Aug 20
USA VS. Guatemala: Your Running Commentary
Good Evening, it’s already dark on the east coast, and we’re closing in on the start of the US National Team’s World Cup Qualifier against Guatemala. This is your place for all pre-game, in-game, and post-game talk. If you’re watching the game, discuss it here. I’ll be posting the lineup as soon as it becomes available after the jump.
—————————Howard————————-
Cherundolo———Onyewu——Bocanegra (c)——Pearce
—————–Bradley——–Mastroeni——————
—-Donovan——————————–Lewis———–
————–Dempsey————Ching———————
A bit different than what I would have liked to see. Dolo is at right back and Edu doesn’t get the start over Mastroeni. Dempsey and Ching are partnering up top and Lewis gets the start over Beasley on the left.
What do you think of the lineup?
August 20th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Mexico looks very dangerous
August 20th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Boring as expected. We’re hoping to win but playing for the clean sheet.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
the USMNT blog has Ching on their lineup, but they say a few lines later that Johnson is starting, not Ching. The Mastro-Bradley pairing could be interesting, seeing as Mike B will be able to get forward more.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
I’d agree. I usually pick a lineup that is more out there as my own, but If I’m attempting to guess what Bradley will use, it’s easy. He always has the same back line and goalie. The midfield always has Bradley and Donovan and if Damarcus is not healthy, Eddie Lewis. I’m sick of the same bore lineup over and over. When will we see not only some new guys, but some creativity. So disappointing.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Goal…Honduras..wow 1-0
August 20th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
sorry, commenting on the Mexico-Honduras game
August 20th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
If I’m not mistaken, I might well be. I think they were just saying that Johnson was in the lineup meaning he’s on the bench. Although I wouldn’t put it past Bradley to start Johnson. He’s so predictable.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
go right ahead chuck. Honduras is a really good team, they are a team that could make a splash if they get to the WC.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Ching is starting
August 20th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
that’s what i thought.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
boring lineup…i hope it pays off.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Honduras scored a nice free kick goal totally against the run of play, approaching the half Honduras is still leading 1-0. Mexico’s wing play of Dos Santos and Guadado has looked very dangerous.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
that honduras/mexico game is pretty good. Both teams are pretty dangerous. I hope Honduras wins though, just because I don’t ever like it when mexico wins anything.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
we’ll probably grab a 1-0 or 2-0 win and nothing will change. We should ditch Bradley and sign a real international coach like we could have when Klinsman was interested. US Soccer is so frustrating, they’re too dogmatic. Look what Bora Mulitovich did in 1994. He was foreign, he knew how to win internationals and we made the final 16 of the world cup because of it.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
if honduras wins, i’ll start a party in the street. Any team that beats Mexico is in my good graces.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Give me Gus Hiddink please…….
August 20th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Mexico has hit the post twice in the first half
August 20th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
i was just thinking about that, but he’s coaching Russia until 2010. We could have used a football coach like hiddink. He knows how to win with any international team.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Well looks like we’ll have to watch the game starting on galavision
August 20th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
why is that? Is the baseball game running over?
August 20th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Probably also on espn 360
August 20th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
baseball game is tied bottom of the 8th
August 20th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
im trying to squeeze in Usain Bolt’s 200m race before the game, it’s going to be close.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
shoot
August 20th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Yea Bolt is a freak of nature
August 20th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
nope not on 360
August 20th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
i can’t deal with his cockiness though. He is so annoying. If he didn’t win, everybody would hate him.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Yea but when you surpass a record that Carl Lewis and Jesse Owens didn’t achieve I think that gives you a pass to celebrate however you want.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
dude is just being a Jamaican. Speaking of Jamaica, how about they tied Canada today? I thought Canada was making some progress.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
me too. They shouldn’t being tying those games.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Apparently this Jamaican team is one of their best yet.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
I mean, as far as CONCACAF goes, I suppose Jamaica is actually a decent team, but still… they don’t have a DeRo.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
on espn 360
August 20th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
I really prefer the white shorts with those jerseys…
August 20th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
its also on ESPN360
August 20th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I mean, classic. sorry.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I meant to say classic, not 360
August 20th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
apparently there were 2,000 army men with machine guns at the game. Scary right. As the bus for the USA came in, it was hit with food and drink. Gotta love the central american fans
August 20th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
the stadium is packed to the brim.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
we’ve already had a foul 10 seconds in. We’re in for a rough game.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Gooch is just asking for fouls to be called against him for wearing those boxing gloves
August 20th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Ruiz needs a card for that.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Pearce is looking good with the hair cut. Thank god he got rid of the moustache. That thing was bad. he’s not a good faker though. Ruiz clearly his him in the neck and he pretended his eye had been gouged.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
it doesn’t look that bad on the replays. If we’re going by the way orozco was screwed in the olympics though, he deserves at least a yellow.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
I thought he cocked back a little, but I’m biased. I don’t like Ruiz.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I’m actually quite glad he’s moving to Canada. This game is getting out of hand. The Guatemalans could have 25-20 fouls by the end of the game.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
silly yellow by cherundolo. If that comes back to bite us, i’ll be pissed off.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Bob will probably put Hejduk in at halftime.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
it would be a good move. We can’t afford to lose a man. Ruiz will probably be booked first. if memory serves right, he’s had 4 fouls in the first 20 minutes. He’s asking to kicked out of the game.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
man, I really don’t like Honduras.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Honduras still leading. If they could pull an upset. It would be awesome.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
I mean I do like Honduras. I’m really not paying attention to what I’m typing.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
the USA is getting run all over on counter attacks. If Guatemala could cross effectively, they could be winning right now.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
this will be correctly typed though: I really don’t like guatemala.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
dempsey needs to watch himself. No more yellows. We can’t afford to be in the situation where we have a number of players in danger of being kicked out. That guy with the dreads is the biggest faker. he was barely touched and he milked a yellow.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Mexico scored twice in 2 minutes. Pavel Pardo both times and Honduras got a red card. That game is over.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
He learned that trick from Ruiz, I’m sure.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
John Harkes nailed it. Of COURSE Ruiz is on the ground.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
I know for a fact that at some point, we’re going to get a red card. We already have three yellows and probably more coming on the horizon. If just one is a repeat, we’re in trouble.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Howard just came up with a huge clutch save.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
i can’t believe the US is being out shot. USA is playing poorly right now. Maybe a certain playmaker by the name of Adu or some forwards by the names of Altidore and Cooper would have helped.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
or at the very least a ref who understands that Guatemala is doing their best to win a few oscars.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
By the night’s end, it wouldn’t surprise me if Carlos Ruiz has died 3 or 4 times. So far i think he’s broken an ankle and both of his legs.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
any guesses to Halftime changes? I can see Edu coming in for Mastro, and Hejduk for Dolo.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
i only see one at most. probably mastro coming out. Dolo is unlikely to come out because he’s at right back and dempsey is too important. Edu is a logical replacement.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Well, like you said in a previous post, Bradley pretty much said he was going to play Edu.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
I see some defense changes coming. it looked tired and unimpressive. so far, i hate guatemala. the biggest bunch of divers i have ever seen. that dive by the guy with the dreads was atrocious and carlos ruiz is the best actor i have ever seen.
nobody on the US team looks that good. i hope the second half is better.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
I think that the biggest problem with the US attack is I don’t see our mids and forwards linking up well enough. And, though Adu would really help with that, I really think its more the mids just don’t make creative runs forward.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
agreed. The guys aren’t connecting well and Ching is useless.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
we almost threw that whole thing away there. We need to step up our game now!
August 20th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
I’d actually like to see them pull Ching for Kjlestan.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
me too. Kljestan is good at linking up the midfield. He would be a good sub. Afraid to say it, but we might see Johnson in this game. We need to get a new forward in. Ching is a joke.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
this game is far too close for comfort. If we didn’t have Howard in goal, we’d be losing right now.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
we are looking bad. we need to start playing here now! no one is linking up, and there is no creativity. the way we are playing, we will be lucky to get a draw in this one.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Seriously, our passing play is terrible right now.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
This Mario Rodriguez guy is giving us nightmares. We need to start possessing the ball pronto. We’re giving it away every time and we need to calm down and play keep away for a while.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
I can’t believe this. They’re running rampant.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
I want to see Beasley for his runs and Kjlestan for his ball skills.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
it’s too bad we only get 3 subs because we really could use about 5 or 6 at this point.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
DIVE
August 20th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Did i call it. We got a red card and now we’re screwed. If only we had played hejduk.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Let’s hope for a point now. damn, i can’t believe we let them goad us into this.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Lewis is in bad shape. That’s two subs 60 minutes in. I gotta hand it to Guatemala, they are taking it to us and dominating.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
I’m glad to see Guatemala get a man sent off too, but I don’t understand taking Dempsey off instead of Ching.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Guatemala let us back in with that red card. It was a brutal clash. We almost just scored as well. Onyewu forced a great save by the keeper.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
BOCA!!!!!!
August 20th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
BOCA! BOCA!
August 20th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
whatever, who cares. It worked and we’re ahead.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
It was good work by Boca, but the defense was nowhere to be found. They let Boca have the shot and he made them pay.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
well, dude who tackled Onyewu thought he was gonna get called and hesitated, and the guy marking Boca thought he was gonna get picked up.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
WOW! Flores just missed a sitter. We were lucky that didn’t go in.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
This game is out of hand. The ref has lost control and he needs to get it back or even more players are going to get hurt. BTW did anybody see the 33 policeman with shields who escorted Lewis off. It must be a raucous crowd.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
I sure like Tim Howard.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Man of the Match is easily Howard. He has been all over and we could be losing if he hadn’t made some key saves. Edu comes on. That’ll help the permit situation. It will be interesting to see if he plays defense or d-mid.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
fuck Ruiz. that was dirty.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Ruiz is an a-hole. He deserves a red card 3 times over. He’s got talent but I have a new hatred for him because of his quest to hit as many US players as possible. Good job by Howard getting in Ruiz’s face. That’s a yellow that we can afford to take.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Gooch has done a good job of not getting carded.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:01 am
he’s usually the one who gets the card first. I’m surprised that Cherundolo of all people got two yellows. He usually never even makes contact with anybody else. I would have thought Mastro would have gotten a red, but i guess he was taken off too soon.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:06 am
I can’t wait to see Carlos Ruiz’s face after Guatemala loses. He’s such a dick.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:10 am
more trouble from these guatemalans. Can’t they accept that they screwed themselves over. They had a man up and momentum and they threw that away. Then they got caught playing no defense and lost.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:12 am
that was intense. ruiz is officially my most hated player. Howard is a badass, and i am glad we won. we got lucky a lot, but that still counts. On to Cuba.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:15 am
we deserved it. We outlasted and outsmarted the Guatemalans. They essentially undid themselves. Good night, it’s time for some sleep.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:07 am
I was upset when dempsey came off instead of ching. but it proved to be good once we scored. Ching held the ball very well.
The US Rarely links that many passes in the middle field. I was stunned.