Winners and Losers: U.S. vs. Slovakia

Thanks to a Marek Hamrik goal from the penalty spot, Slovakia defeated the United States Men's National Team 1-0 in Bratislava. With Landon Donovan, Oguchi Onyewu, Jay DeMerit, and a host of other regulars missing due to club commitments or injury, the friendly marked an opportunity for some players on the fringes of the Stars and Stripes roster to impress. Here's a look at who did and who didn't.  

Winners

Brad Guzan

Replacing U.S. No. 1 Tim Howard, who stayed in England after picking up a minor foot injury, Brad Friedel's backup at Aston Villa showed his quality with a couple of impressive saves that kept the Americans within a single tally. He could do nothing on Hamrik's well-taken penalty, but stoned Erik Jendrisek twice in rapid succession during the second half. Guzan continues to improve and, while he won't challenge Howard for the No. 1 spot in the near future, Bradley and American supporters have to feel confident that he can fill in should something happen to the Everton backstop.  

Clint Dempsey

As the match wore on, it became increasingly clear that Dempsey was the most dangerous U.S. attacker. In the early stages of the first half he made a nice turn and took a chance from 25 yards out. Although his shot bounced harmlessly wide of Jan Mucha's cage, it exemplified the Fulham midfielder's ability to surprise defenders—a trait that's in rare supply on this American squad. Dempsey was also dangerous in dead ball situations, forcing the Slovakian goalkeeper to make a diving save in the 37th minute. Dempsey played well, but how much of this was a result of Donovan's absence, which gave the man from Nacogdoches a bit more room to operate freely?  

Benny Feilhaber

Getting the start beside Michael Bradley, AGF's midfielder put in a solid 90 minutes of effort. While the work didn't result in a goal for the Americans, Feilhaber showed flashes of skill and fancy footwork that will trouble defenders. He also did well in the air, getting his head on a Jonathan Bornstein cross and redirecting it towards the net where Mucha made a half-diving stop. Feilhaber will likely lose his starting role to Ricardo Clark, Jermaine Jones, or Maurice Edu, but he did nothing to hurt his prospects in Bratislava.

Losers  

Clarence Goodson and Jimmy Conrad

Given the injuries to Oguchi Onyewu and Jay DeMerit, Carlos Bocanegra needs a partner in the center of the American defense. While Chad Marshall was the favorite to start in the position, he was ruled out before the game. In his stead, Bradley turned to Jonathan Spector instead of Goodson or Conrad. While the West Ham defender has played centerback in the past, he patrols the flanks for his club side and, until Saturday, for the Americans as well. The fact that the U.S. manager opted for Spector instead of the two centerbacks on the roster—Goodson did come in for Bocanegra on 72 minutes—can't bode well for either man's future playing time.  

Jozy Altidore and Conor Casey

Neither striker for the Red, White, and Blue impressed on the bumpy pitch at Tehelne Pole. The duo, who also paired together in the U.S.'s 2-2 draw with Costa Rica on the final matchday of World Cup qualifying, barely created any chances. Two minutes into the match, Casey got his head on a Robbie Rogers corner. He headed it down and another American player put the ball into the net, but Altidore's handball erased the tally. The pair worked well together on one occasion when the Colorado Rapids striker flicked on a ball to his young strike partner but Altidore's shot from 20 yards went straight to Mucha. They both came out in the second half and neither's presence was missed.  

Jonathan Bornstein

The yo-yo that is the left back's play continues. Overall, the Chivas USA player wasn't bad in Slovakia. He made some nice runs forward and showed a deft crossing touch, especially as the match wore on. That said, he was guilty of the foul that led to the game's only goal. Whether or not the call was correct—replays certainly give Bornstein a case—Vladimir Weiss undoubtedly got behind the fullback. If the American team learned anything this summer at the Confederations Cup, it's that they will not get any calls. Bornstein gave referee Stefan Messner the option to blow his whistle, and the Americans paid the price. Fair? Perhaps not. Reality? Absolutely.  

Noah Davis covers the Untied States Men's National Team for Goal.com.

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