Among the many encouraging things from the U.S.'s 1-0 victory over South Africa in Cape Town on Wednesday, one stood out to us: Amid the din of vuvuzelas and 52,000 Bafanatics, the young Yanks were remarkably comfortable on the ball.
We've lamented before about the collective U.S. lack of touch and shooting ability, and we're not saying Wednesday night was Tiki-Taka, American style.
But on every section of the pitch, young Yanks kept the ball and moved it purposefully under pressure.
To read more about Insider's analysis of the U.S. victory over South Africa, plus news and notes, you must be an ESPN Insider.
Doug McIntyre is a staff writer for ESPN The Magazine. He has covered American and international soccer since 2002.
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U.S. National Soccer Team Blog
We're your regular source for all the inside info on the U.S. national team. Whether it's breakdowns of player pool developments, news and notes from the club soccer world and its impact on the American side, or game coverage, we'll bring you consistent, exclusive access and insight. Contact us with comments and tips at ESPNUSSoccerblog@gmail.com.
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Doug McIntyre
Doug McIntyre has watched or attended almost every U.S. national team game since Paul Caligiuri's "shot heard 'round the world" in 1989. He is a staff writer for ESPN The Magazine and has covered American and international soccer since 2002.
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