LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Matt Turner kept falling onto the field, the American goalie pounding the ground in frustration.
A defensive lapse by Anthony Robinson and scoreless defensive play by Johnny Cardoso, Tim Weah and Cameron Carter-Vickers led to four goals in an embarrassing 5-1 defeat to Colombia in a Copa America warm-up match on Saturday.
“I will apologize to the fans,” Turner said. “That's not who we are. And yes, we need to bounce back in a big way.”
Since a 5-1 loss to Czechoslovakia in the 1990 World Cup, the United States had not given up so many goals until a 5-0 loss to Mexico in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup final. It was the Americans' first loss by four goals since a 4-0 defeat in World Cup qualifying. 2016 against Costa Rica, which caused the US Soccer Federation to dismiss coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
“We don't see it as a lesson learned. We actually frame it as a wake-up call. Really bad performance against a top team,” USA coach Gregg Berhalter said. “From the 75th minute onwards, I think it was a lack of respect for our opponent and the game of soccer.” And what we were doing.”
John Arias put Colombia ahead in the sixth minute after the ball was deflected to him when Robinson tried to clear it without checking who was nearby. Rafael Santos Borre doubled the lead with a stunning header in the 19th minute. The United States had not conceded two goals in the first 20 minutes since a World Cup qualifier in March 2016.
“There are some glaring things you have to address if you want to compete at this level,” Berhalter said. “The men did not do their job. It is about your role and responsibility and we did not do that.”
Weah reduced the deficit to 2-1 in the 58th minute, but Cardoso's pass led to Richard Rios' goal in the 77th minute, Weah's gift to Jorge Carrascal in the 85th minute and Carter Vickers' pass, which did not appear to be directed towards anyone in front of Luis Sinistra. At 88.
“We had a lot of problems in the middle,” Weah said.
Colombia has increased its winning streak to seven and its unbeaten streak to 22 since its 1-0 defeat to Argentina in the World Cup qualifiers on February 1, 2022.
“Everybody can look in the mirror after that game or need to look in the mirror after that game and know that,” Turner said. “They had a different density to them that we didn't have.”
The United States has suffered six defeats and two draws against the Colombians since 2005 and has not achieved a win in five matches against South American opponents since 2019.
“We have a responsibility as a coaching staff, for sure. We can't put it all on the players,” Berhalter said. “This game will help us understand that when we don't do the things we're supposed to do, we get hurt very quickly.”
The United States faces Brazil in another friendly match on Wednesday in Orlando, Florida, then plays the opening match of the Copa America on June 23, followed by matches against Panama and Uruguay. The United States is among the six countries invited to attend the tournament, which is the South American Championship.
Colombia will meet Bolivia in an exhibition match in Denver on June 15, then play in Group A with Paraguay, Costa Rica and Brazil. It is possible that the United States and Colombia will meet in the quarter-finals.
In front of a mostly pro-Columbia crowd of 55,494 at Commander's Field, many wearing yellow jerseys, the American players wore rainbow numbers on their jerseys in Pride Month.
For the first time in American history, all 11 starting players played for clubs in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France. Only six of the 143 starting positions have been filled by MLS players in the 13 games the full pool has been available since the 2022 World Cup, including three of the 99 since Berhalter returned as coach.
Colombia took the lead in the sixth minute when James Rodriguez sent a pass past Robinson's left leg to Arias. He took a touch to pull away from Tim Ream and from 6 yards out beat Turner over the goalkeeper's left shoulder to the near post.
Colombia doubled the lead in the 19th minute after Rodriguez played a short corner kick that reached Arias, who sent a cross. Tom Ream headed the ball in an attempted clearance, and Mateus Uribe put the ball back forward. With his back to goal from 5 yards out, Santos Burre leaned back as he jumped and delivered a right-footed overhead kick that sent the ball leaping to Turner's left.
Weah, the son of Liberian President and former FIFA Player of the Year George Weah, scored his sixth international goal.
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