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A Bittersweet Point, USMNT Create New Trauma In 1–1 Draw With Wales
It was the USA’s first game back at the World Cup after missing out on 2018 qualification and it gave fans a cruel reminder of what World Cup Soccer feels like. High stakes, vague political stances, and wild swings of emotion.
Despite the early lead, and genuinely great play throughout the first half, the final score read — USA 1 Wales 1.
It was tale of 2 halves, one of hope and one of a feeling so joyless it that sapped all of the energy from the rest of your day.
The 2nd half wouldn’t have fealt so heartbreaking, if they didn’t look so smooth on the ball throughout the first half. Coupled with the US holding strong defensively, keeping Wales to just 2 low xG attempts on Matt Turner in the first 45'. That defensive structure led to plenty of opportunities with the ball at their feet, including 2 quality chances that come directly from a forced Wales turnover. You can absolutely draw positives from the way the team battled down the homestretch, but the fact that they had to battle — the fact that the game turned into a CONCACAf-esque hackathon — could have been completely avoided.
The US had success early attacking down the Welsh flanks, both Robinson and Weah had a few Grade A crosses, almost causing an own goal in the 9' as a Weah cross was headed back…
