USMNT plays New Zealand to 1-1 draw in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Men’s National Team received a first-half strike from Julian Green before playing to a 1-1 draw against New Zealand in an international friendly Tuesday night at RFK Stadium.

After a nervy opening, the MNT worked its way into the match as Julian Green got on the end of a Jozy Altidore header at midfield before unleashing a low blast that sneaked inside the left post in the 27th minute. The goal was Green’s second in as many matches and the third of his international career.

New Zealand would grab the equalizer in the 73rd minute when Monty Patterson pounced on a loose ball at the right post following a corner kick. The MNT continued to look for a winner as midfielders Danny Williams and Michael Bradley forced brilliant saves out of New Zealand goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic, but the two sides had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

Next on the Schedule: The U.S. MNT embarks on CONCACAF’s 10-game final round of World Cup Qualifying beginning with a heated rivalry matchup against neighbors Mexico on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio (FS1 and Univision). Four days later, the MNT travels to take on Costa Rica at Estadio Nacional in San Jose.

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Julian Green (Jozy Altidore), 27th minute: A long kick out of the back from U.S. goalkeeper William Yarbrough picked out Jozy Altidore who rose to nod the ball into the path of Julian Green. The 21-year-old took on his marker on the left before firing a well-hit low blast inside the left post, leaving screened New Zealand goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic flat footed. USA 1, NZL 0 [WATCH ]

NZL – Monty Patterson (Deklan Wynne), 73rd minute: A corner kick from the right was settled by Deklan Wynne at the corner of the six-yard box before Monty Pattersonopportunistically poked home the equalizer at the right post. USA 1, NZL 1 [WATCH]

Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
NZL – Stefan Marinovic, 30th minute: Moments after Green found the back of the net, the U.S. came close to doubling its advantage when Jozy Altidore played a clever ball to slip DeAndre Yedlin into the box on the right. In alone, the MNT winger tried to lift his shot over Marinovic, but the New Zealand ‘keeper charged bravely off his line to deny the attempt.

USA – Michael Orozco, 87th minute: New Zealand nearly carved out the go-ahead goal through a flowing move that began with Kosta Barbarouse playing a long pass to All Whites’ forward Chris Wood at the top of the USA box. Wood held the ball up long enough for Barbarouse to make an arching run from midfield into the left side of the box where he received a pass from Wood before sending the ball back toward the penalty spot where a charging Monty Patterson beat substitute U.S. goalkeeper David Bingham to the ball and flicked it toward goal. However, Patterson didn’t get enough power on his redirected shot which allowed Orozco to recover in time to clear the ball a few yards before it would have crossed the goal line.

NZL – Stefan Marinovic, 89th minute: Looking for the late winner, Danny Williams picked up steam on a penetrating run through midfield before letting loose on a knuckling blast that forced Marinovic into a diving stop. Williams continued his run before seeing his rebound effort put out for a corner kick.

NZL – Stefan Marinovic, 91st minute: With the U.S. still threatening, a deflected shot fell for Michael Bradley just outside the penalty area where the U.S. captain blasted a left-footed volley to the left post where a diving Marinovic parried the ball out for a corner kick.

NOTES:

• The USA moves to 2-0-1 all-time against New Zealand.
• The victory also improves the MNT’s record to 13-4-0 in 2016. The 13 wins tie for the team’s second-highest win total in a calendar year, matching the marks set in 2005 and 2009. The MNT record for wins in a calendar year is 16, set in 2013.
• Julian Green’s 27th minute strike was his second in as many matches and the 21-year-old’s third in eight career appearances for the MNT.
• Captain Michael Bradley made his 124th appearance, moving him past DaMarcus Beasley for sole possession of sixth place on the MNT’s all-time caps list.
• Omar Gonzalez celebrated his 28th birthday by recording his 33rd career cap.
• In his first return to RFK Stadium since joining Scottish Premiership club Hearts, former D.C. United midfielder Perry Kitchen earned his second start for the MNT and first cap since a 3-1 win at Puerto Rico on May 22.
• Goalkeeper William Yarbrough made his third career appearance and first since a 2-0 win vs. Mexico on April 15, 2015.
• David Bingham replaced Yarbrough at halftime, earning his second career appearance for the MNT.
• Sunderland midfielder Lynden Gooch earned his MNT debut, replacing Kellyn Acosta in the 59th minute.
• Entering for Julian Green in the 78th minute, New England Revolution forward Juan Agudelo made his first MNT appearance since a 2-1 win against Germany on June 10, 2015.
• After rehabbing from an ACL injury, Terrence Boyd entered in the 87th minute to earn his first MNT cap since a 1-0 loss to Austria on Nov. 19, 2013.
• Jurgen Klinsmann deployed a four-man back line which featured Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler partnered in central defense with Michael Orozco at right back and Kellyn Acosta on the left.
• The MNT’s three-man midfield saw Sacha Kljestan, Perry Kitchen and Michael Bradley lineup from right to left.
• The USA also used a three-man forward line, which featured veteran Jozy Altidore playing centrally with DeAndre Yedlin and Julian Green providing support on the right and left wings, respectively.

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

Match: U.S. Men’s National Team vs. New Zealand
Date: Oct. 11, 2016
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: RFK Stadium; Washington, D.C.
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Attendance: 9,012
Weather: 57 degrees, mostly clear

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

USA – Julian Green (Jozy Altidore)      27th minute
NZL – Monty Patterson                       73

Lineups:
USA: 22-William Yarbrough (12-David Bingham, 46); 21-Michael Orozco, 3-Omar Gonzalez, 5-Matt Besler, 6-Kellyn Acosta (13-Lynden Gooch, 59); 20-Perry Kitchen (14-Danny Williams, 64), 16- Sacha Kljestan, 4-Michael Bradley (capt.); 2-DeAndre Yedlin, 17-Jozy Altidore (18-Terrence Boyd, 88), 19-Julian Green (11-Juan Agudelo, 78)
Subs not used: 1-Bill Hamid, 9-Paul Arriola, 15-Steve Birnbaum, 23-Tim Parker
Head Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann

NZL: 1-Stefan Marinovic; 22-Andrew Durante (17-Sam Brotherton, 58), 2-Winston Reid (capt.) (4-Themi Tzimopoulos, 74), 5-Michael Boxall; 21-Liam Graham (14-Louis Fenton, 46), 15-Clayton Lewis (19-Moses Dyer, 67), 8-Michael McGlinchey, 6-Marco Rojas (20-Henry Cameron, 46) (7-Kosta Barbarouses, 75), 18-Kip Colvey, 13-Monty Patterson, 9-Chris Wood
Subs not used: 23-Tamati Williams, 3-Deklan Wynne, 10-Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi, 11-Rory Fallon, 16-Matt Ridenton
Head Coach: Anthony Hudson

Stats Summary: USA / NZL
Shots: 16 / 12
Shots on Goal: 9 / 5
Saves: 3 / 8
Corner Kicks: 5 / 5
Fouls: 19 / 19
Offside: 3 / 2

Misconduct Summary:
NZL – Monty Patterson (caution) 84th minute
USA – Jozy Altidore (caution) 86

Officials:
Referee: Juan Carlos Guerra (GUA)
Assistant Referee 1: Hermenerito Leal (GUA)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Lemus (GUA)
4th Official: Jonathan Polanco (GUA)

Budweiser Man of the Match: Matt Besler