Panama Victory Shined Light on U-23 Strengths

ANDI HERZOG’S U.S. U-23 TEAM completed the group stage in strong fashion with a 4-0 win over Panama in Colorado, finishing Group A with nine points, 13 goals scored, and only two conceded. The young team played well, and now we’ll see how it responds to a pressure-filled semifinal game Saturday against either Mexico or Honduras.

Fortunately for Herzog, the Panama game laid the framework for how his team can win that crucial matchup—and clinch a 2016 Olympic berth in the process.

Kiesewetter and Morris combine well

There were some questions about how the U.S. team was going to score goals outside of Morris, but Herzog has found a balanced attacking system that clearly works, with the team’s 13 goals coming from seven different players.

The combination of Morris and Kiesewetter, however, remains an exciting one. Men’s national team fans have not seen as potent a duo at any level in a long time. For most of the past decade, U.S. teams have been slower, but Morris and Kiesewetter are using their speed and making smart runs to open up holes all over the field.

The complementary chemistry between the two is remarkable, and combined with the fact that the U.S. team has aggressive-passing midfielders who actively look to play through-balls, it’s a game plan that’s found tremendous success. The numbers speak for themselves: Morris has three goals and an assist so far, while Kiesewetter has three goals, two assists, and two drawn penalties.

Luis Gil needs to be on the field

This team is thin on wide midfielders but loaded in the middle, leading to difficult choices for Herzog as to which formation to play, who to play out of position, and who to sit.

One thing that’s clear, however, is that Luis Gil needs to be on the field as the central attacking midfielder. Gedion Zelalem, 17, started twice in that role, and despite the hype surrounding him—fueled by Jurgen Klinsmann’s statements that he was ready for the senior team—he has yet to impress at this age level.

After starting Tuesday’s match in a more withdrawn midfield position, Gil moved into an attacking one once Zelalem came off at halftime. He linked up well with second-half additions Morris and Kiesewetter, and he was a big part of the four-goal outburst in the final 45 minutes.

Gboly Ariyibi provides width

Entering into the tournament, Gboly Ariyibi was an unknown. He was born in West Virginia, but neither of his parents are American citizens. He never spent much time in the United States. His family left the country shortly after he was born. He only returned to the United States once growing up—and that was with his club team to play at the Dallas Cup.

But Ariyibi, 20, has done well this year as a regular starter on the wing for League One side Chesterfield FC, and he’s done the same so far in the same spot for the U23s.

Ariyibi made his U.S. debut against Cuba and picked up an assist on Alonso Hernandez’s goal. When the game against Panama opened up in the second half, Ariyibi came to life again. He was the player most responsible for the opening goal, when he got into a dangerous position and sent in a smart pass that was redirected into the net for an own goal. He also sprung Kiesewetter twice into threatening positions and was part of the build-up for three of the U.S. team’s four goals.

Additionally, the fact that he plays a position of particular need means Ariyibi is becoming indispensable.

Lineup for semifinal looks clear

The U.S. team did what it had to do in the group stage, but there is still one more game to win. The last thing the U.S. team wants to do, after all, is lose the semifinal and then have to win a third-place game just for the right to a playoff match against Colombia.

Herzog’s lineup choice, then, will be the most important decision he’s made all year with this team. Luckily, certain players have stepped up to the point that they’ve made several positional questions easy.

Here’s my prediction for the semifinal game against either Mexico or Honduras.

Goalkeeper: Zack Steffen
Right back: Boyd Okwuonu
Right central defender: Cameron Carter-Vickers
Left central defender: Matt Miazga
Left back: Dillon Serna
Defensive midfield: Wil Trapp
Right midfield: Gboly Ariyibi
Left midfield: Emerson Hyndman
Central attacking midfield: Luis Gil
Forward: Jordan Morris
Forward: Jerome Kiesewetter

In this predicted lineup, six players are locks to start the game: Miazga, Carter-Vickers, Trapp, Gil, Morris, and Kiesewetter.

There are options for the other five.

At goalkeeper, Herzog could go either way between Ethan Horvath and Steffen and feel good about his decision. The latter netminder, however, has been with the team longer and has very strong rapport with this team’s starting center backs—whom he’d played with all year for the U-20s.

Right back is also unclear, as Matt Polster started the opener to bring a defensive presence, while the more natural fullback Boyd Okwuonu has played the last two games. It depends, in the end, on what Herzog wants in the semifinal. If he values defense, Polster could get the nod, but if he wants the ability to get forward, look for Okwuonu to start again.

Left back is very much a question mark as well, as Dillon Serna started the games against Canada and Panama and Marc Pelosi started and performed well against Cuba.

The wide positions in the midfield are also up for grabs. Emerson Hyndman has displayed smooth passing on the left side, and Ariyibi has been effective in creating chances, but if Herzog wants to add a more defensive-minded presence in the midfield, that’d perhaps require the insertion of Fatai Alashe, Polster, or Pelosi.

So, yes, tough decisions remain for Herzog. But with the U.S. playing as well as it’s been playing, having too many good possibilities is a good problem to have.