The U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team opened up their 2016 account with a friendly match against Iceland Jan. 31. The game was played at the StubHub Center in Los Angeles with the U.S. naming a starting lineup with two debutants. Iceland also used this friendly game as a way to give youngsters an opportunity and prepare for the upcoming Euro 2016 championship.
Just 13 minutes into the game, the United States was down 1-0 due to a deflected effort that gave Luis Robles no chance in goal. However, just seven minutes later, the United States hit back with a goal from Jozy Altidore, knotting the game at 1-1. It was nice link up play that led to this goal. Gyasi Zardes laid it off to Michael Bradley, who played a clever through ball into Altidore, who then neatly chipped the keeper, leveling the score.
The game went on fairly evenly until half time, with the score still 1-1 after 45 minutes.
The second half started out quickly with Iceland retaking the lead just three minutes into the half. After a quick free kick, Iceland debutant Aron Sigurdarson took the ball down the right flank, cut in, and fired a curling effort into the far corner.
Just 11 minutes later the U.S. was level again thanks to a Michael Orozco header. After a corner that Iceland failed to clear, Altidore sent the ball back into the box and Steve Birnbaum beat all the defenders to head the ball towards goal, which Orozco simply headed into an empty net.
The U.S. pressed on from there and finally found their answer in the 90th minute when Jerome Kiesewetter won a free kick just outside of the box on the left side of the field. Bradley took the free kick and found Birnbaum in the center of the box, who fired a header into the goal, sealing all three points for the U.S.
This was Jurgen Klinsmann’s 44th win as the U.S. Men’s National Team coach. He is now second in all-time wins behind Bruce Arena who has 71.
Coming up this week, the U.S. Men’s National Team takes on Canada Feb. 5 at 10:15 p.m. on Fox Sports 1.