the talent available to it. In attackers Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David, Canada boasted two players who can make killer plays in the attacking third and, thanks to veteran midfielder Scott Arfield, the wits to put them in threatening spots, isolated against U.S. defenders. Canada also looked dangerous in transition, and dominated the midfield, despite losing linchpin midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye after just nine minutes. Debutant Liam Fraser replaced him, and the Reds' midfield didn't miss a beat.

At this stage, it's difficult to discern what if any progress the U.S. has been made in the past two years. The visitors once again tried to play out of the back, yet were forced into errors by Canada's withering pressure. Cristian Roldan's errant pass set the table for David to put the home side ahead in the 16th minute, only for Zack Steffen to bail the U.S. out with a sharp save before David missed the target with the rebound. Eventually, it was another poor delivery, this time from Tim Ream, which teed up Davies to give Canada its deserved breakthrough in the 64th minute.

The question stands as to how much longer Berhalter will force his team to adopt this possession-based style while still suffering results like Tuesday's. It's one thing to cough the ball up repeatedly against Mexico. That it suffered equally so against Canada (ranked 75th in the world, according to FIFA) shows the different directions in which the two programs are heading.

The U.S. also remains heavily reliant on Christian Pulisic to provide attacking moments of magic. That looked set to take place in the 51st minute, when good work from Jordan Morris put Pulisic wide open in front of goal, only for Pulisic to weakly shoot directly at Canada keeper Milan Borjan.

Nine minutes later, Berhalter -- in the most shocking move of the night -- pulled Pulisic from the match in favor of Paul Arriola. Berhalter later explained that Pulisic had been dealing with flu-like symptoms for the past few days. Pulisic's distraught reaction toward Berhalter told a deeper story.

"I just had some trouble the last few days, but I was fine tonight," Pulisic said. As for not wanting to be subbed out, the midfielder added, "I still felt like I could help my team. No one wants to come out of the game. I was just frustrated about that."

To be clear, this was not the Chelsea man's best night, even beyond his failure to convert in front of goal. His passing wasn't sharp and he often turned the ball over when dribbling into trouble. But he also got precious little help from his teammates. For instance, in the rare moments when the U.S. won the ball, Pulisic was often left to be a one-man counterattack, with forward Josh Sargent in no position to help because he was tracking back defensively. That said, if anyone was going to help the U.S. grab a goal, it was Pulisic. With him off the field, the chances of the U.S. scoring plummeted.

Watching this U.S. side, it's also clear that the dearth of players in the middle of their international careers is having even more of an impact this cycle than it did in the previous one. In the 2018 cycle, there were still veteran players such as Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard to lean on to help the U.S. push through. Now they're gone, leaving Berhalter to rely heavily on players who are either young or just starting their international careers. Playing their first road game of 2019, the U.S. didn't deal with the atmosphere, which was emotional, but by no means the most intimidating in CONCACAF. Will the return of injured players such as defender John Brooks and midfielder Tyler Adams help? You bet, but outwardly the U.S. needs even more.

Berhalter will have the next month to find ways to instill the requisite intensity in his players, but, more important, find an approach that is more practical and less dogmatic. The players are who they are and would seem to thrive in transition moments. Until then, the U.S. will remain where it has been the past two years, stuck in neutral with no signs of progress on the horizon.

WBBL previews: squad lists and players to watch

Published in Cricket
Tuesday, 15 October 2019 22:06

The fifth edition of the WBBL - and the first standalone version - begins on Friday with the Brisbane Heat aiming to retain the title they won in thrilling style last year. Here's how the squads stack up with some names to keep an eye on.

Adelaide Strikers

Squad Darcie Brown, Tegan McPharlin, Alex Price, Annie O'Neil, Sarah Coyte, Katie Mack, Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, Bridget Patterson, Ellie Falconer, Megan Schutt, Tahlia McGrath, Stafanie Taylor, Lauren Winfield, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Tabatha Saville

2018-19 stats

What happened last season?

They began with victory against eventual champions the Brisbane Heat, but struggled for consistency until the backend if the group stage where they secured three victories in a row - including a Super Over win against the Hobart Hurricanes - but it was too late to make the knockouts. That was despite having two of the five highest run-scorers in Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates

Player to watch

Allrounder Tahlia McGrath was part of Australia's Test and ODI side but has not featured since 2017 although is a current member of the national performance squad. Last season she was the Strikers' third-highest run-scorer behind Devine and Bates and if she can increase her output from the 276 runs made in 2018-19 it will help take the pressure off the New Zealand pair.

Brisbane Heat

Squad Kirby Short (capt), Haidee Birkett, Maddy Green, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Mikayla Hinkley, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Jess Jonassen, Amelia Kerr, Delissa Kimmince, Charli Knott, Lilly Mills, Beth Mooney, Georgia Prestwidge, Courtney Sippel

2018-19 stats

What happened last season?

Ended the Sydney Sixers' quest for a hat-trick of titles with a three-wicket win in the final where Beth Mooney battled the heat for a matchwinning 65 then they held their nerve amid a late wobble. Their semi-final win over the Sydney Thunder had been a thriller as well with Haidee Birkett holding a stunning catch to secure victory. Mooney had an excellent tournament with the bat, making 486 runs, while Delissa Kimmince was the leading wicket-taker with 22.

Player to watch

Last season Grace Harris smashed the fastest WBBL hundred off just 42 balls against the Melbourne Stars and overall she was the Heat's second-highest scorer behind Mooney. Her strike-rate of 148.41 was the highest of the tournament. There were also 16 wickets at an economy rate of under six in a stellar tournament. And that's before we even mention the times she is on the mic in the field.

Hobart Hurricanes

Squad Nicola Carey, Stefanie Daffara, Erin Fazackerley, Katelyn Fryett, Maisy Gibson, Corinne Hall (capt), Brooke Hepburn, Heather Knight, Hayley Matthews, Sasha Moloney, Meg Phillips, Emily Smith, Chloe Tryon, Belinda Vakarewa, Tayla Vlaeminck, Fran Wilson

2018-19 stats

What happened last season?

The Hurricanes made the semi-finals in the first two seasons of the WBBL but have been the competition anchors in the last two years. Last season they won just two matches and also lost two Super Overs. West Indies star Hayley Matthews only managed two games before being injured and India's Smriti Mandhana managed just two half-centuries in 13 games. The Hurricanes did score more runs than any other team but they conceded more runs than any other side as well. They had real trouble containing opposition sides and they have made a concerted effort in the off-season to bolster the bowling stocks.

Player to watch

Tayla Vlaeminck has made the move to Tasmania alongside fellow Australia player Nicola Carey. Vlaeminck hasn't shown her best form at WBBL level yet due to a multitude of injury issues but her performances for Australia recently suggest she could have a huge tournament. She has taken wickets in each of her last five international matches and has conceded under six runs an over. She will be the fastest bowler in the tournament and will give the Hurricanes some real strike-power upfront.

Melbourne Renegades

Squad Tammy Beaumont, Makinley Blows, Maitlan Brown, Josie Dooley, Jess Duffin (capt), Erica Kershaw, Claire Koski, Carly Leeson, Sophie Molineux, Courtney Neale, Molly Strano, Lea Tahuhu, Georgia Wareham, Courtney Webb, Danni Wyatt

2018-19 stats

What happened last season?

The Renegades fell agonisingly short of the final. Sophie Molineux firstly went within millimetres of finding the match-winning boundary off the last ball of the semi-final and then she was inches short of the winning third run after her full stretch dive was just beaten by Alyssa Healy's direct hit. The Renegades did only just scrape into the semis, though, winning seven games for the season. Their attack was their biggest weapon last year with the spin trio of Molly Strano, Georgia Wareham, and Molineux complemented by the speed of Lea Tahuhu and the consistency of Maitlan Brown. But their batting was too heavily reliant on Molineux, who scored three of the Renegades' six half-centuries for the season, including her brilliant innings in the semi-final.

Player to watch

Allrounder Sophie Molineux is again the Renegades key player and with the absence of Amy Satterthwaite her runs will be even more important. She will get more support at the top of the order with the signing of senior England batter Tammy Beaumont. Molineux will be pushing to be part of Australia's T20 World Cup squad and runs and wickets will put her right in the frame.

Melbourne Stars

Squad Kristen Beams, Lucy Cripps, Mignon du Preez, Nicole Faltum, Holly Ferling, Tess Flintoff, Nicola Hancock, Emma Inglis, Alana King, Lizelle Lee, Katey Martin, Erin Osborne, Angela Reakes, Annabel Sutherland, Elyse Villani (capt)

2018-19 stats

What happened last season?

The Stars started the season with a bang thanks to Lizelle Lee's stunning century on the opening day, and they won their first two matches, but their batting really fell away badly as they struggled to make winning scores. The South African pair of Lee and Mignon du Preez reached 50 just once each which meant their relatively inexperienced attack didn't have much to work with. Legspinner Kristen Beams, who has announced she will retire after this season, was only available for six games which made their task even harder and they only managed five wins for the season.

Player to watch

Elyse Villani returning home to Melbourne after a stint in Perth is a huge boost for the Stars. She takes over as captain and is very highly regarded as a leader but her batting will be where she can make the biggest impact. She was the sixth leading runscorer in the WBBL last season and only played 11 games. She has also been out of favour at international level and will be looking to push her case for the T20 World Cup having not played a T20I since the 2018 World Cup final in the West Indies.

Perth Scorchers

Squad Jemma Barsby, Samantha Betts, Nicole Bolton, Mathilda Carmichael, Piepa Cleary, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Kath Hempenstall, Amy Jones, Emma King, Meg Lanning (capt), Taneale Peschel, Chloe Piparo, Georgia Redmayne, Nat Sciver

2018-19 stats

What happened last season?

The much-vaunted Scorchers were arguably the biggest disappointments of WBBL04. Despite the star power in the top-order, they were unable to make the finals for the first time. Meg Lanning, Elyse Villani and Nicole Bolton missed 13 games between them which did test the Scorchers' depth from a batting perspective, but they really struggled with the ball. Heather Graham took 22 wickets in a season where she was named domestic player of the year but Bolton's 12 wickets from 11 games with her part-time offspin was the next best contributor, and she was the only bowler with an economy rate under seven.

Player to watch

Nicole Bolton will be important for the Scorchers. She has taken a step back from international cricket for the time being to focus on her mental health and she has enjoyed the domestic environment with Western Australia, scoring two WNCL half-centuries to start the season. Lanning will be the key wicket for opposition teams and that may allow Bolton to play with some freedom. Her offspin will be useful again, as she is particularly adept at bowling in the powerplay.

Sydney Sixers

Squad Sarah Aley, Alisha Bates, Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Maddy Darke, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jodie Hicks, Emma Hughes, Marizanne Kapp, Ellyse Perry, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Dane van Niekerk, Lauren Smith

2018-19 stats

What happened last season?

Pipped in the final by the Heat after the semi-final for the ages against the Renegades when the relay run out between Erin Burns, Sarah Aley and Alyssa Healy became one of the moments of the season. A stellar top order produced three individuals hundreds - two from Ellyse Perry and one for Healy - supplemented by further international class in Ashleigh Gardner, Erin Burns and Dane van Niekerk. Perry's tally of 777 runs was a new WBBL record.

Player to watch

It may seem obvious to pick out Ellyse Perry, but the strength of Australia's top order means she hasn't been needed much with the bat in recent times. Back on the domestic scene she can expect to be at the top of the order with the chance to set the tone for the innings. The Sixers aren't short on bowling options, either, but Perry will be looking to increase on her return of 10 wickets in 16 matches at last year's tournament.

Sydney Thunder

Squad Rachael Haynes, Sam Bates, Alex Blackwell, Nida Dar, Hannah Darlington, Rene Farrell, Lisa Griffith, Saskia Horley, Shabnim Ismail, Phoebe Litchfield, Rachel Priest, Kate Peterson, Naomi Stalenberg, Rachel Trenaman, Tahlia Wilson

2018-19 stats

What happened last season?

Finished second in the league stage and when Nicole Carey connected with her swing into the leg side off the final ball of the semi-final against the Heat it looked as though they were destined for the final, only for Haidee Birkett to grab the brilliant catch on the boundary. Rachael Haynes led the batting impressively with 376 runs with Stafanie Taylor, who this season will play for the Strikers, taking 19 wickets and contributing 212 runs.

Player to watch

It remains to be seen how often she makes the startling XI, but 16-year-old Phoebe Litchfield is an undoubted star of the future. Earlier this year a video posted by the NSW Breakers of her batting in the nets gained considerable attention and over the last 12 months she has scored her maiden first grade century, made her debut for the Breakers and been selected for Australia Under-19s and the Governor General's XI.

Reddick: Yanks fans throwing debris 'disrespectful'

Published in Baseball
Tuesday, 15 October 2019 21:26

NEW YORK -- Houston Astros right fielder Josh Reddick called out Yankees fans for tossing water bottles, baseballs and other objects on the field during New York's 4-1 loss in the AL Championship Series on Tuesday.

"You throw a baseball hard enough and hit somebody in the head when they're not looking, it could do some damage to the player, so it's definitely disrespectful and at the same time very unsafe," Reddick said.

Fans erupted after a replay review changed Edwin Encarnacion's infield hit leading off the eighth to a groundout. Houston went on to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

"I don't think fans realize when they do that that you could hit a player. You hit a baseball player with a baseball from the third deck, it's got a little bit of movement on it, so it can definitely do some damage to you, and it's frustrating to see as a player in the outfield," Reddick said. "I saw water bottles and, like, two baseballs. There were two souvenir baseballs thrown in center and left field. I got all the water bottles in right."

Reddick homered off Luis Severino in the second inning for a 2-0 lead. Fans directed insults at him when he went to right field.

"It's a matter of all kinds of different things here, but you're used to that for nine innings. Pretty standard," Reddick said. "They're all yelling at the same time, so it all kind of mumbles together."

Restless Yankees fans cheered when Luis Cessa hit Alex Bregman on the back with a 92 mph fastball in the ninth.

NLCS MVP Kendrick: 'Best time of my career'

Published in Baseball
Tuesday, 15 October 2019 21:28

WASHINGTON -- The Nationals are headed to their first World Series.

Fittingly, the player who led them there is going to his first one, too.

Veteran Howie Kendrick was named MVP of the National League Championship Series on Tuesday, with his big bat helping Washington to a four-game sweep of the Cardinals.

As he received his MVP trophy, the fans started chanting "How-ie! How-ie!" and his teammates gave him a huge ovation

"I can truly say this is the best time of my career, the best moment of my career this year," Kendrick said upon receiving the award.

Kendrick, 36 years old and in his 14th season in the majors, finished the series 5-for-15 with four doubles and four RBIs. He was at his best in Monday's Game 3 win, becoming just the fourth player to hit three doubles in an LCS game as part of a 3-for-4, three-RBI night that put Washington on the brink of a pennant.

He played a huge role in the regular season as well, hitting a career-high .344 in 121 games and 334 at-bats as one of the most valuable bench players in the league.

"When we were down and had a lot of players injured early on, Howie was the one big bat that carried us. He had such a magic season," general manager Mike Rizzo said.

Kendrick also hit the game-winning grand slam in the 10th inning of the clinching Game 5 of the division series against the Dodgers.

Kendrick came to the Nationals in the middle of the 2017 season in a trade with the Phillies and then re-signed with the Nationals after that season. His 2018 season ended in May when he ruptured his Achilles.

After the surgery, Kendrick remained with the team for about six weeks, but then returned home to finish his rehabilitation. He told his teammates he'd be back in 2019.

"I told them before I left, 'I'll be ready for spring training.' Some people were like, yeah, yeah, we'll see. I wasn't joking when I said that. To be able to be back with these guys ... it means a lot to be around those guys. I learn so much from them, and I love these guys just as much as they love me, and I know that 100%. I think that's the big reason why we have success, because we truly care about the next guy."

Henseleit, Liu share lead in second stage of LPGA Q-School

Published in Golf
Tuesday, 15 October 2019 14:19

Germany’s going for a wire-to-wire victory at the LPGA’s second stage of Q-School.

Esther Henseleit grabbed a share of the second-round lead with a 5-under 67 Tuesday at Plantation Golf & Country Club in Venice, Fla., a day after fellow countrywoman Olivia Cowan took the first-round lead.

At 9-under overall, Henseleit is tied at the top with China’s Yan Liu (67), one shot ahead of Cowan (72), Thailand’s Prima Thammaraks (68) and American amateur Sierra Brooks, whose 66 equaled the low round of the day.

Henseleit is on her way to locking up the Ladies European Tour’s Rookie of the Year Award this season.

Brooks, 21, a senior at the University of Florida, finished runner-up to Maria Fassi at the NCAA Championships last May.

Lucy Li, the 17-year-old amateur from Redwood Shores, Calif., shot 72 and is tied for 28th. Min A. Yoon, a 16-year-old amateur from South Korea, shot 74 to fall into a tie for 14th.

A minimum of the top 30 and ties will advance to the Q-Series finale later this month, with the possibility  that as many as 48 players could advance. Li and Yoon aren’t eligible for Q-Series because of their ages, but they can earn Symetra Tour status by finishing all 72 holes in this week’s no-cut event. The minimum age to play the LPGA is 18.

Click here for full scores from LPGA Q-School.

United States fall flat in shock loss to Canada

Published in Soccer
Tuesday, 15 October 2019 19:26

Alphonso Davies scored in the 63rd minute and Lucas Cavallini added the clincher in the first minute of second-half stoppage time to give Canada a 2-0 win over the United States men's national soccer team in a CONCACAF Nations League match on Tuesday in Toronto.

The Canadians beat their neighbors to the south for the first time since posting a 2-0 victory in a friendly on April 2, 1985. Canada's most recent victory in a competitive match against the United States had come in 1980. The Americans had a 17-game unbeaten streak (9-0-8) vs. their rival end.

The match was part of CONCACAF Nations League A, which features the top 12 teams from the region placed in four three-team groups.

- U.S. player ratings: Pulisic, Yedlin struggle in nightmare loss

Canada (3-0-0, nine points) has command of Group A over the United States (1-1-0, three points) and Cuba (0-2-0, zero points).

Canada plays its final group match on Nov. 15 vs. the U.S. in Orlando. The Americans complete play four days later vs. Cuba in George Town, Cayman Islands.

The four group winners advance to the knockout-round semifinals in June 2020.

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1:18

Twellman: U.S. in crisis mode after Canada defeat

ESPN's Ian Darke and Taylor Twellman slam the USMNT for their "alarming" performance against Canada.

An uninspired U.S. finally paid for its mistakes to give Canada its second goal against the Americans in the past 12 meetings.

Michael Bradley, who plays in the stadium for Toronto FC of Major League Soccer, lost the ball in the midfield. The attack would have been stopped at the top of the penalty area, but defender Tim Ream's giveaway allowed Scott Arfield to get a cross from the right flank to the far post to Davies.

Cavallini later broke through the lax defense for an easy goal to make it 2-0.

Early in the second half, the United States had a chance for the first goal, but Christian Pulisic's unchallenged shot was saved by Milan Borjan.

Pulisic, the rising star who has spent most of the season on the bench for Chelsea of the English Premier League, was replaced by Paul Arriola in the 60th minute.

Borjan and U.S. goalie Zack Steffen each made three saves.

Pulisic, Yedlin struggle in nightmare U.S. loss

Published in Soccer
Tuesday, 15 October 2019 19:54

The U.S. men's national team's limped to a nightmare 2-0 defeat at Canada on Tuesday night at BMO Field in Toronto in which Gregg Berhalter's team was overwhelmed in every aspect.

Canada had not beaten the U.S. since 1985 and the hunger to change history showed in every way. The U.S. was second to almost every loose ball and came out on the losing end of many a 50-50 chance.

The two losses to Mexico earlier this year certainly raised concerns, and now this abject performance will sound the alarms that World Cup qualifying for Qatar 2022 will be fraught with problems.

Positives

Zack Steffen. That's the only one. Steffen left no doubt that he is the goalkeeper of choice for the U.S., with his stop of a Jonathan David shot from point-blank range the jewel of his performance on the night, plus a similarly excellent save on David in the second half after another poor U.S. giveaway.

Negatives

How much time do you have? The U.S. put forth as poor a performance as one will ever see, evoking memories of Jurgen Klinsmann's nadir in Costa Rica in late 2016.

They were slow, disjointed, lacked urgency and failed to put any pressure at all on the Canadian defense. Too often Christian Pulisic was left to go against up to four players, with none of the attacking players offering much in the way of support.

Things were just as shaky in the back, with a slew of giveaways and overall sloppy play. The pace of the Canadian attack made U.S. fans hold their breath anytime Alphonso Davies and David looked to make a run and all those things culminated in Davies' goal in the 63rd minute when giveaways from Michael Bradley and Tim Ream, plus DeAndre Yedlin failing to track back allowed the Bayern Munich man to score.

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1:18

Twellman: U.S. in crisis mode after Canada defeat

ESPN's Ian Darke and Taylor Twellman slam the USMNT for their "alarming" performance against Canada.

Manager rating out of 10

1 -- It was a surprise to see Berhalter not set up his team to come out and press the Canada center back tandem that was considered its weak point. The Canadian defense was hardly troubled, while at the other end the decision to start Daniel Lovitz was apparently warmly welcomed by the hosts, with the large majority of the Canadian attack coming down that flank. The U.S. failed to adjust to Canada's switch to move Davies central after the injury to Mark-Anthony Kaye but most concerning was to see Berhalter's team play with zero urgency even though it was down only a goal.

Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Zack Steffen, 8 -- The man of the match for the U.S. Made an unbelievable save on David's shot from point-blank range in the first half, before repeating the feat in the second half amid the same circumstances. Without question, he is the No. 1 goalkeeper for the national team.

DF DeAndre Yedlin, 2 -- Rarely got to show his speed in pushing forward on the right flank, contributing to the U.S. struggles going forward. Also failed to get back on the Davies goal and had his fair share of lost balls.

DF Aaron Long, 3 -- He did have some key interventions to prevent David and Davies from going in on goal, but gift-wrapped a chance to David in the second half after failing to deal with a simple flicked back header. Also flat-footed on Lucas Cavallini's late goal.

DF Tim Ream, 2 -- Had the tough task of going up against Davies and got scorched on a particular play in the first half. Paid dearly for a poor clearance that led to the Davies goal and failed to close down on the Cavallini goal.

DF Daniel Lovitz, 2 -- Was targeted by the Canadian attack. Didn't even come close to pushing upfield in attack. Too many giveaways and was too slow to pressure when Canada bore down in attack.

MF Michael Bradley, 3 -- A tough night for Bradley. He made the mistake that ultimately led to the Ream giveaway and the Canada goal. There were other giveaways as well and little passing to move things forward.

MF Cristian Roldan, 2 -- Was lucky that his early first-half giveaway to Jonathan David went unpunished. So many lost balls, which you simply can't have from someone playing his position in midfield.

MF Weston McKennie, 3 -- It is hard for the U.S. to function at any type of level if McKennie is untidy in possession and that was the case Tuesday with the Schalke man. Passes were either too heavy or too soft.

FW Christian Pulisic, 2 -- Another frustrating night. Lost possession several times when trying to start a U.S. break and failed to finish the best U.S. chance. The fact that he was yanked off at the hour mark spoke volumes. Just 11 completed passes.

FW Josh Sargent, 2 -- Anonymous mostly. Had just a few touches. Had a really bad giveaway that led to a Canada break and too soft a ball when trying to lay off Jordan Morris.

FW Jordan Morris, 4 -- The best field player for the U.S., which isn't exactly saying much. He did create the best scoring chance for the U.S. by doing well to haul in a long ball to set up Pulisic's shot.

Substitutes:

MF Paul Arriola, 3 -- Came on for Pulisic at the hour mark, much to everyone's surprise, but like everyone else in a white shirt, did nothing to stir the Canadian defense.

FW Gyasi Zardes, NR -- Came on for Roldan in the 73rd minute but failed to make a difference.

DF Nick Lima, NR -- Replaced Yedlin in the 74th minute and did little.

Hayden Walsh Jr.'s call-up to the West Indies ODI and T20I squads is a reminder of one of the quirks in the ICC eligibility policy with regards to players representing two countries. A player who has played for a Full Member at senior level must wait three years after their last appearance before they can represent an Associate Member.

However, someone who has played for an Associate Member on Monday can make an immediate switch and play for a Full Member on Tuesday if called up. Here's a rundown of some players who have made a very quick move.

Mark Chapman: Hong Kong to New Zealand

The left-arm spinning allrounder was born in Hong Kong to a mother from mainland China and a father from New Zealand. Chapman was raised in Hong Kong though he did his higher education in New Zealand. After playing as a 15-year-old for Hong Kong at the 2010 Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand, Chapman made his Hong Kong debut in January 2011 as a 16-year-old against USA at ICC WCL Division Three. His last match for Hong Kong came at the 2016 T20 World Cup in India against Scotland. Consistent performances for Auckland in New Zealand's domestic competition finally earned him a New Zealand call-up in February 2018 for a T20I series at home against England.

Dirk Nannes: Netherlands to Australia

Born in Victoria, Nannes made his debut for the state in February 2006 and over the next three years he played 17 first-class and 15 List A matches them. But he carved out a much more prominent niche in T20 cricket, first for Victoria in the pre-franchise era of the Big Bash League, then for Middlesex in England's domestic T20 tournament before being taken by Delhi Daredevils in the 2009 IPL.

Two weeks after the end of the 2009 IPL, Nannes utilised his Dutch passport - through his lineage - to make his Netherlands debut in the 2009 T20 World Cup in England taking the new ball in their famous win at Lord's. He played against Pakistan four days later for his final match for Netherlands on June 9. Less than three months later, he was called up to make his Australia debut in an ODI against Scotland in Edinburgh before making his Australia T20I debut two days later against England at Old Trafford.

Eoin Morgan: Ireland to England

From Dublin, Morgan made his Ireland international debut in a 50-over match against Denmark five days short of his 17th birthday in September 2003. He went on to play in Ireland's first ever World Cup appearance as a 20-year-old in 2007, then helped them qualify for the 2011 World Cup with solid performances at the 2009 Qualifier in South Africa.

By that stage he had been playing for Middlesex long enough to qualify for England on residency. His final innings for Ireland was 76 off 62 balls in a six-wicket win over Netherlands in South Africa on April 15, 2009, a match which helped Ireland secure a spot in the 2011 World Cup. Just over a month later, he made his England debut in an ODI against West Indies.

Ed Joyce: Ireland to England

Another Dublin boy, he first played for Ireland as an 18-year-old against Scotland in 1997. But it was Joyce who blazed a trail for Morgan at Middlesex when he joined the county in 1999. He played in the final of the 2005 ICC Trophy (World Cup Qualifier) in Dublin, a tournament in which he scored two centuries and two fifties in his five innings to help Ireland qualify for their maiden World Cup, but 11 months later he was in an England shirt making an ODI debut for his new country in Belfast against his old Ireland team-mates. When his England career faded his focus returned to Ireland and in 2011 he made his first ODI appearance for them at the World Cup in India.

Boyd Rankin: Ireland to England

The towering Londonderry fast bowler made his Ireland debut in August 2006 against Italy and stayed in an Ireland shirt for the next six years, making his final appearance during his first stint in September 2012 against Australia in the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. Rankin had been on the books at Derbyshire and Warwickshire since 2006, who were grooming him for England colours. The switch finally happened nine months after that last appearance for Ireland - in his first go-around at least - when he suited up for England in an T20I against New Zealand in June 2013.

Gavin Hamilton: Scotland to England

The allrounder made his Scotland international debut as an 18-year-old against Ireland in a three-day match at Eglinton in June 1993. He impressed enough for Scotland at the 1999 World Cup to catch England's attention. After playing his last World Cup match for Scotland against New Zealand on May 31, 1999, he suited up in whites for England just six months later against South Africa in a Test at the Wanderers in November 1999. He's the only Associate player to play a Test as his debut match for a Full Member nation rather than a T20I or ODI. It wound up being his only match for England before resuming his Scotland career in February 2004.

Hayden Walsh Jr.: USA to West Indies

Born in St. Croix of the US Virgin Islands, Walsh moved to his parents' native Antigua when he was just a few months old and is a dual national of both the USA and Antigua. After playing first-class cricket for both Leeward Islands and Barbados, he utilized his US passport to gain selection for USA in November 2018 as part of their squad for World Cricket League Division Three in Oman.

Walsh made his USA T20I debut against UAE in March, then his ODI debut - which wound up being his lone ODI - against Papua New Guinea in Namibia this past April after they secured ODI status through a top-four finish at WCL Division Two. As recently as August 25, he was playing in a T20I for USA against Canada as part of the 2020 T20 World Cup qualifying process. But after a Player of the Tournament performance in the 2019 CPL for the champions Barbados Tridents, Walsh was called up into West Indies' ODI and T20I squads for a November series against Afghanistan in India.

Source: Titans going with Tannehill over Mariota

Published in Breaking News
Tuesday, 15 October 2019 19:36

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel, desperately in need of a spark on offense, has elected to make a change at quarterback, naming Ryan Tannehill the new starter, a source confirmed to ESPN.

Tuesday's move, which was first reported by NFL Network, comes after Tannehill -- the former Miami Dolphins starting quarterback -- was inserted into the lineup in the third quarter against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Vrabel gave Tannehill a chance to make some plays in relief of an ineffective Marcus Mariota, who threw two interceptions.

Tannehill finished with 13 completions for 144 yards on 16 pass attempts. He led the Titans on their only trips into the red zone, but an interception and a turnover on downs kept Tennessee from scoring in a 16-0 loss.

The Titans acquired Tannehill, along with a 2019 sixth-round draft pick, from the Dolphins this offseason in exchange for a for a fourth-round pick in the 2020 draft and a seventh-round pick in 2019. Tannehill signed a one-year deal with the Titans worth $7 million with up to $12 million in incentives to facilitate the trade.

While with the Dolphins, Tannehill had a 42-45 record from 2012 to 2018. He missed the 2017 season due to a knee injury. Tannehill has proved in the past that he can put up respectable numbers as a quarterback, passing for over 4,000 yards in both 2014 and 2015.

Although he had been relegated to a backup role, Tannehill never lost the conviction that he can be a successful quarterback.

"I have a ton of confidence in myself. You have to, to play this position. I believe in myself a whole lot," Tannehill said Monday.

Mariota had been the unquestioned starter over the past three seasons. Moving him out of the lineup is a difficult situation for the Titans players, who are expected to support Tannehill going forward.

"Ryan was an elite QB in this league not longer than a year ago. He can take over a team. He can make plays," tight end Delanie Walker said Monday.

Added safety Kevin Byard, "It's a tough situation because I think this entire team is and has always been behind No. 8. As long as we've been here, that's been my guy. I support him throughout everything. But that's a coach's decision. If they feel like No. 17 can give us the best opportunity to win ball games, I understand they'll make the decision they feel is best for our team."

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