After a scoreless draw on Friday, the U.S. will meet Austria on Tuesday in the final match of 2013.
Entering Friday’s friendly with Scotland, U.S. National Team Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann said he wanted to get a look at some young players, some players who hadn’t played recently in the Gold Cup and World Cup qualifiers and some players coming back from injuries.
That goal was accomplished at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, but in the 0-0 draw there wasn’t much else to speak of as neither team was much of a threat on goal, with just three shots on goal combined for the two teams.
Sounders FC forward Eddie Johnson started the match and played 62 minutes before coming off for Brek Shea and midfielder Brad Evans, who starts at right back for Klinsmann’s squad, played 72 minutes before being replaced by Eric Lichaj.
It was the 60th cap for Johnson and his 10th start for the U.S. this year, while Evans made his ninth start of the year and 16th career appearance. Seattle forward Clint Dempsey was on the original roster for the U.S., but suffered a calf strain in training on Wednesday and returned home.
The Americans saw two good late opportunities through young forward Aron Johannsson, but were unable to convert. In the 83rd minute, Johansson created space for a shot that was blocked and Jozy Altidore got to the rebound, but missed high with his putback attempt. Two minutes later, Shea charged up the left side and rolled it back to Johannsson for a blast from the top of the box that skipped just wide of the far post.
Klinsmann and the U.S. squad will play one more friendly to close out the 2013 year on Tuesday against Austria. The draw against Scotland moves its record to 16-3-3 this year.
