Vazquez scores for youthful US line-up in 2−1 loss to Serbia

LOS ANGELES: Interim head coach Anthony Hudson saw tenacity, bravery and atacking excitement from the youngsters and newcomers he sent out for the United States’ first match since the World Cup.

Although none of it added up to a win, Hudson was hopeful a 2-1 defeat to Serbia on Wednesday was a positive first step toward the 2026 World Cup the U.S. will co-host.

Brandon Vazquez scored in the first half to lead a US line-up with seven starters making their international debuts.

Veljko Simi gpt the go-ahead goal in the opening minute of the second half for Serbia, which gave debuts to 14 players. Eight Americans in all debuted during a lively friendly that felt like spring training at BMO Stadium near downtown Los Angeles.

“I have to say overall, I was really pleased with the performance,” Hudson said.

”I loved the fact that players were really driving to get forward and run behind the line and atack the back line. So I’m disappointed, obviously, with the result, but the way they went about the game was pleasing to me.”

The Americans are in transition with Hudson running the show while the U.S. Soccer Federation determines the future of coach Gregg Berhalter, whose contract expired at the end of last year. Hudson is using the annual January camp and accompanying exhibitions to give experience to a new crop of prospects ater the US was eliminated in the round of 16 at the World Cup in Qatar.

Hudson’s team put on an exciting performance with much more action and atacking flair than normal in these annual January exhibitions, but the US team has won just one of its last eight matches, with four draws and three losses.

The US, which hosts Colombia on Saturday, uses youngsters and MLS players in its winter camp, which falls outside a FIFA international window. The current group has 11 players geting their first callup and just five members of the World Cup roster.

“I told the guys before the game in the huddle that anytime you put on this jersey, whether it’s in January or in a World Cup game,’ you have to have pride,” said US captain Walker Zimmerman, whose 38 international appearances were 10 more than the other 21 starters combined.