American-Soccer.net

The USA was drawn into Group C for next summer’s World Cup Finals in South Africa and will face England in the first round game on Saturday, June 12th.  This will no doubt be a huge test for Bob Bradley’s squad but with all of England’s history and potential, they are the one team in the world that rarely lives up to the hype. If Bradley can inspire his team to get back to the same form they displayed in last Summer’s Confederation Cup, I like our chances.

The other teams in our group are Algeria and Slovenia.  And with the top 2 teams advancing to the round of 16, I think this draw plays out well for the USA.

ESPN Soccernet has worked out an algorithm to rank all the teams in world football based on a variety of factors which they call the Soccer Power Index.   And in reviewing the teams in our group, Algeria ranks #46, England is #3, Slovenia is #37, and the USA is #16.  If the USA can take care of business, they have a great shot of advancing but this is the World Cup Finals and anything can happen.  I just can wait to watch it all play out!!

The live stream can be found here and a nice wrap-up can be found on Soccernet.com.

In the shadow of the final World Cup Qualifying game for the USA, forward Charlie Davies was injured in an auto accident that fatally injured one person and left Davies recovering in the hospital earlier this week on Tuesday.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to you Charlie and we wish you a speedy and complete recovery.

In response to this tragic accident, US Soccer players and supports held a tribute to the #9 by standing and holding signs with his jersey number in the 9th minute of the game tonight against Costa Rica.  And even though this game really meant next to nothing for the USA (having already clinched a spot in South Africa but beating Honduras last Sunday) you knew that our boys wanted to win the group outright and they wanted to do it for Charlie Davies.  To pull this off, the USA would need at least a draw.

But after the first half of play, the USA found themselves down 2 goals to nil and struggling against a Costa Rican side that was fighting for their lives.  Much like the opposite game in Supresa Stadium earlier this year in March, the USA was being outplayed by a team that just looked hungrier.  But after some nice changes from Bob Bradley at about the hour-mark, the USA would turn the table and pull off what would prove to be an emotional comeback.

The first US goal would be created by the first of those substitutions, Robby Rogers.  Playing down the right side of midfield, Rogers made a real difference in the offensive-third of field.  He was able to make a number of positive runs down the flank and would center the ball to the feet of Landon Donovan who would send in a strong shot.  The Costa Rican keeper, Keylor Navas, would deflect the shot but only as far as the coaches son, Micheal Bradley, who would go bravely in to a challenge with Navas.  Bradley would win and send the ball of the goalkeeper into the back of the net.  This sent the US Soccer fans into a frenzy as they cheered to help their team achieve what everyone wanted.

It wouldn’t be easy but the goal would come late, in the 5th minute of stoppage time. The USA kept coming wave after wave until they won an important corner kick. As the ball came in, you just wondered who would be the hero and pull the Americans all the way back. The unlikely volunteer would be Jonathan Bornstein who would meet the ball impressively in the air and make no mistake, sending the ball down to the near post. The ball would bounce past the keeper and a defender and into the back of the net. RFK erupted! A perfect end to an well played qualifying campaign with the added bonus of winning it for Charlie!

In the best game you never saw, the USA beats Honduras in the penultimate game of their World Cup qualifying campaign! Conor Casey with the double and man-of-the-match Landon Donovan contributing one of his own. The US went behind first (again) but battled back admirably to get the next 3 goals. Honduras would get a 2nd but it shouldn’t have been allowed as they were clearly off-sides. And Carlos Pavon had a shocker as he missed badly a penalty kick that would have sent the match into extra time.

But it’s the result that matters and we can officially say that we’re going to South Africa for the World Cup 2010!

Reaction to the victory here:

It was billed as an “International Friendly” but the game at Rio Tinto Stadium tonight seemed to be anything but. For a game that had absolutely nothing on the line but pride for either club, the intensity was at playoff level.

A first half that produces the following can hardly be called “friendly”:

  1 goal

  5 yellow cards

  1 rugby punt high into the stands by the Mexican goalkeeper

  2 red cards

  1 halftime fight in the tunnel

RSL came out strong, applying high pressure on the ball for the first 25 minutes and just flat outplayed Chivas. I was most impressed with the play from RSL’s strikers, Jura Movsisian and Fabian Espindola who tracked back for a number of balls in the midfield and would eventually combine for the opening goal.

Christopher Sullivan described it perfectly as Movsisian “hunted down” the Chivas defender near the top of the 18-yard box and the ball fell to Espindola who immediately went on the attack. A quick move to the left across the top of the box and an even quicker shot low to the far post sliced into the back of the net. A hitman’s steal and an assassin’s finish had put the home team ahead early.

Fabian Espindola Goal Highlight Video

Full Game Highlight Video

The goal only served to ratchet-up the intensity level and things would just get chippy. Three yellow cards for Chivas de Guadalajara vs Real Salt Lake’s two saw the Goats struggling to match the physical play of RSL.

The ref seemed to be losing control early. And, predictably, he would over-compensate near the end of the half.

After a tussle for the ball near the middle of the field, he would issue dueling red cards to Olave (RSL) and Solis (Chivas) in the 45 minute. It wasn’t enough to cool tempers in the tunnel though and there would be big changes by both managers to start the 2nd half.

But cooler heads would prevail and both teams would come back with completely different looks. RSL would change 7 players while Chivas changed 5 but looked decidedly more experienced.

CD Guadalajara would break through early after the restart to level things up. They would finally find continuity through the midfield with the substitutes and find a seam in the RSL’s defense to score on a slick 1-2 move and Omar Esparza would beat the RSL keeper at the near post.

Both teams would have their chances before the end of the game, including an open net for Robbie Findley and a beautiful header off a set piece for Chivas near the end of the game but neither would capitalize.

The game would end shortly after the 90th minute in a 1-1 draw.  But for 2 teams that have never played each other before, I can’t wait to see the next grudge match!

Leading up to this game, the US players were saying all the right things. This was a big game in the CONCACAF Hexagonal because the standings are so very close. Only 1 point separated the teams from 1st to 4th places (they need to be in the top 3 to automatically qualify). So the USA’s chance of going to South Africa in 10 months are still very much undecided. And the players were calling it a must win.

But actions speak louder than words and the US was not playing like they wanted it, especially in the first 45 minutes of the game. It’s hard to understand exactly why our team looked so lackadaisical. Maybe it was the cool ocean breezes blowing across the pitch from the Caribbean. Maybe it was the cute little umbrellas in their lunchtime beverages. But by the way the team played, they must have been thinking about something else.

The USA was very much content to play behind the ball and it really looked like they were playing for a draw. Trinidad and Tobago were also content to lay back and hit the USA on the counter-attack. That, mixed with the thousands of empty seats in Hasely Crawford Stadium, was not a recipe for a very exciting game.

It took until the 29th minute and a chip off the crossbar from Cordell Glen to wake up our boys (setup by a throw-in of all things). After dodging that bullet, Jozy Altidore would charge up the middle of the field, carrying a T&T player on his back, and launched a rocket at the opposite end. But the keeper did well to deflect it.

Even after halftime, the USA didn’t look that different. But just as Bob Bradley was preparing to make a substitution, Landon Donovan, who was our best player on the field once again, would make a strong move down the left side and cut a ball back to the top of the box for Ricardo Clark who would bury it. Clark hit a bending shot around a defender that curled away from the keeper into the right corner. A nice piece of soccer in an otherwise uninspiring game.

But job done and the USA gets 3 points on the road. Now they have to hope for a draw between Honduras (their next match) and Mexico (who are playing the best football in the group). I hope the US come back feeling recharged and refreshed after their island vacation. Our work is far from over.

The final of the 2009 US Open Cup was intense.  Defending champions, DC United, hosted new boys Seattle Sounders in the penultimate game of the oldest cup competition in the USA.  FSC carried the game live and I thought the atmosphere was great.  RFK Stadium is the best non-soccer-specific venue we have in the league and DC’s fans are a big part of that.

Unfortunately the game was marred by an ugly incident and a bone-head move from DC United’s keeper, Josh Wicks.  After a 1st half of nice chances but better defending, Seattle finally got free on a break-away around the 65 minute of the 2nd half.  The ball found it’s way to Freddie Ljungberg who put in a strong shot with the outside of his right foot.  Josh Wicks parried the first attempt but, unfortunately for DC United, the rebound bounced straight to Seattle Sounder, Fredy Montero, who put the ball away.

In the process of scoring it looked like Montero may have inadvertently caught Wicks with his follow through.  It was a 50/50 challenge at worst and Montero happened to get the better of it over his DC United counterpart.  Wicks evidently took exception to the challenge (as well as being scored on), and while Montero was on the ground after the collision, Wicks got up, walked over, and stomped on Montero.  It was as clear as day when it happened.  Wicks walked right over to him and jumped over the top of Montero, catching him at least on the arm on his way down.  Bone-headed and classless.

After some deliberation with the referee’s assistant and the 4th official, Wicks was ejected with a red card.  Then to show how a little less class, Wicks had to stick around for a few more minutes, get in the ref’s face and debate the decision.  Just get off the pitch.

Aside from this incident, it was a hard fought match.  Despite being down to 10 men and down by 2 goals, DC United showed a lot of backbone by attacking and eventually getting an equalizing goal through a clever heel-flick on a set piece.  But Seattle would hold on after scoring the decisive goal through the hard work of Sebastien Le Toux.

Congrats to Seattle Sounders FC on their first ever trophy and for showing the “old guard” what this game is all about.

After a short hiatus (almost a full week, in fact), the boys from WSD are back! But there are going to be a few changes with the show. In addition to the new name, World Football Daily, they will no longer be on satellite radio and it looks like it you may need a subscription to hear every show. Details are still being worked out but I’m glad that cooler heads have prevailed and we get our favorite football show back.

Above is the preview of the new format. Enjoy!

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Jozy Altidore made his debut in the English Premier League today against Bolton Wanderers and showed everyone in the KC Stadium that our boy has the right attitude!  He made a dream start, setting up the winning goal with his 1st touch and outclassing Zat Knight all afternoon.

After finally working out the issues with this work permit and dispelling the concerns that he may be carrying the swine flu (fellow American and USMNT teammate Landon Donovan was just diagnosed), Jozy came in as a substitute in the 60th min and made an immediate impact.  And by that I mean he setup the winning goal in the 61st minute.

It was a fine piece of hold-up play.  After receiving a headed pass, he held of a defender and played a cheaky ball over the top to an on rushing Kamel Ghilas, who put the ball away past keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.  Altidore’s touch on the pass was weighted just right and Ghilas strike was crisp and decisive.  You can just see the potential in the partnership of Hull’s two newest signings and I hope they can continue to compliment eachother’s play.

Another highlight I loved to see was Jozy outplaying Zat Knight time and again and then telling him how bad he is!  I couldn’t help but imagine what Altidore said to the premiership veteran as they squared up face-to-face like a couple of boxers before a fight.

KNIGHT: “I say, young man, that’s not the proper way to play.  You should show respect when playing against an Englishman like me.”

ALTIDORE: “Yo, I’m gonna show the world what a punk you are.  Next ball into me and it’s on!”

And the very next play, Jozy turned Knight inside-out and sent him to the pitch holding his hamstring.  Love the attitude Jozy!

All in all, it was an impressive half-hour.  Jozy had a golden opportunity, 1-on-1 with the keeper, that he pushed just wide.  And there were another couple of good opportunities that should’ve been goals had he been a little bit more unselfish.  Both instances showed a bit of inexperience but I’m confident that Jozy will keep working hard and will correct this in the future.

Overall, it was an outstanding performance and if he improves from this level, he’ll not only help me with my fantasy team, but he just might convert me to a Hull Tiger!

Today we had to say good-bye to a dear friend.  After 7+ years of broadcasting World Soccer Daily suddenly left the airwaves.

Now I don’t want to get into all the reasons why but I do want to express my sincere gratitude to Steven Cohen for the personal contribution he has made to the beautiful game in America and the sacrifices he had to make as a result.  The WSD product was world-class and the void left by its absence will not be closed by any other media outlet in the US.

It is a sad day in indeed when a person can be harassed into giving-up their constitutional right to free speech by illegal actions taken against them by any group.  And we should be ashamed as Americans that this happened in our great country.