USA Lose Friendly vs. Slovenia 1-0 on Nejc Gradišar Goal

Gregg Berhalter's inexperienced United States side opened their 2024 with a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Slovenia on Saturday after a smart first-half winner from Nejc Gradišar.

This January camp has offered a great opportunity for Berhalter to blood new talent. He named a much-changed starting XI due to the match being played outside an official window FIFA window, with Christian Pulisic and the European-based big hitters unavailable against a Slovenia team who also missed their senior cohort:

Berhalter's men started brightly, putting together a decent spell of possession and a couple of sharp attacking moves.

DeJuan Jones' energy down the left saw him find space behind Slovenia's high line early on, but the New England Revolution defender's eagerness was let down by an overhit cross that missed everyone in the box.

Slovenia slowly grew into the match and began to assert themselves on the ball midway through the first half. Berhalter's decision to push full-backs Jones and Shaquell Moore high up the pitch left centre-backs Sean Zawadzki and experienced international Miles Robinson exposed.

The visitors capitalised in the 26th minute with Gradišar taking advantage of huge space down the left once Bernard Kamungo was knocked off the ball. The in-form Gradišar, who has netted seven goals in 14 games for NK Rogašk in the Slovenian league this season, excellently poked beyond Patrick Schulte for 1-0.

USA finished the first half with 65 percent possession and only one shot on target in a frustrating 45 minutes.

A familiar story played out after the break as Berhalter decided against making changes.

Despite Diego Luna looking sharp, the Americans continued to lack spark in a second half of little note. The coach decided to make significant changes with 30 minutes to go in search of an equaliser:

Revs star Esmir Bajraktarevic came on for his debut and provided some moments of excitement for the San Antonio crowd at the Toyota Field stadium in Texas. He looked like the only player who might break through the Slovenia defence, playing incisive, fast-paced football from the right wing.

Even so, Berhalter left his pursuit of an equaliser too late, with Slovenia comfortably soaking up any sustained pressure USA managed to put together. It's fair to say this is a poor result, but a couple of bright sparks in Luna and Bajraktarevic can be taken forward into what is a huge 2024.

The biggest worry right now is the style of football Berhalter continues to employ. He looked to exploit space where there was little, and despite dominance of possession, just can't get his men creating consistent chances; a problem that keeps showing itself no matter the squad makeup.

It's Jamaica next in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals on March 21, a much more important match where immediate improvement is needed.