USA vs Azerbaijan final score: USMNT wins 2-0
By Mike Dyce
The United States was taking on Azerbaijan in a friendly on Tuesday night from Candlestick Park in San Francisco. The game for the United States men’s national team was more than just a friendly, it was the first of several games serving as warm-up games for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Before the game even started there was already some issues with the USMNT. The original starting XI had captain Clint Dempsey penciled in to start on the left wing. He was scratched from the line-up with what was labeled “groin stiffness” and Chris Wondolowski started in his place.
More from Soccer
- LA Galaxy vs. Club Leon Leagues Cup match rescheduled for July 26
- USWNT vs. Vietnam: Key takeaways before they take on the Dutch
- Caesars, BetMGM and PointsBet Promo Codes Give $1,850 Bonus for ANY World Cup or MLB Game!
- LeBron James, Giannis, Damian Lillard all want that Mbappé money
- Is this Alex Morgan’s last Women’s World Cup with the USWNT?
Hopefully stiffness is all that it is, because a more serious injury might put Dempsey in jeopardy of making the 2014 World Cup.
In the first half the United States dominated Azerbaijan in possession, controlling the ball 70 percent of the time. Despite that they looked flat on offense at times. That being said they did have eight shots with four on goal and Dempsey’s replacement Wondolowski had two chances nearly go in on goal, but both were stopped by Azerbaijan’s keeper with some incredible plays. The best chances for the USMNT came off of set pieces though, not in free flowing play.
Nevertheless, no one expected the USMNT to head into the half with a 0-0 draw, but it is important to remember this is a feeling out game as much as anything. It is being played to sort things out and gain some familiarity and rhythm, but the fans expected goals and were looking for some in the second half.
The Untied States started off the second half the same way, playing flat and the tempo seemed to slow down. In the 75th minute, the USMNT finally got on the board. Jozy Altidore won a free kick from far out, and the USMNT sent it in. A headed ball landed at the feet of Michael Bradley who took a shot, but it was defended by an Azerbaijan defender. It fell at the feet of Mix Diskerud, who is wearing Donovan’s No. 10 jersey, and he put the ball in the back of the net giving the USMNT the lead and some desperately needed momentum.
Just a few minutes later, Aron Johannsson added a second goal to make the scoreline a bit more respectable. He scored with a header from the right side of the six yard box to the top right corner off a corner kick from Brad Davis.
That score line held to the end of the game.
The USA has two more warm-up games left, hosting Turkey at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 1, at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, before traveling to Jacksonville, Florida, to face Nigeria on June 7 at 6 p.m. ET at EverBank Field. Both of those games will be broadcast live on ESPN2, WatchESPN, UniMas and ESPN Deportes Radio.