USMNT defeats Canada 1-0 on late Altidore goal

CARSON, Calif. (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Men’s National Team grabbed a deserved late goal by Jozy Altidore to win its second match of 2016, 1-0, against Canada at StubHub Center on Friday night.

The U.S. knocked on the door throughout the match but was unable to breach a compact Canada defense that was backed up by a strong effort in goal by Maxime Crepeau. But, in the final minute of regulation, Ethan Finlay, who had just entered the match as a substitute for Jordan Morris barely a minute earlier, served in a cross to Altidore who buried a headed shot for his 33rd international strike that delivered a second straight win for the U.S. to open what is set to be an important year.

The MNT will continue its 2016 slate in March when World Cup Qualifying resumes against Guatemala. The teams meet twice in quick succession, first on March 25 at Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City, Guatemala (beIN Sport, NBC Universo), before returning for the home leg on March 29 at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio (7 p.m. ET; ESPN2, UniMas, UDN).

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Jozy Altidore (Ethan Finaly), 89th minute: After going close to scoring minutes earlier on a free kick from just outside the Canada box, Jozy Altidore scored his 33rd international goal with a well-taken header. Ethan Finlay, getting his first touch of the game after coming on as a sub only a minute earlier, swept in a cross to the back left post of the Canada goal where Altidore split the Canada center backs to head his shot back across the face of goal and into the far side netting for the match winner. USA 1, CAN 0 (SEE GOAL) FINAL

Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
CAN – Maxime Crepeau, 21st minute– During a spell of high U.S. pressure, Crepeau did well to close down an angled drive from MNT attacker Gyasi Zardes, who got on the end of a Jordan Morris through ball at the top of the Canada penalty area after some good build-up play from the USA.

CAN – Maxime Crepeau, 25th minute – A Michael Bradley corner kick to the far end of Canada’s six-yard box was met by Steve Birnbaum who was looking for his second headed goal from the foot of Bradley in as many games, but his powerful header was sent right into the waiting arms of Crepeau in the center of the goal mouth.

CAN – Maxime Crepeau, 55th minute – Jozy Altidore picked up the ball 30 yards from the Canada goal and charged across the top of the box before turning the corner past two defenders to open up space for a stinging drive on target, but Crepeau was wise to move out from his goal to cut down the angle and parry the shot back out of the penalty area. Moments later, Crepeau was called on to tip a Michael Bradley attempt over the cross bar as it sailed toward the ‘keeper’s back left post.

CAN – Maxime Crepeau, 71st minute – A good U.S. build-up worked the ball to Altidore’s feet in the Canada box. The American forward was able to find his strike partner on the night, Jordan Morris, who passed the ball into the path of his former Stanford teammate Brandon Vincent in the left channel. Vincent snapped a shot toward the near left post that Crepeau was able to make a kick-save on to keep the game scoreless.

Next on the Schedule: The U.S. MNT resumes World Cup Qualifying with a home-and-away series against Guatemala in March. The first match comes on March 25 at Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City, Guatemala (beIN Sport, NBC Universo), before the teams return to the U.S. on March 29 for a game at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio (7 p.m. ET; ESPN2, UniMas, UDN).

Milestone Watch:

• Forward Jozy Altidore’s 89th minute goal gave him 33 for his international career and pushed him within one strike of tying Eric Wynalda (34) for third on the MNT’s all-time goals scored list.
• Ethan Finlay, in his second cap, recorded his first point for the MNT with his assist on Altidore’s goal.
• Recent college graduate and teammate of Jordan Morris at Stanford University, Brandon Vincent made his international debut for the USA, coming on at half time for Kellyn Acosta.
• Goalkeeper David Bingham made his MNT debut. He is the fifth player in the January camp to earn his first cap and the seventh different goalkeeper to appear for the MNT since Feb. 8, 2015. (Brad Guzan, Tim Howard, Nick Rimando, Luis Robles, Sean Johnson, William Yarbrough).
• With today’s win, Jurgen Klinsmann now has 45 career MNT victories; he is behind only Bruce Arena (71) on the USA’s all-time list.

Additional Notes:

• The MNT is now 11-2-2 all-time at StubHub Center, outscoring its opponents 35-11.
• The USA is now 14-8-11 all-time vs. Canada, including a 11-1-9 mark in matches played in the U.S. The U.S. has not lost to Canada on home soil in more than half a century, with the last loss coming by a 3-2 scoreline in a 1957 World Cup Qualifying match in St. Louis.
• With his start, Gyasi Zardes has appeared in 21 of the last 22 MNT matches dating back to January 2015. Michael Bradley has the second most appearances in that stretch with 20, including tonight’s game.
• Jozy Altidore, Jermaine Jones and Zardes have the longest active consecutive games played streak. Each has started the last eight games. The last time none of the three appeared for the MNT was on July 25, 2015, against Panama.
• Jones made his first start at centerback since Feb. 8, 2015. He started both of the first two matches of 2015 in the center of the defense.
• Mix Diskerud made his first start since July 10, 2015. Since then, he made four appearances off the bench. His last match was on Oct. 13, 2015, when he entered at halftime against Costa Rica at Red Bull Arena.
• Steve Birnbaum returned to the right back role he filled in his debut for the MNT a year ago when the U.S. lost 3-2 to eventual 2015 Copa America champion Chile in Santiago.
• All five players in camp from the 2014 FIFA World Cup team were in the starting XI: Altidore, Matt Belser, Bradley, Jones and Diskerud.
• Kellyn Acosta, Birnbaum, Jordan Morris and Lee Nguyen made their second career starts for the MNT.
• Acosta and Nguyen made their first starts against Iceland (it was also Acosta’s MNT debut); Morris’ only previous start in eight appearances was on April 15, 2015 in a 2-0 win over Mexico in San Antonio. Birnbaum, who assisted and scored off the bench against Iceland, made his first start on Jan. 29, 2015 in Chile.
• Ten players representing nine different MLS clubs are on the starting XI: D.C., S.J., SKC, DAL, LA, TOR, NYCFC, NE, SEA.
• MNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann fielded a starting back line of Steve Birnbaum at right back, Jermaine Jones and Matt Besler in the center of defense and 20-year-old Kellyn Acosta at left back.
• The USA’s starting midfield was comprised of Mix Diskerud and Michael Bradley in the middle of the park with Gyasi Zardes on the right and Lee Nguyen on the left. Jozy Altidore led the forward line up top with Jordan Morris partnering him in attack.

-U.S. Men’s National Team Match Report-

Match: U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Canada
Date: Feb. 5, 2016
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: StubHub Center; Carson, Calif.
Kickoff: 7:15 p.m. PT
Attendance: 9,274
Weather: 63 degrees, clear

Scoring Summary: 1   2   F
USA                        0   1   1
CAN                        0   0   0

USA – Jozy Altidore (Ethan Finlay) 89th minute

Lineups:
USA: 22-David Bingham; 15-Steve Birnbaum, 13-Jermaine Jones, 5-Matt Besler, 14-Kellyn Acosta (21-Brandon Vincent, 46); 9-Gyasi Zardes (18-Jerome Kiesewetter, 61), 4-Michael Bradley (capt.), 10-Mix Diskerud (20-Wil Trapp, 77), 16-Lee Nguyen (6-Darlington Nagbe, 61); 8-Jordan Morris (7-Ethan Finlay, 88), 17-Jozy Altidore (23-Perry Kitchen, 90+2)
Subs Not Used:1-Sean Johnson, 2-Eric Miller, 11-Khiry Shelton, 24-Matt Polster, 25-Tony Tchani, 26-Tim Parker
Head coach: Jurgen Klinsmann

CAN: 1-Maxime Crepeau; 2-Nik Ledgerwood, (5-Doneil Henry, 46), 4-Adam Straith, 6-Julian de Guzman (capt.), 8-Will Johnson, 9-Cyle Larin (3-Samuel Adekugbe, 78), 12-Wandrille Lefevre (10-Kyle Bekker, 46), 15-Steven Vitoria, 16-Kianz Froese (11-Issey Nakajima-Farran, 46), 17-Marcel De Jong (13-Jamar Dixon, 85), 23-Tesho Akindele (7-Iain Hume, 72)
Subs Not Used: 14-Marco Bustos, 18-Tyson Farago, 19-Caleb Clarke, 20-Karl Ouimette, 21-Mallan Roberts, 22-Callum Irving
Head coach: Benito Floro

Stats Summary: USA / CAN
Shots: 17 / 4
Shots on Goal: 8 / 0
Saves: 0 / 7
Corner Kicks: 4 / 4
Fouls: 15 / 14
Offside: 1 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Matt Besler (caution)                 42nd minute
CAN – Doneil Henry (caution)                79

Officials:
Referee: Marlon Mejia (SLV)
Assistant Referee 1: Geovany Garcia (SLV)
Assistant Referee 2: Douglas Bermudez (SLV)
4th Official: Jair Marrufo (USA)

Man of the Match: Steve Birnbaum