Besler Goes 90, Records Assist but US Lose

Matt Besler earned his 24th cap for the US national team starting on the left side of a three man back line in Jurgen Klinsmann's new 3-5-2 formation. In just the sixth minute, Besler sent a fantastic through ball down the line for Brek Shea to run onto. The new Orlando City signed fired a shot across the face of goal and into the net to give the USA a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately less than five minutes later, Besler played a role in Chile's equalizer. As Chile worked down the USA's right, Besler tracked Roberto Gutierrez. Right before the cross was played in, Besler seemed to hesitate just a little bit, maybe expecting center back, Jermaine Jones to pull up and play Gutierrez offside as the US did a number of times during the game. Unfortunately Jones didn't pull up and Gutierrez had an uncontested header that he put past Nick Rimando and into the net. The US retook the lead before half time through Jozy Altidore to lead 2-1 as the teams headed into half time.

The second half though was dominated by Chile as they took the game to the US who appeared to tire as the second half wore on further. Mark Gonzalez scored a pair of goals less than 10 minutes apart to give Chile the lead. The first he raced past his marker on the USA's right, got into the box and fired a shot past Rimando to tie the game at 2-2. Then in the 75th, he pounced first on a rebound that Rimando had done well to save initially. But Gonzalez's follow up deflected off Steve Birnbaum and past Rimando to make it 3-2 Chile. Which is how the game ended. The US team will return to the States ahead of a friendly on February 8th against Panama in Los Angeles.

See Besler's assist below.