Jozy Altidore brace leads USMNT over Peru in D.C. friendly

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Via U.S. Soccer) – Led by a pair of goals from the night’s captain Jozy Altidore, the U.S. Men’s National Team defeated Peru 2-1 in front of a crowd of 28,896 at RFK Stadium.

Trailing 1-0 after the first half, the U.S. came out strong on the attack in the second. After a series of chances Altidore earned a terrific equalizing opportunity when he was tripped up in the box. The captain stepped up to take the PK, and while his shot was blocked, Altidore collected and buried the rebound. Nine minutes later, and after a brilliant series of saves by goalkeeper Brad Guzan that kept the game level, Altidore broke the tie with another goal that proved to be the game-winner.

As the clock ticked away, the MNT defense stood stout against the Peru attack to preserve the 2-1 score line through to the final whistle. With the victory the USA improved to 3-2-1 all-time against Peru.

The match was the first of two tune-up games for the MNT ahead of the CONCACAF Cup against Mexico on Oct. 10. The USA will be back on the field in four days when it takes on five-time World Cup champion Brazil at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Goal Scoring Rundown:
PER- Daniel Chavez (Andre Carrillo) 20th minute: Andre Carrillo pushed towards the USA box, before he suddenly turned on the jets and cut inside, centering the ball in to Daniel Chavez. Chavez was able to turn and from just outside the box took a shot that glanced off MNT defender Omar Gonzalez. The deflection spun wickedly and dipped just over U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan’s outstretched arm and into the goal. USA 0, PER 1

USA- Jozy Altidore (penalty kick) 59th minute: Geoff Cameron made a long throw-in to the box where Jozy Altidore backed down his defender and flicked the ball over the top. As he muscled past his defender, Altidore’s trailing leg was clipped, setting up the penalty. Altidore took the PK and blasted it to the right, where the Peru ‘keeper made a diving block. Altidore followed his shot and jumped to kick in the rebound to level the game. USA 1, PER 1

USA- Jozy Altidore (Gyasi Zardes) 68th minute: DeAndre Yedlin rocketed down the right hand side to catch up with a long through ball. The fleetfooted attacker evaded his marker and squared the ball in the Peru box for an arriving Altidore, who was beaten to it by a defender. However, the ball ended up at the feet of Gyasi Zardes on the opposite side of the pitch. Zardes cut in and powered a low cross through the six yard box. A deflection through the legs of a Peru defenseman saw the ball find an unmarked Altidore, who volleyed home the game winner. USA 2, PER 1 FINAL (SEE GOAL )

Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
PER- Diego Penny (save) 39th minute: Jermaine Jones broke for the USA’s first big chance of the game. He dribbled from midfield aggressively to the left, shielding off his defender with his right arm. From 25 yards out, he blasted a left-footed shot that brought back memories of his goal against Portugal in the 2014 World Cup. Unfortunately, for Jones and the U.S., Peru’s ‘keeper Diego Penny reached it, coming out to cut down the angle and narrowly tip the strike over the bar.

USA- Brad Guzan (save) 67th minute: A well bent free kick found a jumping Carlos Zambrono, who sent a sharp header at goal that was saved by a diving Guzan. The ball bounced off the ‘keepers hands and to the crashing Renato Tapia, who’s shot was saved again by Guzan as he trapped it tightly between his outstretched legs. (SEE SAVE)

Coming up Next: #USAvBRA
Location: Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, Mass.
Date: September 8, 2015
Opponent: Brazil

Milestone Watch:

Jozy Altidore scored the 28th and 29th goals of his career. It was Altidore’s first multi-goal game since he tallied a double in the MNT’s match against Nigeria in the USA’s 2014 Send-Off Series. Altidore is now one goal behind Brain McBride (30), who ranks fourth on the MNT’s all-time goal-scoring list.
Additional Notes:

Jermaine Jones returned to the USA starting lineup for the first time since Feb. 8 when he played as a center back in a 2-0 win against Panama at StubHub Center.
Jozy Altidore made the start as the team’s captain. It was his first time wearing the armband since he captained the squad on Nov. 18, 2014, when the team dropped a 4-1 result to Ireland in Dublin. The MNT is now 3-1-0 when Altidore wears the captain’s arm band.

Geoff Cameron came on at the start of the second half, earning his first cap of 2015 with his first appearance since the USA’s match against Ireland on Nov. 14, 2014.
Matt Besler, who came on as a sub in the second half , made his first USMNT appearance since Feb. 8 when he helped the team to a 2-0 win against Panama at StubHub Center.

Omar Gonzalez and John Brooks paired in central defense for the third time in 2015. In the three matches the duo has started in the center of the defense together, the MNT has allowed only two goals while scoring seven.

Bobby Wood made just his second international start of his career in tonight’s game. His first came against Chile in the MNT’s opening match of 2015.
Gyasi Zardes and DeAndre Yedlin each made their 14th appearances of the year in tonight’s match. That total ties the young attacking pair with Michael Bradley for the most MNT caps so far in 2015.

The U.S. now holds a 3-2-1 record all-time against Peru.

This matchup was the first between the teams in more than 15 years. The U.S. defeated Peru 1-0 in Miami in the group stage of the 2000 Gold Cup, with Cobi Jones scoring the game-winner in the previous matchup.

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

Match: U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Peru
Date: Sept. 4, 2015
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: RFK Stadium; Washington, D.C.
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Attendance: 28,896
Weather: 83 degrees; Mostly cloudy, humid

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

PER – Daniel Chávez (Andre Carrillo) 20th minute
USA – Jozy Altidore 59
USA – Jozy Altidore (Gyasi Zardes) 68

Lineups:
USA: 1-Brad Guzan; 15-Michael Orozco (20-Geoff Cameron, 46), 3-Omar Gonzalez (19-Ventura Alvarado, 46), 6-John Brooks (5-Matt Besler, 63), 23-Tim Ream; 2-DeAndre Yedlin, 13-Jermaine Jones (14-Danny Williams, 72), 11-Alejandro Bedoya (10-Mix Diskerud, 46), 21-Gyasi Zardes; 17-Jozy Altidore (capt.), 18-Bobby Wood (9-Aron Johannsson, 71)
Subs Not Used: 7-Alfredo Morales, 12-Tim Howard, 24-Joe Corona, 26-Andrew Wooten
Head Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann

PER: 1-Pedro Gallese; 5-Carlos Zambrano, 6-Juan Manuel Vargas, 8-Christian Cueva (13-Edison Flores, 82), 10-Jefferson Farfan, 16-Carlos Lobaton (capt.) (19-Victor Yotun, 72), 17-Luis Advincula, 18-Andre Carrillo (7-Paolo Hurtado, 64), 21-Josepmir Ballon (24-Renato Tapia, 64), 22-Carlos Ascues, 23-Daniel Chavez (14-Ivan Bulos Guerrero, 82)
Subs Not Used: 2-Jair Cespedes, 3-Hansell Riojas, 4-Pedro Requena, 9-Jose Paolo Guerrero, 12-Diego Penny, 15-Christian Ramos, 20-Joel Sanchez
Head coach: Ricardo Gareca

Stats Summary: USA / PER
Shots: 16 / 15
Shots on Goal: 7 / 4
Saves: 3 / 3
Corner Kicks: 6 / 6
Fouls: 11 / 13
Offside: 1 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
USA – John Brooks (caution) 48th minute
USA – Jozy Altidore (caution) 86

Officials:
Referee: Francisco Chacon (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Miguel Angel Hernandez (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Juan Rangel (MEX)
4th Official: Fernando Guerrero (MEX)