Archive for soccer
February 12, 2009 at 3:25 pm · Filed under soccer
Me: “Great game guys, we really enjoyed watching you. Great performance”
Bob: “Thanks, we appreciate your support. Thank you.”
Jared: “Thanks”
Michael: “Thank you”
Sacha: “Thanks”
Johnny: A nod acknowledging that, though it was cool to run into him, he did not take part in last night’s match so we weren’t really talking to him
On my way home to Atlanta this afternoon I ran into US manager Bob Bradley, his son and last night’s man of the match Michael Bradley, Sacha Kljestan and Johnny Bornstein. That is how our conversation went. I noticed Bob and Michael walk into the food court, or food cul-de-sac as my brother Jared called it, as we were finishing our lunch. We weren’t sure if we wanted to bother them but as I was printing my boarding ticket Jared called me to let me know Sacha was ordering bacon, cheese and ranch covered “Gourmet” Fries and about to join the Bradleys so we decided to walk over say hi and let them know we enjoyed watching them last night. They were very gracious and receptive. It was a cool way to cap a quick soccer vacation.
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January 28, 2009 at 12:39 am · Filed under soccer
The past several years the US has held a camp in January for players on a winter break, mostly from MLS but some from the Scandinavian leagues. The camp is used to evaluate fringe players and to help key players get sharp for important matches that are scheduled for dates before the domestic club season; the camp typically concludes with a friendly against a domestic based team from Scandinavia. This year’s opponent was a Sweden side mostly comprised of U21 players. The US team was a mix of fringe first-choice players (Sacha Kljestan, Ricardo Clark and Brian Ching), 2008 Olympians (Klljestan, Marvelle Wynne, Robbie Rogers, Michael Parkhurst, and Charlie Davies), players looking to earn more prominent roles (Dan Califf and Jonathan Bornstein), and Internationally inexperienced players (John Thorrington and Troy Perkins).
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November 20, 2008 at 12:40 pm · Filed under soccer
In the final match of the semifinal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying for the US, a side comprised of second and third-choice players convincingly beat Guatemala 2-0 on the strength of goals from Kenny Cooper and Freddy Adu. Though Guatemala was desperate for a win to extend its chances of qualifying for the next round, the desperation never translated to belief or commitment as it put numbers behind the ball and seemed more intent on not being humiliated rather than going for a win for the opening minute.
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October 16, 2008 at 12:11 am · Filed under soccer
AP Photo
In a match that was little more than an opportunity for second choice players to improve their standing, the US dropped its first game of World Cup qualifying 2-1 to an experienced, stronger Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) side. The result was huge for T&T; it propelled them to second place, three points ahead of Guatemala which was upset by Cuba 2-1. With just one match remaining T&T is set to qualify for the final round of qualification at the expense of the Guatemalans.
A sloppy field and hot, humid conditions made for an ugly game devoid of chances or creative interplay. I was excited to get a chance to see young players like Freddy Adu, Jozy Altidore, Jose Torres, Michael Orozco, Danny Szetela, Maurice Edu and Charlie Davies play in a pressure environment on the road against a regional rival’s best players. Unfortunately no player positively stood out in this game, an absolute luxury earned by grinding out results on the road and routing opponents at home.
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October 12, 2008 at 5:14 am · Filed under soccer
© isiphotos.com
Fast. Dynamic. Clinical. The US was in control of tonight’s World Cup qualifying match from the first whistle. The US players were bigger, faster, stronger and more technical than the Cubans. Other than a rather fluky Cuban goal there were only positives to take away from the win that clinched passage to the hexagonal, the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.
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September 10, 2008 at 11:43 pm · Filed under soccer
In tonight’s World Cup qualifying match in Chicago there was never a doubt that the US would win against a Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) team that was lacking in confidence, effort, commitment and organization. Michael Bradley deftly flicked in a Landon Donovan set piece inside of 10 minutes and the US never looked back. From the first minute the US midfielders had time and space to play because T&T sat back so deep. ESPN commentator Shaka Hislop defended the low pressure, zone style defense by saying that it relieved the T&T players from having to track runs from the fast US midfielders from deep in the midfield. If the aim was to limit goals, to an extent the tactic worked as only one of the three goals came from the run of play. If the aim was to win, it failed miserably as T&T had severely limited possession and only generated one decent chance which came from a corner kick while it surrendered a bucketload of chances to the US. There were many factors that led to the US dominance, one being a flat, wide, well-lighted field–a luxury the US did not enjoy in its first two matches in less than ideal conditions in Guatemala and Cuba.
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September 10, 2008 at 12:29 pm · Filed under soccer
The historic match was played in Havana four days ago. It leaves the US with a perfect six points after two matches, both away. The score should have been three or four to nothing, but a win is a win.
ussoccer.com posted the Pro Zone analysis of the match which reinforced my impressions and will take the place of them since I am so late to the game. Beasley and Dempsey were bad. Onyewu and the defense were good.
Tonight the US has its first home qualifier; the opponent is Trinidad & Tobago and the match is being played in the Chicago Fire’s soccer-specific stadium, Toyota Park, in Bridgeview. The game is on ESPN2 at 8pm, hopefully in HD. Here’s hoping for more than one goal.
August 21, 2008 at 1:06 am · Filed under soccer
Win pretty, win ugly. Just win. At the end of tonight’s opening match of the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying ESPN commentator Glenn Davis aptly shouted: “The US has won a streetfight in Guatemala!” In matches against the US, Guatemala plays just about the ugliest brand of soccer. Foul, dive, cheap shot. Not necessarily in that order. The US was not able to possess the ball well, nor was it able to effectively counterattack. The US simply grinded out a win on the strength of captain Carlos Bocanegra’s header. Bocanegra broke free thanks to a butt pick from Brian Ching and was able to guide an expertly placed DaMarcus Beasley corner kick in the lower right corner of the goal. Before the goal the highlights/lowlights were two ejections: Steven Cherundolo was sent off on two dubious cautions; Guatemalan defender Cabrera was given a straight red for absolutely T-boning Eddie Lewis, leaving him dazed and bloodied. Lewis could not continue.
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August 13, 2008 at 3:47 pm · Filed under soccer
AP Photo
It’s official: German referees hate USA Soccer. Marcus Merk effectively eliminated the USA from the 2006 World Cup by calling a ridiculous penalty against Oguchi Onyewu. Today it was Wolfgang Starg’s turn. He dealt a devastating blow to the USA’s chances of advancing by ejecting USA defender Michael Orozco for a petulent elbow in the 3rd minute of the final game of the first round in which the USA needed a draw. Not all the blame can be placed on Starg’s shoulders. It was a foolish risk for Orozco to take: there was absolutely no reason for the cheap shot even if it was a rather impish blow. The Nigerian player who received the blow did not help. He did what most soccer players would do: fall to the ground and pretend like he was shot.
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August 10, 2008 at 5:09 pm · Filed under soccer
© Brad Smith/isiphotos.com
After falling behind 1-0 and playing poorly for the first 30 minutes, the USA took it to the heavily favored Dutch team that has won the last two U21 European championships before settling for a 2-2 draw. For 20 minutes it appeared that the USA would be in the quarterfinals. The Netherlands was unable to mount a meaningful attack after goals in the 64th and 72nd minutes by Sacha Kljestan and Jozy Altidore. It was only a rash challenge by Stuart Holden and a rather fortunate free kick that earned Holland a point at the death. As seen in the picture above Silbon was the beneficiary of a poor decision by the USA wall to jump as he struck a free kick from 22 yards; Silbon’s worm-burner found its way into the back of the net, under the wall and between goalkeeper Brad Guzan and defender Michael Parkhurst. No wall inside 30 yards should jump. If a player can get the ball up and down with enough pace to beat the goalkeeper, he deserves the goal. Any player can hit a low ball. The risk far outweighs the benefit, risk of a worm-burner rolling in, risk of a hand-ball, risk of a deflected goal. Guzan should’ve communicated this message to his wall. Or the coaches. Or McBride. Someone. The last minute goal took the tarnish off a wonderful USA performance and left a bitter taste in the mouth of players and fans alike.
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