RSA 0-1 Yanks

RBNY striker Jose Agudelo, 17, had
the game-winner in S. Africa.

Phenomenal win for the boys today.  Starting a bit shaky (Robbie Findley was terrible once again), the Yanks took what essentially is their C squad (I was a huge proponent of Bradley's young tryout selection, especially for a non-FIFA match) and improved minute by minute.  As a fan, I wasn't really looking for the result so much as the performances of today's newbies.  We got both.

World Cup third-string Brad Guzan was outstanding.  Today's captain handled all of South Africa's eight thousand crosses with ease, and came up with that huge save in the first half on what should have been an offside call.  I'm very encouraged to see him show up like that, especially with his limited minutes at Aston Villa behind Grandpa Friedel.

Eric Lichaj impressed me the most of the backline, merely on presence.  The man isn't afraid to push you around, even with a first-half yellow card.  He's definitely deserving of his increased time at Villa.

Goes without saying that Jose Agudelo is the hero of the day.  His impressive finesse shot in the 85th, under pressure, in the box, at age 17, is definitely a great story.  I just watched him a few weeks ago in the San Jose/RBNY series.  Seeing him on the pitch today was exciting enough, let alone scoring the winning goal in his debut.  Good shit.

I have to say I was most impressed by the debut of Mikkel Diskerud, however short it was.  The kid was fucking EVERYWHERE.  Seconds after paralyzing two South African defenders and setting up the Agudelo goal, he's on the opposite corner of the field pressuring an attacker one-on-one in the open field.  I understand he had a very short time to leave it all out on the field, but it still takes game to do what he did today.

I can't wait to see these guys more often.  I don't see all of them making January camp, but I'd be willing to bet a couple of the above names (Guzan, obviously) will be in LA for the festivities.