Soccer ForwardSoccer ForwardOpen CupOpen Cup
Volkswagen
Nike
Become An InsiderOfficial Store
Login
U.S. Soccer
  • National Teams
    USWNT
    USMNT
    Youth
    Extended
    USWNT HomeCurrent RosterUSWNT LINEUPS
    ScheduleStoriesUSWNT STATS
    USMNT HomeCurrent RosterUSMNT LineupsUnique USMNT Player number
    Schedule & TicketsStoriesUSMNT StatsUSMNT on tv
    Women
    Under-14 NDPU-15 GNTU-16 GNTU-17 WNTU-18 WNTU-19 WNTU-20 WNTU-23 WNT
    Men
    Under-14 NDPU-15 BNTU-16 BNTU-17 MNTU-18 MNTU-19 MNTU-20 MNTU-23 MNT
    Women
    U.S. WOMEN’S BEACH SOCCER NATIONAL TEAMU.S. WOMEN’S FUTSAL NATIONAL TEAMU.S. WOMEN’S CP NATIONAL TEAMU.S. WOMEN’S DEAF NATIONAL TEAM
    Men
    U.S. MEN'S BEACH SOCCER NATIONAL TEAMU.S. MEN’S FUTSAL NATIONAL TEAMU.S. MEN’S CP NATIONAL TEAMU.S. MEN’S DEAF NATIONAL TEAM
    Co-Ed
    Power Soccer National Team
  • Schedule & Tickets
    Schedule & Tickets
    Ticketmaster logo
    GROUP ORDERS FAQ
    TICKET FAN AND EVENT FAQ
    MOBILE TICKETING
  • Participate
    Home
    Coaching
    Refereeing
    Safeguarding Hub
    Health and Wellness
    Additional Resources
    Talent IdentificationFederation ServicesOrganization MembersGovernanceU.S. Soccer Alumni Club
  • Initiatives
    Soccer Forward
    Development Fund
    STRATEGIC VISION
    National Training Center
    SHEBELIEVES
    ONE NATION.
    ADAPTandTHRIVE
    Referee Abuse Prevention
Become An InsiderOfficial Store
U.S. Soccer
User profile icon
  • Soccer ForwardSoccer Forward
    Open CupOpen Cup
    Nike
    Volkswagen
Loading...

Go Deeper

MNTMichael Bradley 0Kellyn Acosta962496

Related Stories

On the Pitch
September 26, 2025

How Many USMNT Players Competed in Both FIFA U-20 World Cup and Senior World Cups?


On the Pitch
September 25, 2025

USMNT Looks for More Mile High Magic Ahead of World Cup


On the Pitch
September 24, 2025

Why Austin, Texas Has Quickly become a Special Place for the USMNT 

In This Article

Kellyn Acosta

Midfielder

Go Deeper

MNTMichael Bradley 0Kellyn Acosta962496

Related Stories

On the Pitch
September 26, 2025

How Many USMNT Players Competed in Both FIFA U-20 World Cup and Senior World Cups?


On the Pitch
September 25, 2025

USMNT Looks for More Mile High Magic Ahead of World Cup


On the Pitch
September 24, 2025

Why Austin, Texas Has Quickly become a Special Place for the USMNT 

Latest Stories

Open Cup
September 28, 2025

U.S. Open Cup Final Preview: History on Offer for Austin FC or Nashville SC

Open Cup
September 27, 2025

U.S. Open Cup Finalist Spotlight: Austin FC’s Hard Road to Date with Destiny


Open Cup
September 27, 2025

U.S. Open Cup Finalist Spotlight: High Hopes for Callaghan’s Tight-knit Nashville SC


On the Pitch
September 27, 2025

Gavin Beavers Replaces Diego Kochen on U.S. Roster for 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup


On the Pitch
September 26, 2025

How Many USMNT Players Competed in Both FIFA U-20 World Cup and Senior World Cups?


Open Cup
September 26, 2025

Coaches Q&A: First-Year Bosses Eye U.S. Open Cup History for Austin FC and Nashville SC

Latest Videos

image
About U.S. Soccer
History
Governance
Sponsors & Partners
Careers
Media Services
How to report a concern
Fan code of conduct
Fan ticket and event faq
Contact us
Organization members
Federation Services
Brand Protection
Connect with us

Get unrivaled matchday access

App StoreGoogle Play Store
Join the team
Join the team
Join the team
Sign Up For Free
already an insider?Login
COPYRIGHT U.S. SOCCER 2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
PRIVACY POLICY
CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS
TERMS OF USE
ACCESSIBILITY

Growing MNT Gains Valuable Experience From Colombia Defeat

while there were positive moments from the MNT’s 4-2 loss to Colombia Thursday night – like the early second-half scoring burst to give the USA a 2-1 lead -- in the end, the lessons learned will prove more valuable for a group that continues to grow together.
By: Jeff CrandallOctober 12, 2018
Image
Image

When the Kickoff Series slate was laid down for the fall of 2018, results weren’t number one on the priority list. Lining up six opponents ranked in the top 25 in the world was about providing valuable experiences for a group whose average age has hovered around 23 years old the whole year, not about gaining six wins.

So while there were positive moments from the MNT’s 4-2 loss to Colombia Thursday night – like the early second-half scoring burst to give the USA a 2-1 lead -- in the end, the lessons learned will prove more valuable for a group that continues to grow together.

“At halftime I thought we addressed the fact that we were pretty sloppy in terms of possession and we were a little impatient,” MNT head coach Dave Sarachan said about the 1-0 deficit at the break. “At times I think we could have really slowed the tempo, and I thought we put the game a lot on their terms in the first half. I’m really pleased with the second half start, obviously getting the goals was good, but I thought our approach in quality improved.”

Pressuring higher up the field, the MNT forced Colombia into mistakes and pounced on their opportunities to push the MNT ahead early in the second half. Kellyn Acosta hit home the equalizer via a deflected cross from Antonee Robinson in the 50th minute, followed by Bobby Wood’s clinical finish off a Tim Weah feed three minutes later.

Shortly after the U.S. took the lead, Colombia pulled things back to 2-2 via Carlos Bacca in the 56th minute. A few substitutions pushed the full tempo back into the favor of Los Cafeteros and the MNT’s inability to adjust to the changes allowed Radamel Falcao and Miguel Angel Borja to flip the script.

“They made a few changes, it changed the dynamic of the team, and we were playing a little bit of catch up,” Acosta, who scored his second international goal, said. “Overall we’re disappointed on the little details that we could have managed, and after going up 2-1 I thought we could have found a way to get a result. We didn’t manage the game well enough to finish it off.”

With a squad featuring 12 players that were part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup roster and a core group that has been together for several years, Colombia’s talent and cohesiveness served to punish an MNT group that is continuing to build its own identity early in the new cycle. 

“They can slip little passes, and with their mobility and the way they move off of each other they can cause you real problems,” captain Michael Bradley said following his first MNT match of 2018.

“Experience on nights like tonight is still invaluable. You’re playing a game where in a lot of ways you’re not the home team. You’re playing against a good, skillful team that can punish you. These are teams that we see on a regular basis. The experience of playing on nights like this, having to keep concentration for 90 minutes, having to know what the game asks in different moments, you want guys to get a feel for that.”

As the MNT prepares for its next Kickoff Series match against Peru, there will be plenty of tape to review, as well as getting a different group ready to play La Blanquirroja on Tuesday in East Hartford, Conn.

“Going into these two games the idea was to get through the first game with a core group,” Sarachan said. “There are plans to make a number of changes for Tuesday. You play these friendlies to allow some players opportunities. We’ll address some of the issues from today and scout Peru. The same fundamentals will apply.”