The United States couldn't hold off the No. 3 ranked team in the world on Friday. Colombia netted two goals in the second half to defeat Jurgen Klinsmann and co. by the score of 2-1.
With 24,235 in attendance in Craven Cottage, England, it looked like the United States was going to earn a quality international victory early on. After Colombia was penalized in the 10th minute because of a handball in the penalty area, U.S. striker Jozy Altidore drilled the free kick and put his team up 1-0.
But time proved to be against the Americans when the second half approached. The United States logged only nine shots on goal with five on target compared to the Colombians' 21 and eight. Both the U.S. and Colombia caught breaks after the refs missed two calls: they first missed a handball by U.S. defender Jermaine Jones in the penalty area during the first half and then allowed a Colombia goal by striker Carlos Bacca when Teofilo Gutierrez was offside in the 60th minute. That tied the game 1-1.
Possession was also in the Colombians' favor as they controlled the ball for 60.5% of the game compared to the United States' 39.5%. The tiebreaker came in the 87th minute when Edwin Cardona crossed the ball over two American defenders and Gutierrez headed it past keeper Brad Guzan. That sealed Colombia's 2-1 victory and marked the third straight game the United States has given up a goal beyond the 86th minute.
Klinsmann made five substitutions throughout the game, bringing in Alfredo Morales, Bobby Wood, Damarcus Beasley, Lee Nguyen and Julian Green throughout the night. The combination of Nguyen, Morales and Wood nearly scored in the 81st minute and proved to be effective putting on pressure offensively.
But in the end, Colombia, the 2014 World Cup darlings, came out on top to improve to 3-1 in international friendlies since September. The United States fell to 1-2-1.
