Paxten Aaronson makes debut as attacking struggles continue for the United States in the second January friendly
CARSON, Calif. – The United States Men’s National Team extended its goal-scoring drought with a frustrating 0-0 draw against Colombia at Dignity Health Sports Park on January 28, 2023, marking their second consecutive match without a victory in the January international window.
Despite creating better chances throughout the contest, the USMNT failed to find the breakthrough against an inexperienced Colombian side missing their European-based stars, highlighting persistent attacking deficiencies as the team builds toward the 2026 World Cup.
Match Analysis and Key Moments
The Americans dominated the opening 45 minutes with several clear-cut opportunities, most notably through debutant Paxten Aaronson, who had two excellent chances to open his international account. The Philadelphia Union midfielder’s side-footed effort after six minutes went straight at Colombia goalkeeper Álvaro Montero, while a second attempt was deflected wide by a desperate diving block from defender Andrés Llinás.
“Paxten is a really exciting player, hugely confident,” said interim coach Anthony Hudson. “He came in a day or two late, but you can see his quality. We don’t know what his level will be, but we believe in his talent and will see what he can do.”
Perhaps the most glaring miss fell to Matthew Hoppe, who shot straight at the Colombian keeper when Paul Arriola was begging for a square pass after being found by Jesús Ferreira’s through-ball.
Tactical Setup and Formation Analysis
United States (4-3-3): Hudson fielded a more experienced lineup than the midweek loss to Serbia, starting all five World Cup veterans on the roster. Sean Johnson anchored the defense behind a back four of John Tolkin, Aaron Long, Walker Zimmerman, and DeJuan Jones.
The midfield trio of Kellyn Acosta, Paxten Aaronson, and Eryk Williamson provided energy and creativity, while the front three of Matthew Hoppe, Jesús Ferreira, and Paul Arriola looked to exploit Colombia’s inexperienced defense.
Colombia (4-3-3): The visitors fielded four MLS players in a lineup featuring only one player with more than five international caps. Álvaro Montero started in goal, with Frank Fabra, Alexis Pérez, Andrés Llinás, and Juan Mosquera forming the defensive line.
Individual Player Ratings
United States:
- Sean Johnson (7/10): Solid when called upon, made crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet
- Paxten Aaronson (7.5/10): Impressive debut with two clear chances and energetic play throughout
- Matthew Hoppe (6/10): Wasteful in front of the goal, should have scored when through on goal
- Jesús Ferreira (6.5/10): Good link-up play, but couldn’t find the final pass against his birth country
- Walker Zimmerman (6.5/10): Solid defensively, headed a difficult chance over from a corner
Colombia:
- Álvaro Montero (7/10): Made key saves to keep Colombia level
- Cucho Hernández (7/10): Lively performance, caused problems for the USMNT defense
- Cristian Arango (6.5/10): Missed Colombia’s best chance, scuffed shot wide in the first half
Key Match Statistics
- Possession: USA 45.4% – Colombia 54.6%
- Shots: USA 5 – Colombia 12
- Shots on Target: USA 2 – Colombia 1
- Corner Kicks: USA 5 – Colombia 2
- Fouls: USA 15 – Colombia 18
Debut Performances
The match marked significant milestones for American soccer, with Paxten Aaronson and John Tolkin earning their first caps, while DeJuan Jones made his first start. Aaronson’s inclusion meant he and Leeds United’s Brenden Aaronson became the eighth set of brothers to represent the U.S. at the senior level.
Second-half substitutes Emmanuel Sabbi and Samuel Rogers also earned their first international appearances, though neither could provide the spark needed to break the deadlock.
Post-Match Reaction
“Overall, I think we achieved our objectives,” Hudson said. “There’s a bunch of players we wanted to see with us, to see in competitive situations. It was a case of being able to look at those players in our environment and being able to get through two games physically.”
USMNT goalkeeper Sean Johnson remained optimistic despite the lack of goals: “It’s a great group of players, and that speaks to the depth of our player group. There’s good times ahead for us. We would have loved to win, and we had our chances, but it was solid all around. As a group, I feel like this camp was a step forward.”
Attacking Concerns Continue
The scoreless draw extended a worrying trend for the USMNT, which has now scored just four goals in its past seven games. The lack of cutting-edge in attack remains the biggest concern as the team prepares for the 2026 World Cup on home soil.
Despite creating numerous chances, particularly in the first half, the Americans struggled with final-third execution and decision-making. The inability to convert promising positions into goals will need to be addressed as competition intensifies.
Looking Ahead
The January camp served its purpose of evaluating fringe players and giving experience to newcomers, but the attacking deficiencies highlighted against both Serbia and Colombia will require attention in future camps.
With the 2026 World Cup approaching, Hudson and his staff have identified areas for improvement while gaining valuable insight into the depth of the American player pool.
USMNT Related Articles:
- Serbia Defeats USMNT 2-1 in Friendly
- Netherlands Eliminates the USMNT From the Qatar World Cup 2022
- Late Goal Sends USMNT to Round of 16
- USMNT Hold On For Draw Against England
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