US Makes Progress As They Defeat Turkey

All everyone has been talking about before today's game was the fact that what kind of a test was Azerbaijan the previous week? The US's win over them was criticized for the fact that Azerbaijan played the opening minutes with 11 guys playing defense against the US. I feel the United States received a real test today when they played Turkey at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. They were facing a team that's accomplished and was one game away from making the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The United States was hopeful because Clint Dempsey was back in the lineup after he sat out the previous game due to a groin injury. The Turkish team definitely played the game like they were an accomplished team as they attacked the US goal in the beginning stages of the game. In the first 20 minutes of the game, Turkey had three legit chances on net, but Tim Howard and the US defense were up to the task of snuffing out the plays. One of the best goals of the game came in the 21ST minute when Fabian Johnson and Michael Bradley executed a beautiful give and go. Fabian started the play near the midfield point when he found Michael Bradley. Bradley then delivers one heck of a pass over the defense and to Johnson who with his first touch puts the ball in the back of the net.

The United States would start the second half of the game with a 1 to 0 lead and they attacked the Turkish net with real vigor. The US was looking to score more goals and they would get that chance in the 60TH Minute. Geoff Cameron had the ball near the goal kick line when he would cross the ball towards goal. Unfortunately for the this Turkish team, their defender would fail to clear the ball and Clint Dempsey was in the right place at the right time to make them pay as he scored his 37TH International goal to give the US a 2 to 0 lead. I really started to see fatigue set in for the US team as they started to give up chances and the Turkish team was turning the tempo up. In the 89TH minute of the game on a bad play from Timmy Chandler who gave away the ball causing the Turks to be awarded a penalty after the ball hit the hand of Geoff Cameron preventing the ball from going in. Selcuk Inan would easily hit the ball past substitute goalkeeper Brad Guzan to cut the lead down to one. Fortunately, the Turks couldn't capitalize on the possession and the US walked away with a great win.