Matt Turner Makes Case to Be US Men's No. 1 GK in Win vs. Morocco
Jun 2, 2022
CINCINNATI, OH - MAY 30: Matt Turner makes the save during a training session at Mercy Health Training Center on May 30, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
The United States Men's National Team defeated Morocco 3-0 on Wednesday in an international friendly match at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, in what was their first of four matches this month.
The match gave Gregg Berhalter a good look at his player pool ahead of the World Cup in Qatar this fall as players like Haji Wright, Joe Scally, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Malik Tillman saw a decent amount of time on the pitch.
While Wright, Brenden Aaronson and Timothy Weah found the back of the net in the win, and Christian Pulisic impressed, it was goalkeeper Matt Turner who drew a lot of the attention from American fans on Wednesday night after earning a clean sheet.
Many even called for Turner to replace Zack Steffen as the team's No. 1 goalkeeper entering the World Cup after making eight saves in the win.
"I just think right now the goalkeeping position is Matt Turner's to lose." - @TaylorTwellman
Turner doing what he does tonight with 2-3 key saves.
Turner entered Wednesday's game with 16 appearances for the national team, including 12 wins and 11 clean sheets. He is now 13-2-2 with 12 shutouts since making his debut in 2021.
The 27-year-old has made a name for himself over the last several years after going undrafted out of Fairfield University.
He signed with the New England Revolution in 2016 and has emerged as the MLS side's top keeper. After going 17-7-4 with five clean sheets during the 2021 season, he earned the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award and was named to the MLS Best XI.
Turner is also set to transfer to Premier League side Arsenal in June, a huge reward for his impressive performances in the MLS and for the national team over the last couple of years.
Meanwhile, Steffen has been with the U.S. national team since 2018 and is 14-4-7. In six games this year for the USMNT, the Manchester City keeper is 3-2-1 with two clean sheets.
With Turner pushing for Steffen's starting job, things should certainly be interesting as we inch closer to the World Cup in November.
Ex-USMNT Manager Bruce Arena Named New England Revolution Head Coach
May 14, 2019
CARSON, CA - JANUARY 11: New USMNT head coach Bruce Arena looks on during the USMNT training session at StubHub Center on January 11, 2017 in Carson, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
Former USMNT manager Bruce Arena has been appointed as the new head coach and sporting director of MLS side New England Revolution.
The Revolution announced the news via their official website. Investor/operator Robert Kraft discussed his appointment:
"Bruce is one of the most successful coaches in American soccer history, and we feel his commitment to excellence, track record of winning championships in Major League Soccer, as well as his success at the international level, makes him the best person to bring the Revolution back to MLS Cup contention. We have known Bruce dating back to the advent of MLS, and we have full confidence that he will raise the level of our club to the standard we all expect and demand."
Arena will immediately start his job as sporting director, while an exact date for his first day as manager is still unknown. The current technical staff will remain in place. New England host Chelsea in a charity match to help combat antisemitism on Wednesday at Gillette Stadium.
The Revolution sacked their previous manager, Brad Friedel, following an embarrassing 5-0 defeat away to Chicago Fire on Wednesday. At the time, the team had won just two of their first 12 MLS matches of the season and were bottom of the Eastern Conference, perBBC Sport.
Sports writer Ives Galarcep believes the club is rectifying a mistake by hiring Arena now, and his struggles with the national team shouldn't overshadow everything else he has accomplished:
Bruce Arena still has the stigma of the USMNT qualifying debacle around his name but he knows MLS and if anyone could make it work with the #NERevs its Arena. The question is are the Krafts ready to commit more to running the Revs? If not, I’m not sure anyone can succeed there.
The 67-year-old Arena has won the MLS Cup five times during his career, twice at D.C. United and three times with L.A. Galaxy. He also guided the USMNT to three Gold Cup victories, but his second stint with the Stars and Stripes was not successful.
Returning in 2016 as Jurgen Klinsmann's replacement, he failed to guide the team to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, with the USMNT's elimination confirmed after a disastrous 2-1 loss away to Trinidad & Tobago. He resigned shortly after the defeat.
