The United States fell 4-2 to Czech Republic on Tuesday in their last friendly football match before coach Bob Bradley names the 23-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup that kicks off on the 11th of June in South Africa.
In what will be a major concern for the team management, the Czechs largely owe their victory to the defensive lapses shown by the Americans, who will host Turkey in a friendly on Saturday before the squad departs for South Africa.
Maurice Edu, in the 17th minute, and Herculez Gomez, in the 66th, each got their first international goals as USA rested regulars including Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard and instead took a last look at some of the players who are hoping to make the World Cup roster, which Bradley is to name on Wednesday.
The news wasn't very good as defenders Oguchi Onyewu, Heath Pearce, Clarence Goodson and Steve Cherundolo were quite visibly struggling in the midfield, giving room to the Czechs, who haven't qualified for the World Cup.
After Edu opened the scoring, Czech Republic equalized through Tomas Sivok, a minute before halftime. Jan Polak made it 2-1 for the visitors in the 58th. Although Gomez, who came on the field at halftime, answered, Martin Fenin in the 77th and Tomas Necid in injury time eventually secured the victory for the Czechs.
{{/usCountry}}After Edu opened the scoring, Czech Republic equalized through Tomas Sivok, a minute before halftime. Jan Polak made it 2-1 for the visitors in the 58th. Although Gomez, who came on the field at halftime, answered, Martin Fenin in the 77th and Tomas Necid in injury time eventually secured the victory for the Czechs.
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