Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League standout Sacha Klejstan (blue jersey in action for the USA in an international friendly against visiting New Zealand in Washington, D.C. on October 11, 2016. (Photo: Tony Quinn/isiphotos.com)
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The United States could not hold onto a one-goal lead and settled for a 1-1 draw with visiting New Zealand in an international friendly at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium on Tuesday night.
Monty Patterson leveled with his first international goal in the 72nd minute, countering Julian Green’s first-half tally.
Despite having four U.S. defenders in front of him in the penalty area, the 19-year-old Patterson slotted Michael Boxall’s touch off a Michael McGlinchey corner kick past goalkeeper David Bingham.
After surviving a shaky start by starting goalkeeper William Yarbrough and some uneven defensive play in the opening minutes, Green lifted the Americans into the lead in the 27th minute. Yarbrough booted a long free kick that striker Jozy Altidore flicked on for Green on the left side. The Bayern Munich forward ran to the top left of the penalty area and fired a shot to the near post past keeper Stefan Marinovic.
It was the second time in five days that Green had found the back of the net as he also scored in Friday’s 2-0 victory at Cuba.
Both teams had opportunities to win in the waning minutes. U.S. defender Michael Orozco cleared a shot off the goal line by second-half substitute Kosta Barbarouses in the 88th minute and Marinovic saved Michael Bradley's blast from the penalty arc a minute into stoppage time.
The USA extended its unbeaten streak at RFK Stadium to 10-games. Its last setback at the historic venue was a 3-2 loss to Honduras in CONCACAF qualifier for the 2002 FIFA World Cup on September 1, 2001.
The Americans will return to action on November 11, when it hosts Mexico in the final-round opener of CONCACAF qualifying for Russia 2018 in Columbus, Ohio.
International Friendly
October 11, 2016: Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium (Att: 9,012)
USA-New Zealand 1-1 (1-0)
Julian Green 27’ / Monty Patterson 73’
USA: William Yarbrough (David Bingham 46’); Michael Orozco, Omar Gonzalez, Matt Besler, Kellyn Acosta (Lynden Gooch 59’), Perry Kitchen (Danny Williams 64’), Sacha Kljestan, Michael Bradley, DeAndre Yedlin, Jozy Altidore (Terrence Boyd 88’), Julian Green (Juan Agudelo 78’). Head Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann
New Zealand: Stefan Marinovic; Andrew Durante (Sam Brotherton 58’), Winston Reid (Themi Tzimopoulos 74’), Michael Boxall, Liam Graham (Louis Fenton 46’), Clayton Lewis (Moses Dyer 67’), Michael McGlinchey, Marco Rojas (Henry Cameron 46’; Kosta Barbarouses 75’), Kip Colvey, Monty Patterson, Chris Wood. Head Coach: Anthony Hudson
R: Juan Carlos Guerra (Guatemala); AR1: Hermenerito Leal (Guatemala); AR2: Juan Lemus (Guatemala); 4th: Jonathan Polanco (Guatemala)
