A lackluster U.S. performance against Trinidad and Tobago Goal.com World Cup 2010 qualifying coverage Dwight Yorke’s late penalty gave Trinidad and Tobago a 2-1 victory over the United States to give the Trinis a much-needed three points in their fight for a place in CONCACAF’s final round of World Cup qualifying.
Brad Guzan: Not to blame on either of the goals and generally looked in command of his penalty area. A competent and reliable second-stringer. -- 6
Heath Pearce: Consistently looks out of match practice and out of his depth at international level. When paired against a good player – like Carlos Edwards – Pearce often comes off second best. -- 4
Michael Orozco: Looked the more comfortable and composed of the two center backs. Did well to hack clear a dangerous rebound in the opening stages and deflect an Edwards shot in the second half. Showed enough to prove he has a future at this level, especially with his physical play. -- 6
Danny Califf: This isn't the game Califf sought to distinguish himself from Orozco and the injured Jay DeMerit. Often looked a step slow and failed to anticipate the play. -- 4.5
Frankie Hejduk: What you see is what you get from Frankie. He'll go out and do a competent job in the back while ineffectively trying to provide width going forward. Not a bad effort. -- 5
DaMarcus Beasley: Stand-in captain tried to influence the game early, but generally faded away. Difficult to place too much blame on him considering the ineffective play in the middle of the field. -- 5
Jose Francisco Torres: Looked the best of the four other midfielders. Generally tidy in his passing and willing to step into the passing lanes. Remains to be seen whether he is a first team player or a fringe player going forward. -- 5
Freddy Adu: Ineffective in breaking down the T&T defense. Aside from a long-distance shot that went astray, Adu had little impact on the match. -- 4.5
Maurice Edu: Passing bordered on criminal for most of the night. For a player with defensive tenacity, Edu showed precious little of it on this evening. Needs game time at Rangers or a loan to another club. -- 4
Sacha Kljestan: Not impressed with his passing either. Did well to get into the wide right channel on occasion but his final service lacked what it needed. -- 4.5
Jozy Altidore: Altidore's uneven performance is why Brian Ching remains in the team. A great run to set up Davies' goal, but a spurned open net and a needless penalty giveaway topped off a generally ineffective night. Not that coach Bradley or his teammates gave him much support. -- 5
Substitutes
Charlie Davies (on for Adu, 69): Showed enough to make Bob Bradley want to leave Eddie Johnson in Wales for the considerable future. Scored one and should have had an assist but for Altidore's profligacy. -- 6
Danny Szetela (on for Torres, 84): NR
Chris Rolfe (on for Pearce, 88): NR
Trinidad and Tobago (4-5-1)
Clayton Ince: Didn't have much to do, but remained a calm force behind the T&T backline. -- 6
Akile Edwards: The better of the two fullbacks on the evening. Didn't venture forward much, but didn't make anyone forget Avery John either. -- 6
Dennis Lawrence: Sometimes rickety in his old age but generally did the job. Questions will be asked about where he was on the American goal. -- 6
Keyeno Thomas: Whiffed twice on an opportunity from a corner kick before leaving the match with an injury. -- 5
Silvio Spann: Looked a bit out of his depth at right back. It's not his natural role, but he's done well enough here to get the job done. -- 5.5
Keon Daniel: Has electric pace yet struggled to get in behind defenders. Abjectly neglected any sort of defensive duties. Again, the question has to be whether this is a good spot on the field for him. -- 4.5
Chris Birchall: How Birchall was ever left out the team remains anyone's guess. Did the things you want Michael Bradley to do in the center of the field. Held well while seizing his moments to plunge forward. Provided the impetus for the first goal. -- 7
Russell Latapy: Father time has no mark on the 40-year-old playmaker. He fades in and out of the game now, but his first goal was well taken. Never puts a pass astray and generally found himself in the right spots. -- 7
Dwight Yorke: Very quiet up until scoring the winning penalty. Asked to do yeoman's work in the middle of the park and completed the task well. Could T&T ask for a better option to take a penalty with the team's World Cup future on the line? -- 6.5
Carlos Edwards: It's not too much of a stretch to say Edwards has a case to be the best right winger in CONCACAF. Consistently gets in behind defenses and constantly threatens the opposition. Most players with attacking ability shirk defensive responsibility; Edwards tracked back frequently to foil Beasley. The best player on the field on this evening. -- 7.5
Jason Scotland: Does everything one can ask from a lone center forward. Holds the ball up well, stretches defenses by tracking down balls and competes for everything. Finishing touch wasn't there tonight, but a good shift. -- 6
Substitutes
Makan Hislop (on for Thomas, 35): Caught ballwatching on the Americans' goal. Otherwise, steady as she goes. -- 5.5
Stern John (on for Scotland, 67): Pretty quiet night for the Southampton striker. -- 5
Khaleem Hyland (on for Latapy, 76): Looked active and bright at time when T&T needed his fresh legs. -- 6