USA Under-23s leaves China with pair of ties

The U.S. Under-23 national team is on the way back home after its two-game friendly series against China in China and the Americans were forced to settle for a pair of ties after a goal-less first match and some questionable officiating in the second match.

Robbie Rogers, Patrick Ianni and Charlie Davies scored first-half goals to stake the U.S. team to a 3-0 lead, but a China comeback and a terrible penalty call helped the Chinese pull all the way back and salvage a 3-3 tie on Sunday.

Rogers headed home a re-directed Marvell Wynne throw-in, Ianni headed home corner kick and Davies blasted one home from the edge of the penalty area to help the American attack show some life after being held scoreless in a 0-0 tie in the first meeting between these teams on Dec. 13.

Red Bulls fans will be distressed to learn that defender Hunter Freeman suffered what appears to be a knee injury after just being in this game for nine minutes as a second half subsitute. Perhaps even scarier was the scene of an overzealous Chinese defender attempting to butcher Altidore with an ugly tackle that sparked a scuffle that resulted in a pair of red cards.

Here is the video of the goals from Sunday's match, including a close look at the pretty clear dive by a Chinese attacker that resulted in the game-tying penalty kick.

Also, here is a slideshow of some pretty amazing photos from the match.

So what did we learn from this trip? We learned that Maurice Edu looks like a very good center back option for the Olympic team (And senior national team while we're at it). We also learned that Charlie Davies is ready to stake his claim as a starter at forward and Mike Randolph looks like a decent left back option. U.S. Under-23 coach Peter Nowak should be able to fill us in on what else he learned when he returns from this trip.

Were you fortunate enough (and die-hard enough) to sit through both matches on the grainy streaming video? If so, share your thoughts on the matches and the U.S. player performances, below.

Comments

[Nutmegger]

Any news on Freeman's injury?

[Adam R.]

Watched the second U-23 game. Was very impressed by the US in the first half, especially the fullbacks Wynne and Randolph, as well as Robbie Rogers, who strikes me as Justin Mapp + emotion/enthusiasm.

The most impressive US player on the field, is Maurice Edu. This kid is hands down a stud...the only question is, does he play in the back or the midfield? His efficiency of motion and athleticism remind me very much of Eddie Pope. I think his future may well be back there, but in the meantime his versatility is only going to help.

[Kevin]

Edu is the best player on this team, your right he is an absolute stud, I would like to see him transition to a center back it was great seeing the confidence and ability to play the ball out of the back rather than aimlessly booting it forward, he is also a fantastic defender by the way!

[Kevin]

Some things I noticed are, count that as a 3-0 win really, we had a seriously thrown together lineup, playing the worst players we had, and putting players in uncomfortable positions the second half, it was a completely different team, one that will never play in qualifying, in the first half we looked tremdous, Seitz didn't have much to do, Wynne was excellent pushing up and down the flank, he was dominant, Randolph was very effective pushing up and down the flanks, his only downfall were a few wreckless tackles, Edu was fantastic at holding the ball and passing out of pressure rather than clearing just to clear, he had a calming influence back there, Ianni was very solid and passed well out of the back as well, seems very good in the air and scored off a header from a corner, Holden played very well and served in some dangerous balls, Rogers was probably the best player on the field and scored with a magnificent strike, Kljestan and Mccarty just absolutely owned the middle of the park the whole half, and both played brilliantly, Findley looked decent but didn't impress all that much, Davies played really well and scored a nice goal.

[Graig]

Ives,

I have to admit that I was not able to watch either game. I would have to say though that from reading the game reports it would appear that Dax McCarty had a good couple of games. The only reason I bring it up is that I seem to remember you being a bit down on him in a few previous posts. Maybe its just me, but from what I saw from him this year in MLS and a bit with the U20's he seems like he could have a decent future with the full team. Any change of heart from your previous perspectice about his abilities?

[Thomas]

admittedly i did not watch the second match, however i did get up to watch the first match and was pretty dissapointed in the US. In the first match, the defence was pretty awful, Ianni was TERRIBLE and Maurice Edu was ok, but i felt like it was pretty obvious he was being played out of position, and i am a big Edu fan just don't see him being playing CB during the olympics once Sturgis is able to play. Davies looked dangerous with his speed but the service was awful the entire first game and neither he nor Altidore had much of a chance of putting anything in the back of the net.

Kljestan was also a pretty big dissapointment as he looked to slow, even in his natural position in the middle to be playing at that high a level, not just foot speed, but his decision making seemed very slow to me as well, never been a big fan of Dax but he played pretty well

Holden looked solid, he was one of the few players who appeared to be pushing for a goal, but his shots were ill conceived and mostly off target but i was happy with his play on the whole, Alvarez was a dissapointment, i think going forward that Rogers is the man on the left

i have already stated my opinions on Edu and Ianni, who once again i need to reiterate was absolutely horrible in the back during the first game and had no business being out there. Freeman did not look very good, but he was playing on the left, i think he is much more effective on the right so i tend to think that was the reason for his poor play. Wynne was the biggest surprise to me as i though he played a very good game, he did get beaten a few times but always got back in time and his pace definitely stopped a few of Chinas opportunities.

alright that was my opinion on the first game, there were few if any chances for the US who i thought loooked pretty bad, the defence was also shakey but i attribute the lack of chances in the final third more to shakey midfield play. Once again, this i just the first game and i did not see the second.

[papa bear]

#1 that penalty call was absolutely diabolical and the ref should be investigated.
#2 Edu should start @d-Mid or centerback at the U-23 and senior level. He was great here and was the best player on the field vs. South Africa
#3 tying China TWICE cobbled together lineup or not, is unacceptable. We are better than that. I don't want to sound like and English fan over-estimating the team, but China really isn't good and our youth talent pretty is good (certainly superior to our senior team).

[YankatOxford]

Matches were on here, but I only watched the conclusion of the 1st draw, but the second game I viewed in its entirety.

The second fixture was entertaining, but really a poor result for the U.S. team. This Chinese U23 team is actually very good, but they played terribly in both matches and the U.S. failed to capitalize.

The last penalty was completely bogus. Even a Chinese mate of mine said, "the fix was in."

Good offensive play in the first half was marred by some poor finishing in the second. Alvarez blew a golden chance to put the game away at 3-1.

Some quality play for the forwards with Davies in particular impressing, following up on his season ending hat trick.

Robbie Rogers goal was fantastic (as was the build up to it), but he provided little else. Robbie Findley had a similar game.

Edu moved the ball well, but the overall lapses at the back were terrible. I won't be clamoring for his instatement to the senior team at center half anytime soon. He needs to play for a club team in that role to gain experience if he is to feature there for the full team.

Edu's reactions were solid, but his defensive positioning was poor at times. That said his work with the ball was impressive, esp. the pass to Alaverez.

Hope the camp in January goes well for them.

[PanchoMiguelMoralesdeConejo]

Watched both matches...isn't video streaming a wonderful invention?
Got to agree with Yank on his assessment of Edu. Edu no doubt is a talent, but did not position himself on the back line very well. In the the first game especially he struggled with clearning and positioning. Much bette outing the second game. he and Ianni were disorganized most of the time. I would be surprised to see Ianni on the final roster.
A concern for me is that in 2 games, the U.S. scored 1 goal on the run of play, the Davies goal. (Which was a great goal by the way Wynn->Findley->Davies on a series of 1-2 passes the length of the field). The other two goals were mainly due to two very poor defensive plays by the Chinese team as they let a M. Wynn throw in bounce to the ground and a corner kick by Holden fly uncontested to Ianni.