Aug 13
Nigeria Downs USA 2-1 Ending the USA’s Chances of Advancing
It just wasn’t the right day for the US. They not only were almost in against the Dutch, they were close to tying Nigeria and advancing. The US didn’t get the help they needed from the Japanese, and they couldn’t put in the final goal to tie against the Nigerians.
A fourth minute red card put the US in a tough situation. Michael Orozco threw an elbow into a Nigerians chest right in front of the referee and he would live to rue the decision as the referee didn’t hesitate when he showed Orozco the red card.
The US battled hard until the 39th minute when they let up their gaurd for just a bit too long. Michael Parkhurst was beat on the left wing and the pass went to Promise Isaac who finished and put the US in dire straits.
The US continued to expend energy throughout the match and in the 79th minute, it showed. Obinna drove down the left side of the box and cut the ball back making Michael Parkhurst fall down. He had time and a wide open far post which he put the ball into neatly despite a last second block attempt by Mavell Wynne.
The US never lost hear though and they continued to push forward and look for goals and by this time, the US knew that the Dutch had gone ahead of Japan and they needed to tie. In the 87th minute, Maurice Edu was taken out by a sliding Nigerian keeper and the referee called a penalty. Sacha Kljestan stepped up and scored for USA slotting the ball nicely into the bottom right corner.
The US could see the quarterfinals on the horizon and Charlie Davies nearly got them there. The US won a free kick on the left wing and Dax McCarty stepped up to take it. McCarty’s ball was headed by Charlie Davies and the header banged off the crossbar.
The US was so close to advancing, but it just wasn’t to be. In the end, the Dutch and the Nigerians advance and the US misses out when they were so close. It’s a disappointment, but the US always fought with heart. They were close to beating the European Champions, the Dutch, and they were a few inches away from tying Nigeria and advancing.
What did you guys think? Did the US deserve the win? Should we be disappointed? What players were good, and which ones were bad? Your thoughts below.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:32 am
Did we deserve to advance…were we the best team in the group through all the games… absolutly. Should we be disappointed with the team? Absolutly not. Should we be disappointed that they were not allowed to decide their own fate? Most certainly. I posted my player ratings in the running commentary so you can check back there and see what I though as far as that is concerned. The US national team has a bright future ahead with almost all of these players…they played their hearts out and I comend them for almost pulling off the impossible in the end of this game.
August 13th, 2008 at 8:39 am
They certainly gave themselevs the chances to equalize. Overall i think it was a very gutsy effort for an undermaned team. I just can’t help but wonder what the game would have been like had the sides been even. I’d say we would have had a draw at the least. I think they should walk away from the tournament with their heads held high and take this experience to help progress their games. This is a big year for a lot of young yanks with their respective club teams so it’s time to focus on that and the upcoming WC qualifying.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:31 am
I guess that’s all you can ask for when you’re down a man. You want to have the chances and we were just incredibly unlucky. That header off the post was a great shot, but if we had just not touched it, i think it would have probably gone in. Even though we’re going home, I’m very proud of our boys and the effort they put out on the field.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
First, let me preface this by saying I am very proud of the effort put forth and the heart displayed by our guys in this tournament. They played well and made a statement to the the rest of the world that the future of US soccer is bright. That the US should not be taken likely or swept aside as inferior as the Dutch learned the hard way. We had a gutsy effort against Nigeria, almost coming from behind with 10 men to make it to the next round. Most of our guys played great. With all that being said, all that is not good enough. It looks like we are finally gaining the talent to compete on a international stage, but we are held back by stupid mistakes. What Orosco did cannot be overlooked. He cost us the game, plain and simple. Did we create fantastic chances as the Nigerians inexplicably pushed forward after being up first one goal, then two? Yes. Did our guys give maximum effort and almost pull of an astounding result? Absolutely. The fact remains that we should have never been in that position. I am fully confident that we would have won that match with eleven men, and probably won by two goals with Adu and Bradley in, other stupid mistakes. What on Earth was Orosco thinking? Did the Nigerian player insult his sister? It doesn’t matter, there is absolutely no excuse for that reaction. We needed “big boy” soccer from our guys and got a complete letdown. From Orosco that is, the rest of the team played their hearts out and almost pulled out the result. I also believe pulling Jozy, unless he had some kind of injury, for Feilhaber at the half was insane. Altidore was our best chance to score, I do not care if we were down to 10 men. We should have pulled Edu into the midfield, the announcers actually contemplated him having a new position for club and country!, and left Jozy and McBride up front. With the ridiculous way Nigeria was playing we players.) If Charlie Davies’ header goes in, or Holden converts on a ball laid right at his feet, is any of this relevant? Perhaps, Perhaps not. One thing is for sure, that should not be an exit the US is proud of. They can be proud of how hard they played and the flashes of greatness they showed, but not of the result. Again, the future still looks bright, and maybe all our guys need is more experience, but the US should be competing for a medal instead of flying home.
August 14th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
I have watched it replayed over and over, and still dont see anything Orozco really did wrong he was being pulled from behind just lifted his arms up and they say thats an elbow. If he did that on purpose then I dont want to see him back but having said that I didn’t see anything to constitute even a foul let alone any type of card.
August 14th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
agreed, at any stage of the game, that is a harsh red card, but to do it 2 minutes in is just wrong. give him a yellow and say if you do anything again, you’re out. It was extremely excessive to give the red 2 minutes in.
August 14th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Agreed…this was a killing blow that early as a ref you should allow the players to decide the outcome and at this level down a man the entire game is basically a death blow. I just dont understand some officials just like when Adu got a yellow on his first foul of the game against Japan and it was a soft one…its like the officials are out to get us and I dont know why.
August 15th, 2008 at 2:59 am
The US is sliding into the world stage slowly but surely. We could debate Orozco, or comment on coaching decisions. It looks hard from a camera following the game, try playing, sit next to that field and you’ll see how hard those guys really go down. Don’t forget the girls who have set the stage for woman’s soccer overall. Orozco red card was ridiculous. We all saw it, it if anything deserved quick reminder from the ref. Soccer is emotional when your out there playing in front of the World. Unfortunately I can barley watch it these days. It’s more like swimming. I’m referring to all the crying and diving by these players. Watch Argentina, the are pathetic the way they hurl there bodies to the pitch and start rolling. But hey, I guess they draw the fouls right? You see these guys jump up and clash heads, and continue a run on goal. You’re going to tell me that a little elbow,even if it was intentional, is going to drop a 6’1 Brick #$%^ house player to his knees? Gimme a break players… Start playing the game and stop playing the ref’s.. Look back at what happened to Shanon Boxx in the World Cup. Ejected with a Red Card for getting tripped by Christiane’ from Brazil. Then the Brazilian player proceeded to laugh and clap as Boxx walked off the field. Bottom line…Brazil, Argentina, who ever, the have incredible skill and are well deserved teams, I just wished they would play the game how it was meant to be played. I don’t care if the US goes out and loses the next 10 games, as long as they keep up there ability to be gentlemen and “Just Play”.
August 15th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Well said Miller, At least we can hold our heads up high and know that we were not only the better team down a man, but that they only reason they got their victory was because they flopped around.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:34 am
Ha….Just watched some more Olympic Soccer… It’s juts pitiful.. My favorite though I might add was the display by Italy. At the end a Belgian player put his hand the shoulder of an Italian player who proceeded fall away in agony holding his chest looking at the Assistant ref… Fortunately this assistant ref laughed and shook his head. Keep it up guys! Way to ruin a beautiful game!