LANDOVER, Maryland — The US men’s national team entered its most momentous summer in a decade surrounded by expectations and rumors, by 55,494 fans here outside Washington DC, and in the 23rd minute of a high-profile friendly, a game still announced. In another test for an as-yet untested USMNT, some of those fans chanted, “USA, Colombia is your daddy!”
United States, Colombia is your dad.
They were dressed in Colombian yellow, to support a team among the top 10 in the world, the same type of team that has become the USMNT’s measuring stick. And they repeated the chant during a 5-1 beating of the Americans.
More than 90 minutes on Saturday at Commanders Field, The Coffee Growers became another elite team that the USMNT couldn’t live up to.
They beat the Americans in a game whose outcome was, in a sense, inconsequential. But it was part of an ongoing pattern. It was another chance for the Yankees to prove to the world and to themselves that they can topple football’s superpowers; and it was, in the end, another missed opportunity.
They were behind in less than six minutes and with two goals less in the 19th. It was the first time since 1995 which a USMNT had conceded twice in less than 20 minutes.
Jhon Arias’ first goal lit up the pro-Colombia crowd.
Rafael Borré’s acrobatic finish soon after took the life out of the American fans who looked at the two starting 11s on paper and saw an even contest.
They analyzed the United States’ first starting eleven made up exclusively of players from the five major European leagues. “Where everyone plays, the levels they play at and what they have achieved this year speaks for itself,” Christian Pulisic had said on Friday. “It’s just an exciting time.”
And yet, in roughly five years under head coach Gregg Berhalter, the United States has yet to beat a top-25 opponent outside of CONCACAF in an A-team match.
The Colombian players, on the other hand, do No all come from the vaunted Big Five. Some did, but others came from Mexico’s Liga MX, Turkey’s Super League, Brazil’s Serie A and Qatar’s Star League.
However, they have become a dynamic unit, now undefeated in 22 matches, going back over two years.
The USMNT is still very far from that mark.