Future looks bright for U.S. front line

photo by AP Photos

The U.S. national team saw its forwards score zero goals in last year's World Cup, and while concerns remain about the American frontline, help might be on the way in the shape of two youngsters not yet old enough to buy a beer.

New York Red Bulls' Juan Agudelo, 18, and Sporting Kansas City's Teal Bunbury, 20, each built on their impressive national team debuts (in a 1-0 win versus South Africa last November) by injecting life into a U.S. attack that lacked any real creativity against Chile in a 1-1 draw on Saturday in Carson, California.

Trailing 1-0 due to a goal from Esteban Paredes, the United States felt an immediate impact when both forwards entered the game in the 60th minute. Bunbury's combination of size and strength gave Chile's defense fits, while Agudelo's willingness to take on defenders was as effective as it was impressive.

Agudelo, who scored the lone goal against South Africa in his debut in November, even helped set up the equalizer when he played a one-two with midfielder Alejandro Bedoya before getting fouled inside the penalty area.

The foul on Agudelo may have been questionable, but American fans forgot about that as they were quickly celebrating a goal moments later. With Agudelo preparing to take the penalty kick, Bunbury convinced his younger teammate to let him take it.

Bunbury hit the spot kick firmly and accurately into the back of the net to pull the U.S. level. He and Agudelo then celebrated the goal by doing the Dougie dance, which Telefutura broadcaster Jorge Ramirez comically called (see below) by referencing the Black Eyed Pea's hit single Boom Boom Pow and saying "Boon-boo-ree!", playing off the pronunciation of Bunbury's name in Spanish.

Regardless of the comic relief fans had after the game due to Ramirez's commentary, they likely had even more optimism about the future of the American frontline, especially considering that former teen sensation and Villarreal striker Jozy Altidore can help groom the two starlets.

Expectations should be tempered, but they likely won't be. Not from American fans who saw a second straight World Cup finish for the U.S. without a single goal from a forward. That may lead to disappointment down the road, but then again it might not.

For now, American soccer fans are just reveling in the fact that there are two more young forwards to get excited about.

-----

Here is Teal Bunbury's first international goal, and Jorge Ramirez's hilarious Spanish call: