U.S. 2, Turkey 1
PHILADELPHIA – The last guy named to the U.S. World Cup roster might just have earned himself the right to be the first to board the plane for South Africa.
Real Salt Lake forward Robbie Findley, the most surprising addition to the final 23-man squad named on Wednesday, played liked a seasoned veteran and set up the equalizing goal an eventual 2-1 victory over Turkey that served as the final stateside tuneup for the U.S. before their first game of the 2010 World Cup on June 12.
With U.S. team captain Carlos Bocanegra thanking the boisterous crowd of 55,407 at Lincoln Financial Field after the match and the team taking a lap to salute them, it made for the perfect sendoff, but not before Findley and a trio of second half substitutes helped erase the doubts that crept in over the first 45 minutes.
“I think all the players that came on at halftime helped,” said U.S. head coach Bob Bradley, singling out midfielder José Torres and Findley, who offered offensive sparks while Steve Cherundolo and Oguchi Onyewu helped fortify the defense.
“I would say that Robbie also brought energy,” said Bradley. “He was a threat, in terms of getting behind them, going at people. I think he found good spots in terms of getting the ball, holding the ball. I thought that he was sharp and confident, which was something that, we want him when he has certain chances to be aggressive. I think it’s a really good half to build on for him.”
Findley, 24, who had made just three appearances for the U.S. before Saturday, showed surprising poise with both his movement and touch.
In the 58th minute, after receiving a pass from his own back line, Findley turned and calmly lifted the ball over the Turkish defense, finding Landon Donovan, who slipped it past onrushing goalkeeper Volkan Demirel, then turned it back across the goalmouth, setting up an easy finish for Jozy Altidore.
Donovan targeted Clint Dempsey 17 minutes later for his second assist of the afternoon and completion of the Americans’ come from behind triumph. Receiving the ball off a throw-in, Donovan hit Dempsey in stride, and Dempsey settled the ball, fought off a Turkish defender’s attempted tackle and poked the ball under Demirel, who got a piece of the ball with his arm but not enough to keep it out of the net.
Despite a couple more close calls before the final whistle, including one ball dangerously across the goalmouth and a free kick that forced Tim Howard into a late deflection over the goal, the U.S. showed marked improvement after going behind in the 27th minute.
After Jonathan Spector lost the ball after a long run, the defense was slow reacting to cover his position, and Arda Turan made them pay with his own burst down the left side.
Bradley summed up the challenges he still faces in improving a defense that also gave up four goals to the Czech Republic on Tuesday by talking about individual needs and those of the team as a whole.
“There’s lapses that come more as a unit,” said Bradley, “where the understanding isn’t what it needs to be. I think, for the most part, we’re working through that.”
But that can be discussed on the trip from Washington Dulles Airport to Johannesburg that begins Sunday. For now, the first stage of the U.S. team’s preparation for the World Cup finished in fine fashion.
“I’m incredibly proud on a day like today, to step on the field and play in front of a big crowd, a big game,” said midfielder Michael Bradley, who is also the coach’s son. “There’s nothing better than putting on the national team jersey and playing for your country. Now I know that we have 23 guys who feel like that, who share that same pride and honor, and now we’re going to go to the World Cup and give it everything we have.”
