The U.S. Men’s National Team had its chances on both sides of halftime as it played to a spirited 0-0 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first game of 2018 on Sunday night at StubHub Center. Starting defenders Ike Opara and Matt Polster, as well as substitute goalkeeper Zack Steffen, were handed their international debuts, while Wil Trapp captained the MNT in his first start.
The U.S. came closest to a first-half goal just seven minutes in when striker CJ Sapong alertly latched onto an errant back pass and powered an effort that forced Ibrahim Šehić to push the ball out for a corner kick.
A mostly even first half saw Bosnia nearly go up 1-0 just before the break when Luka Menalo pounced on a loose ball in the box, only to have goalkeeper Bill Hamid come off his line to turn away the danger in the 43rd minute.
Things opened up on the other side of the break, beginning with a fantastic chance for the MNT. A ball over the top from Wil Trapp found Jordan Morris striding into the area before he brought it down with a deft touch. Morris pulled to his right past Šehić, but put his low effort just wide of the post in the 51st minute.
Two minutes later it was Bosnia who saw a chance go begging. Catching the U.S. in transition, Menalo appeared to foul Trapp just outside the area before being slightly upended by Walker Zimmerman inside the box. Referee Hector Martinez awarded the visitors a penalty kick, but captain Haris Medunjanin’s left-footed take pinged off the lower left post, keeping things scoreless in the 53rd minute.
The U.S. punched back at the hour mark when a nice diagonal ball from Kelyn Rowe picked out Matt Polster striding down the right flank. The full back’s low cross was partially deflected, but fell for Cristian Roldan who drove his shot just past the left post.
After seeing the earlier penalty kick go off his left post, substitute goalkeeper Zack Steffen was called into action into action in the 67th minute as Menalo forced a diving save out of the debutante ‘keeper.
Both teams traded strong attacking sequences in the closing moments, only to have Opara turn away danger in the 79th minute before OGnjen Todorović returned the favor one minute later as the side’s settled for a 0-0 draw to open the year.
