Arena makes US return in draw with Serbia
LOS ANGELES: Bruce Arena was denied a triumphant return to US coaching duties Sunday as the Americans played Serbia to a goal-less draw in an international football friendly.
A Serbian side with only three players over age 25 gave the Americans all they could handle at San Diego in an evaluation match for domestic talent as both sides try to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Russia.
“It ’ s encouraging,” Arena said.
“For this time of year, it’s not a bad game. I would have liked to have gotten a goal but overall I think that’s a fair result.”
Arena was hired to replace Germany’s Jurgen Klinsmann as US coach after the Americans dropped two World Cup qualifying matches, falling 2-1 at home to Mexico and 4- 0 at Costa Rica last November.
The 65- year- old American guided the US team to the 2002 World Cup quarter- finals and oversaw a first-round exit in 2006 in his first USA coaching stint before being replaced by assistant Bob Bradley, who was axed in 2011 to make way for Klinsmann.
The Americans, off to their worst- ever start to the final round of North American (CONCACAF) World Cup qualifying, will return to their quest to reach Russia on March 24 against Honduras at San Jose.
Three of six teams from the hexagonal, which now finds the US lineup at the bottom of the table, will qualify for the 2018 World Cup while a fourth will meet an Asian squad in a playoff to decide a berth.
US players have another friendly
For this time of year, it’s not a bad game. I would have liked to have gotten a goal but overall I think that’s a fair result.
on Friday against Jamaica at Chattanooga, Tennessee, but like Sunday’s match it will feature Major League Soccer players and not talent based on European squads. Those players will not be available to Arena until the crucial qualifiers resume.
Jozy Altidore became the second- youngest US player to reach 100 caps at age 27, older than only Landon Donovan among 17 American centurions.
A US counter- attack in the 24th minute went lacking as a Jermaine Jones centering pass into the heart of the penalty area was quickly cleared by Serbia, and Darlington Nagbe was wide of the right post from atop the area in the 38th minute.
“We created a few good chances,” Arena said of the first half.
“We made too many fouls in our half of the field.”
Nick Rimando, the 37- yearold American goalkeeper who has never played in a World Cup qualifier, made a key save in the dying seconds to blank Serbia.
US substitutes Juan Agudelo and Jordan Morris missed on late shots in the penalty area.
“We had an oppor tunity to see some players and new opportunities with the national team,” Arena said.
“Darlington Nagbe had a real good game.
“Overall we’re just looking for some depth in the programme.” — AFP
Bruce Arena, US coach