Chicago Fire midfielder Logan Pause did well in his return
to the U.S. men’s national team, pacing the midfield for the full 90 minute in
the visitors 1-0 victory over South Africa Wednesday night in Cape Town.
U.S. manager Bob Bradley relied on an experimental squad of
international reserves and first-timers whose average age was just over 23, as
he looked to cause as little conflict as possible with player’s European clubs
and those that were or are still involved in the MLS Cup playoffs.
One of the two eldest players on the U.S. roster, the
29-year-old Pause did well to partner with Brian Carroll in the U.S. midfield.
Having last appeared for the U.S. in the final of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
loss to Mexico, It was typical performance for the eight-year Fire veteran –
not flashy, rarely a mistake -- just making himself known when he needed to be.
Pause was joined in the U.S. starting lineup by former Fire
PDL players defenders Tim Ream (2009) and Eric Lichaj (2005) as well as Brad
Guzan (2004). The halftime
substitutions of defender Jonathan Spector (2003) and Teal Bunbury (Chicago
Fire Super-20’s; 2009) meant six of the 11 players on the field for the U.S.
had ties to the Chicago Fire Soccer Club.
Of course that fact was upstaged by one moment of brilliance
between late second half subs making their first U.S. appearances.
Norwegian
based midfielder Mikkel Diskerud pulled the ball back in the box before touching a quick pass to New
York Red Bulls Academy product Juan Aguedelo. The 17-year-old striker took the
ball off the knee before blasting it off the cross bar, bouncing down just over
the goal line to give the U.S. the winner in the 85th minute.
The goal capped a great performance for a young side playing
in front of 60,000-strong in Cape Town’s Green Point Stadium and gave the U.S.
it’s second Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup trophy, having previously beat South
Africa by a similar score line in November 2007.
The U.S. Men’s National Team ends 2010 with a 5-5-4 record.
Jeff Crandall is the Team Writer for the Chicago Fire. Follow him on Twitter @JefeCrandall.
