United States suffer 2-1 loss to Switzerland ahead of Nations League

The United States men’s national team lost 2-1 against Switzerland in an international friendly ahead of the CONCACAF Nations League semi finals.

While the American side kicked off strongly, defensive errors quickly led to the team’s ultimate decline. The two sides faced off in St. Gallen, Switzerland before the USMNT heads back to the United States for the final four tournament.

The first half of the match saw the United States take the lead with a fantastic goal by LA Galaxy midfielder Sebastian Lletget. A poorly cleared ball by the Swiss defense inspired Lletget to the rebound, working off of teammate Brenden Aaronson before scoring. The USMNT were up within five minutes of the whistle, but their dominance didn’t last long.

The Swiss took over from there, denying the visiting side any opportunity. Five minutes after the initial goal, Switzerland were able to break down the right side and manipulate the defense to put Ricardo Rodriguez into perfect position. The Torino FC player then easily rocketed the ball into the net from just outside the box.

The match settled down for a bit after the equalizer, but Switzerland remained the dominant side. The Swiss eventually doubled their lead with a 63rd minute goal by Steven Zuber.

The team missed Zack Steffen and Christian Pulisic, a fact that became obvious as the game progressed. While the two players were out forming part of the Champions League final, both Steffen and Pulisic are expected to make an appearance at the Nations League. With a disorganized defensive line, the Manchester City goalkeeper was particularly missed during the match.

Despite what the scoreboard reflects, the United States men’s national team did not fail to show up against the Swiss completely. The offense created several opportunities, while Lletget, Aaronson and center back Mark McKenzie teased an exciting future for the USMNT.

The LA Galaxy midfielder continues to be a focal point in the team’s success. His speed and technical ability may become the determining factor for any Nations League triumph.