Poor Defense Turns U.S. Into Irish Stew

Five days before Coach Bruce Arena selects the 23 players he will take to the World Cup next month, the United States national soccer team still has an unfinished look.

That much was evident in a 2-1 loss to Ireland Wednesday in rain-swept Lansdowne Road Stadium at Dublin.

Defensive lapses by the U.S. allowed the Irish to score seven minutes into the game and seven minutes from the end. On both occasions, it was because defenders were beaten either for speed or position. Arena, who will select his squad Monday, said he was “disappointed” in the outcome of the American team’s final overseas warmup before it leaves for South Korea on May 23.

“I think our defensive shape was better [than during a 4-2 loss to Germany last month],” Arena said. “I think our back line performed a bit better in terms of how they moved.

“But in terms of evaluating the game, passing, getting forward, it was a tough game for that because of the conditions. Some of the issues defensively were good, but it has to be better. We need to get our players into camp and clean up some of our mistakes.”

The first of those Wednesday came when U.S. left back Jeff Agoos closed down Ireland’s Rory Delap, only to see him push the ball past him into the right corner and into the path of overlapping Irish defender Steve Finnan.

Finnan, completely unmarked, had time to find midfielder Mark Kinsella in front of the net and Kinsella, loosely guarded by Gregg Berhalter, volleyed the ball into the upper left corner past Brad Friedel.

With wind-driven rain having turned the playing surface into a quagmire more suited to rugby, it took the U.S. players a long while to settle into the game.

“We didn’t come alive until after the first goal,” Arena acknowledged, and even then it took some time.

Clint Mathis gave an indication that the Americans would not sink quietly into the mud by unleashing a 35-yard shot that was tipped over the crossbar by Shay Given in the 10th minute.

Ireland continued to apply most of the pressure, however, and its passing and possession were far superior, allowing it to dictate the rhythm. Still, the U.S. slowly managed to claw its way back.

In the 34th minute, the Americans earned a corner kick on the left and midfielder John O’Brien crossed the ball deep into the penalty area for Eddie Pope, whose sharp downward header gave Given no chance.

Just like that, the U.S. was back on level terms. Both coaches substituted freely in the second half, with Arena eventually using all 18 of his players and Ireland’s Mick McCarthy employing 19 of his 21.

Two substitutes combined to give the Irish the victory to the delight of the crowd of 39,000.

In the 83rd minute, veteran Steve Staunton sent a free kick from the right flank to the back post, where Gary Doherty headed the ball just inside the left post, beyond the reach of Kasey Keller, who replaced Friedel for the second half.

The U.S. had one final chance to tie the score, but Josh Wolff’s volley off a pass from Eddie Lewis was palmed away by Given.

“I thought their two goals were preventable,” Friedel said, “and it’s something we need to work on.”