United States men tie host France in friendly
Julian Green scored in the 44th minute and a young United States team held on against tremendous pressure to tie World Cup-bound France 1-1 Saturday night at Lyon.
Kylian Mbappe tied the score in the 78th minute for Les Bleus, who outshot the Americans 19-2. The French had been 3-0 against the U.S. in prior meetings, outscoring the Americans 10-0, but 23-year-old Zack Steffen made seven saves in his third international appearance, a standout performance that could help him in the competition to succeed Tim Howard as the team’s No. 1 goalkeeper.
The U.S. started just one player with 10 previous international appearances and all were 25 or younger. At 22 years, 183 days, the lineup’s average age was the second-youngest since records began in 1990.
Green scored against Belgium in extra time in the second round of the 2014 World Cup but largely disappeared over the next few years and the 23-yearold midfielder spent last season with second-tier Greuther Fuerth in Germany. Making his first start since October 2016, he got his fourth goal in 10 international appearances.
Shaq Moore exchanged passes with Bobby Wood, and the 21-year-old Moore made a run down the right flank and crossed past Benjamin Mendy. Djibril Sidibe’s left-footed clearance attempt did not go far, and Green ran onto the bouncing ball, spun his right leg and from 9 yards and sent the ball between Sidibe’s legs, beating goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to the near post with a one-hopper.
French players were booed and whistled by the crowd as they walked off the field at the half.
Absent from the World Cup for the first time since 1986, the Americans again wore jerseys with rainbow numbers to celebrate Pride Month. They are 2-1-3 under interim coach Dave Sarachan, who replaced Bruce Arena after the loss at Trinidad and Tobago last October eliminated the U.S. in qualifying. The Americans likely will play next against Brazil on Sept. 7 at East Rutherford, N.J.
France, the 1998 champion, opens against Australia on June 16, meets Peru five days later and closes the first round versus Denmark on June 26.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: France forward Nabil Fekir’s move from Lyon to Champions League runner-up Liverpool fell through on Saturday.
Lyon said in a brief statement it decided to “end negotiations.”
The 24-year-old Fekir reportedly had his medical with a view to a move for 65 million euros ($77 million), plus eventual bonuses.
MLS
ATLANTA UNITED 1, NYCFC 1: In New York, Alexander Callens tied it in the 77th minute and New York City FC settled for a draw in a matchup of two of the top Eastern Conference teams.
Callens scored on a header to finish David Villa’s header flick of Maximiliano Moralez’s corner.
NYCFC (8-3-4) had two shots crash off the post after the 80th minute and finished the game with a 10-2 advantage in shots on target.
Josef Martinez opened the scoring for Atlanta United (9-33) in the 48th minute with his league-leading 13th goal of the season.
Brad Guzan had nine saves for Atlanta United.
RED BULLS 1, CREW 1: In Columbus, Ohio, Alex Muyl tied it with a header in the 57th minute and New York (7-4-2) held on for a 1-1 draw with the Crew (7-3-4).
Muyl scored for the Red Bulls on Marc Rzatkowski’s corner, beating backup goalkeeper Jon Kempin to the ball and heading it over the top of Kempin for the goal. Kempin replaced Crew starter Zack Steffen, who was on international duty for the U.S. men’s national team in its friendly against France.
Gyasi Zardes opened the scoring with his 10th goal of the season in the 26th minute with a strong header to finish Harrison Afful’s looping cross from the end line.