The score flattered Team USA’s dismal showing, as the Americans looked completely out of sorts throughout the game. It’s clear that even at this late stage, American manager Greg Burhalter has some work to do. JUMP TO: Player Ratings | Best/worst performance | Highlights and notable moments | Post Match Quotes | Basic Statistics | Upcoming matches

Quick Reaction

  1. The US has no answer for Japan’s press Berhalter often wants his team to play on the front foot and that starts with pressing teams high up the pitch. On this day, though, Japan gave Americans a taste of their own medicine, and it worked perfectly. Case in point was Japan’s goal in the 24th minute, when a Weston McKennie turnover led to a transition opportunity in which Hidemasa Morita found Kamada wide open to sidestep Matt Turner in the USA goal. The US was also slow to react to seemingly everything, playing timid at times, and no American was immune from turning the ball over. Could it have been nerves or a case of playing it safe with the World Cup looming? This seems unlikely. The effectiveness of Japan’s pressing meant the USA rarely got into spots where they could threaten Switchi Goda in the Japan goal, and they had just five touches in the Japanese penalty area during the first half — the fewest of the USMNT in a friendly since 2019. Sergino Dest produced an attractive cross for Jesus Ferreira in the eighth minute, but the FC Dallas forward could only send his header over the bar. Ferreira’s lack of physical presence up top, combined with Christian Pulisic’s absence due to a concussion, only exacerbated Team USA’s struggles on the ball. The USA looked a little more threatening with Joshua Sargent on top in the second half, but not by much. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, more (US) Given the difficulty the U.S. has had playing out-backs — and that’s been a problem in midfield as much as a problem in the back line — it stands to reason that the Americans’ group stage opponents will be taking copious notes in term on how to reach the US defense.
  2. Has Turner Claimed USA’s No. 1 Jersey? The USA had Turner to thank for going into halftime down just one goal. In particular, his save from Kamada when he was clear on goal in the 13th minute after being gifted by Walker Zimmerman was impressive. He also commanded the box well and made the routine saves he needed to make. The only complaint was Turner’s distribution in some situations, in which his contact and accuracy with the ball was subpar. He should sharpen that up in the remaining weeks before the World Cup. Was it enough to stick his nose in front of the battle for the starting goalie position? One would have to think so, but Berhalter has long had a soft spot for Zach Steffen. It probably won’t be until November that we know that answer for sure.
  3. Margin players have little impact 2 Related On a day of opportunity for players vying for the final spots on the roster, there wasn’t much movement. Both Reggie Cannon and Mark McKenzie acquitted themselves well in replacement roles, but there wasn’t much else of note. As for the starters, Sam Vines didn’t improve his stock at all, and so did Aaron Long, as neither player looked at the pace of the match. In fact, if anything, this was a day where the absence of some injured players was telling. Pulisic in attack, Yunus Musa in midfield and Chris Richards at center back need to heal as quickly as possible.

Player Ratings

United States: Matt Turner 8, Sam Vines 4, Aaron Long 4, Walker Zimmerman 5, Sergino Dest 5, Luca De La Torre 4, Tyler Adams 4, Weston McKennie 3, Giovanni Reyna 5, Jesus Ferreira 4, Brenden Aaronson 5 Subs: Jordan Morris 5, Mark McKenzie 6, Josh Sargent 5, Reggie Cannon 6, Malik Tillman 5, Johnny Cardoso 5 Japan: Shuichi Gonda 5, Takehiro Tomiyasu 6, Hiroki Sakai 7, Yuta Nakayama 7, Maya Yoshida 6, Wataru Endo 8, Takefusa Kubo 7, Midemasa Morita 6, Junya Ito 6, Daichi Kamada 7, Daizen Maeda 6 Subs: Daniel Schmidt 5, Shuto Machino 5, Hiroki Ito 5, Kaoru Mitoma 7, Ritsu Doan 5, Genki Haraguchi N/R

The best and worst performers

BEST: Daichi Kamada, Japan. There were a few players to choose from. Edo ran the show in midfield and the centre-back pairing of Sakai and Nakayama were composed throughout, but Kamada took his goal well and was involved in some other neat rallies. The USA looked decidedly second best in a heartbreaking loss to Japan on Friday. Christof Koepsel/Getty Images WORST: Weston McKennie, USA The same was true at the other end of the spectrum, but McKennie’s gift for sparking the run that led to Kamada’s goal and completing just 69.2% of his passes stood out.

Highlights and notable moments

The numbers, and accompanying charts, told the story of US impotence against Japan. Passes completed in the attacking third so far: Japan 35#USMNT 4 — Bill Connelly (@ESPN_BillC) September 23, 2022 #USMNT first half highlights… 🇺🇸 The Pulisic shaped hole is back! 🇯🇵 Japan had 82 offensive-third touches, to USA’s 42 pic.twitter.com/DTtOvq56SA — Paul Carr (@PaulCarr) September 23, 2022 USMNT managed ZERO shots on target against Japan 🙃 pic.twitter.com/LxshxQMRAG — ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 23, 2022 Japan 2-0 USA No shots on target isn’t a problem, but it wasn’t the only problem for the #USMNT . pic.twitter.com/kzUZuC0xcR — The Analyst US (@OptaAnalystUS) September 23, 2022 Japan put the icing on the cake with a well-taken goal by Mitoma, who outplayed Cannon and the rest of the American defense. Japan secure a 2-0 win over the USMNT to start the international break 🎯 pic.twitter.com/shduF3c28J — ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 23, 2022

After the match: What players and coaches said

Berhalter: “We have work to do. We clearly have to improve.” Berhalter: “We have to play with personality, we have to play loose, we have to play with intensity, and when we do those things, we’re a really good team. But when we don’t, we’re an average team.” Adams: “I felt like we were playing into Japan’s hands. We could tell very easily that they were pressing us high and the solution, I think at the beginning of the game, was probably to play a little bit more direct, a little bit back to reduce that pressure, throw a little bit and create a little bit more space, a little bit more composure on the ball. But it was difficult. We didn’t find solutions early and, yeah, as the game went on we started to find a little bit more solutions, but we just didn’t create clear chances.”

Key Stats (provided by ESPN Stats & Information)

– The USA is now 1-3-2 this year against teams that qualified for the World Cup in November. – Friday marked the first time since a 1-0 loss to Panama in World Cup qualifying in October 2021 that the USMNT had no shots on goal. – Turner’s six saves were the second most by a U.S. goalkeeper under Berhalter, who took over in January 2019. (Turner also has the most saves in a game under Berhalter, eight, against Morocco on June 1. )

Next

United States: The USMNT heads to Spain for a friendly on Tuesday against Saudi Arabia in Murcia. It will be the last game for the USA before the World Cup group stage begins on November 21 against Wales. Japan: Two more friendlies on the docket. First up is Ecuador on Tuesday, also in Dusseldorf. Then against Canada on November 17 in Dubai, just one week before the November 23 clash with Germany in the World Cup.