The United States let an early lead slip away in a 2-1 loss to Serbia at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday night in its first game since being kicked out of the 2022 World Cup by the Netherlands.
Interim coach Anthony Hudson introduced eight players to the senior team — seven starters — and Vazquez opened the scoring on his first appearance with a header from Julian Kressel. Cross into the area.
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Chelsea goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina, making his debut for the senior U.S. team, made several key saves during the first half, but Luka Ilic’s free kick was beaten at his near post to equalize for Serbia before halftime. -Time.
Veljko Simic took advantage of poor US defending to pounce on a loose ball just outside the area to beat Slonina 2-1 for Serbia to take the lead in the second half.
Kate Cowell, who had been lively all night on the U.S. left, hit the post twice in the next few minutes and shot wide of the Serbian goal.
Hudson brought on World Cup veteran Kellyn Acosta and Middlesbrough forward Matthew Happ off the bench as the U.S. kept up the pressure in search of a second goal, but couldn’t equalize.
Interim head coach Hudson is running the show as the U.S. Soccer Federation decides coach Greg Berhalter’s future.
After the U.S. exited the World Cup in Qatar in the round of 16, Hudson is taking advantage of the team’s annual January camp and accompanying exhibitions to take advantage of new opportunities.
USA will use youth and MLS players in winter camp coming out of FIFA international window. The current squad has 11 players getting their first call-up and only five on the World Cup roster.
Hudson’s inexperienced side put in an impressive performance in these annual January exhibitions with more action and attacking flair than usual, but the US team has just one win in its last eight matches with four draws and three defeats.
Next up for the USA is a friendly against Colombia on January 28 at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
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