The United States lost 2-1 to Serbia at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday night in their first match since being kicked out of the 2022 World Cup by the Netherlands. to take the early lead.
Dual nationals Brandon Vazquez and Alejandro Zendejas started as interim coach Anthony Hudson started eight players on his senior team — seven as starters — and Vazquez scored in his first appearance for the United States. opened on a light head and with an eye from Julian Gressel. enter the area.
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Chelsea goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina, who was also making his debut for the United States’ senior team, made several crucial saves in the first half, but his close-range effort was denied by Luka Ilic’s free-kick. defeated and tied for Serbia in the middle of the half. – time
Serbia then went right ahead as the second half began as Veljko Simic took advantage of some sloppy US defending, pouncing on a loose ball from around the area to beat Slonina from close range to make it 2-1.
Cade Cowell, who had been a sensation on the left for the United States all night, struck twice on the left in the following minutes and soon fired a deflected shot past the Serbian goal.
The United States kept up the pressure in search of a second goal as Hudson sent World Cup veteran Kellyn Acosta and Middlesbrough forward Matthew Hoppe off the bench, but an equalizer never came.
The U.S. team is in transition with interim head coach Hudson leading the show as the U.S. Soccer Federation determines the future of coach Gregg Berhalter, whose contract expired at the end of last year.
Hudson is using the team’s annual January camp and accompanying showcases to give experience to a new crop of prospects after the United States was eliminated in the round of 16 at the World Cup in Qatar.
The United States uses youth and MLS players in its winter camp, which falls outside a FIFA international window. The current squad has 11 players getting their first call-up and only five are members of the World Cup roster.
Hudson’s inexperienced squad put in an impressive performance in these annual January showcases with more action and attacking elements than usual, but the US team has won just one of its last eight matches, with four draws and three defeats.
Next up for the United States is a friendly against Colombia at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, on January 28.
