Soccer: Cole Bassett’s late goal in debut sends US past Bosnia

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  • Midfielder Cole Bassett #11 of U.S.A reacts aft scoring past Goalkeeper Belmin Dizdarevic #12 of Bosnia-Herzegovina precocious successful the 2nd fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. United States won 1-0. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Midfielder Cole Bassett #11 of U.S.A reacts aft scoring past Goalkeeper Belmin Dizdarevic #12 of Bosnia-Herzegovina precocious successful the 2nd fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. United States won 1-0. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Midfielder Christian Roldan #10 of the United States goes up fore the header against Midfielder Amar Beqic #13 of Bosnia-Herzegovina successful the archetypal fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Defender Josip Corluka #2 of Bosnia-Herzegovina with the header implicit Defender Brooks Lennon #2 of the United States successful the archetypal fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Midfielder Amar Beqic #13 of Bosnia-Herzegovina slides into Midfielder Kellyn Acosta #23 of the United States successful the archetypal fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Goalkeeper Matt Turner #1 of the United States blocks a changeable by Bosnia-Herzegovina successful the archetypal fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • A young instrumentality holds up a motion anterior to a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park betwixt the United States and the Bosnia-Herzegovina successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Defender Brooks Lennon #2 of the United States with the header against the Bosnia-Herzegovina successful the archetypal fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Defender Numan Kurdic #3 of Bosnia-Herzegovina goes up for the header against the of the United States successful the archetypal fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Defender Walker Zimmerman #3 of the United States with the header against Bosnia-Herzegovina successful the archetypal fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Midfielder Savic Igor #18 of Bosnia-Herzegovina goes up for the header against the of the United States successful the archetypal fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Forward Ricardo Pepi #16 of the United States controls the shot against Bosnia-Herzegovina successful the archetypal fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Midfielder Amar Beqic #13 of Bosnia-Herzegovina trips up Midfielder Kellyn Acosta #23 of the United States successful the archetypal fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Defender George Bello #5 of the United States eyes the shot against Bosnia-Herzegovina successful the archetypal fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Midfielder Amar Beqic #13 of Bosnia-Herzegovina walks disconnected the tract aft being ejected against the of the United States successful the archetypal fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Midfielder Amar Beqic #13 of Bosnia-Herzegovina pleads his lawsuit aft being ejected aft tripping up Midfielder Kellyn Acosta #23 of the United States successful the archetypal fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Midfielder Andrei Dokanovic #15 of Bosnia-Herzegovina kicks the shot against Midfielder Christian Roldan #10 of the United States successful the archetypal fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Defender Walker Zimmerman #3 of the United States controls the shot against Bosnia-Herzegovina successful the archetypal fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Defender Brooks Lennon #2 of the United States controls the shot against Defender Josip Corluka #2 of Bosnia-Herzegovina successful the archetypal fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • A shot instrumentality holds up a motion successful the 2nd fractional of a affable shot lucifer betwixt the United States and the Bosnia-Herzegovina astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Forward Jovo Lukic #9 of Bosnia-Herzegovina goes up for the header against the United States successful the 2nd fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Bosnia-Herzegovina instrumentality holds up a scarf against the of the United States successful the archetypal fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • United State fans chewer against Bosnia-Herzegovina successful the 2nd fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Bosnia-Herzegovina fans clasp up flags successful the archetypal fractional of a affable shot lucifer against the of the United States astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Defender Jonathan Gomez #18 of the United States fights for the shot against Midfielder Sasa Maksimovic #10 of Bosnia-Herzegovina successful the 2nd fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Goalkeeper Nikola Cetkovic #1 of Bosnia-Herzegovina blocks a changeable against the of the United States successful the archetypal fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Forward Cade Cowell #21 of the United States with the header against Defender Hrvoje Barisic #5 of Bosnia-Herzegovina successful the 2nd fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Defender Brooks Lennon #2 of the United States with the header against the Bosnia-Herzegovina against Bosnia-Herzegovina successful the 2nd fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Defender Aldin Nukic #4 of Bosnia-Herzegovina fights for the shot against Forward Jesus Ferreira #7 of the United States successful the 2nd fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Midfielder Cole Bassett #11 of U.S.A reacts aft scoring past Goalkeeper Belmin Dizdarevic #12 of Bosnia-Herzegovina precocious successful the 2nd fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. United States won 1-0. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Forward Jordan Morris #13 of the United States goes up for the header arsenic teammate Midfielder Christian Roldan #10 looks connected against Bosnia-Herzegovina successful the 2nd fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Midfielder Christian Roldan #10 of the United States controls the shot against Bosnia-Herzegovina successful the 2nd fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

  • Midfielder Jackson Yueill #8 of the United States fights for the shot against Midfielder Andrei Dokanovic #15 of Bosnia-Herzegovina successful the 2nd fractional of a affable shot lucifer astatine Dignity Health Sports Park successful Carson connected Saturday, December 18, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

CARSON — Hoping to crook a palmy 2021 run into a historical one, the U.S. men’s nationalist squad waited until the precise extremity of its past crippled of the twelvemonth to marque it happen.

American midfielder Cole Bassett scored successful the 89th infinitesimal to dispatch Bosnia and Herzegovina during an accumulation lucifer successful beforehand of an announced assemblage of 11,044 astatine Dignity Health Sports Park.

The 1-0 effect gave the U.S. its 17th triumph successful a calendar year, besting the people antecedently acceptable by the 2013 group.

“When the guys had the accidental to beryllium capable to get the triumph contiguous and person the wins (record) for a twelvemonth they embraced it,” U.S. men’s nationalist squad caput manager Gregg Berhalter said.

Wedged betwixt high-stakes World Cup Qualifying matches, Saturday marked the Americans’ archetypal affable since June, ending a tally of 14 consecutive competitory contests.

Overall, the U.S. played to a 17-2-3 grounds successful 2021, including trophy-winning performances successful the CONCACAF Nationals League and Gold Cup, closing the twelvemonth ranked No. 12 the world, per FIFA. The team’s winning percent tops immoderate twelvemonth the U.S. played 5 oregon much matches.

Berhalter called up 26 players for the December campy successful Carson composed of halfway nationalist squad members from MLS clubs on with young players looking for an opportunity.

Taylor Booth, Caden Clark, Jonathan Gomez, Kobi Henry, John Pulskamp and Gabriel Slonina each completed their archetypal campy arsenic rostered elder players.

“It’s a bully situation for guys,” Berhalter said. “You aspire to thing your full vocation and past you get an opportunity. It’s bully to spot guys clasp that.”

Gomez stepped connected the tract with little than 10 minutes remaining successful the match, joining Bassett, starting defender Brooks Lennon and substituted guardant Cade Cowell successful signaling their archetypal quality for the U.S. connected Saturday.

Bassett’s crippled victor (his archetypal extremity arsenic a subordinate of the U.S. men’s elder team) came disconnected a rebounded prevention pursuing a left-footed changeable by Gomez from extracurricular the box.

“I ever conscionable effort to sniff goals and beryllium successful the close spot,” Bassett said. “Luckily, it conscionable bounced to maine and I enactment it distant from there.”

The triumph lifted the U.S. to 2-0-1 against the Baltic federation since their shot relation was formed successful 1992 pursuing the breakup of Yugoslavia.

Failing to suffice for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Bosnia and Herzegovina brought a young all-domestic league squad to Dignity Health Sports Park. The inexperienced radical carried a combined 8 caps betwixt them.

The visitors hung astir acknowledgment to a fistful of missed American chances, but aft going down to 10 men successful the 40th infinitesimal they struggled to technologist an attack.

Costa Rican referee Keylor Herrera called a consecutive reddish paper connected midfielder Amar Begić for exposing his cleats portion tackling Kellyn Acosta, whose 22 games for the U.S. this twelvemonth topped Landon Donovan’s 2002 performance.

Reflecting his tendency to support cardinal contributors sharp, Berhalter started 5 of the 8 players connected the squad with double-digit caps and added to the Americans’ acquisition borderline implicit the visitors by bringing connected the astir capped subordinate connected the roster, Gyasi Zardes, an hr into the scoreless contest.

“The full thought is to support the guys moving, particularly the guys successful Major League Soccer,” Berhalter said. “So we’re hitting the crushed moving and it volition beryllium a precise akin absorption due to the fact that if we privation to vie similar we bash successful this model it’s gonna beryllium indispensable to person these guys fit.”

Sitting successful 2nd presumption retired of 8 spots, the U.S. is 4-1-3 successful 2022 World Cup qualifying matches.

After taking the adjacent 3 weeks off, USA begins its January campy anterior to the resumption of CONCACAF’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers connected Jan. 27, erstwhile El Salvador travels to Columbus, Ohio. Three days later, Berhalter’s radical heads to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada to look the existent radical signifier leaders. Then the 2nd to past qualifying model closes successful Minneapolis connected Feb. 2 against Honduras.

The Octagonal ends astatine the extremity of March erstwhile the U.S. travels to Mexico, hosts Panama and wraps up the 14-game contention successful Costa Rica.

The apical 3 teams successful the standings volition gain an automatic berth to Qatar.

“I privation to accidental convey you and congratulations to the subordinate excavation successful 2021,” said Berhalter, who called up 53 players implicit the people of the year. “Most of each I deliberation it’s the relationships we’ve built. Seeing the squad grow. Seeing the relationships grow. Seeing however overmuch these guys are invested. And astatine the extremity you get bully things similar the astir wins successful a calendar twelvemonth for U.S. soccer.”

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