All-Purpose, Never-Ending Soccer Thread

Onstad got booked before the PK, incidentally. The US now has three yellows to Canada's one. Still waiting to see evidence of this pro-American officiating....

Correction on the first goal -- Bornstein played the ball infield to Donovan, who then laid it off for Hejduk. Johnny B only gets the MLS assist, unfortunately.

 

The US to-do list for the second half:

1) Quit giving up set pieces close to goal.
2) Get Bocanegra out of there before he gets sent off/kills someone.
3) Find Eddie Johnson. He must've got lost in LSD traffic on the way over.

 

50': Weird, wild stuff. DMB intercepts a lazy backpass, leaves it off for Donovan who completely whiffs on an empty-netter. Canada breaks quickly, but can't get a shot off thanks to some last-ditch tackling.

53': Donovan's free kick finds Gooch at the back post, but he's so twisted out of position his header is well off-target.

 

Dear soccer broadcasters the world over,

Can we please stop with the tight shots of uninvolved people while the ball is still in play? I'm sure the Canada coach is an entertaining fellow, but he's not the first thing on my mind when the US is running at people in its attacking third.

plzandsankyuu,

Troop

 

64': Canada sub, Iain Hume on for Nash -- forward for a midfielder.

 

68': Classy stuff from DeRosario. He and Hedjuk collide going up for a header, DeRo takes exception and tries to headbutt Hejduk as they both get up. Yellow card to both, which puts Dude on the shelf for the next game.

 

73': Keller gets his hands warmed. DeRo with a rolling shot from a sharp angle, which Keller saves and holds.

 

76': Canada scores on a quick counter, making it 2-1. Moments after blazing a shot over the bar with his right foot, Hume gets the ball on his preferred left and curls one past Keller from the top of the box.

Canada's getting better and better ... Bob might need to change something here soon.

79': US corner kick, Donovan finds Dempsey, whose header is backheeled off the line by Hume.

80': US sub, Feilhaber on for Johnson. It's either 4-5-1 or Donovan moving up top to join Dempsey.

Canada sub, Issey Farran-Nakajima on for Gerba.

 

86': Bernier with a shot from distance, easily saved by Keller.

88': US sub, Twellman on for Dempsey.

 

89': Bradley gets a straight red. DeGuzman started a counterattack, Bradley slid in and clipped him from behind. Maybe a bit harsh, but understandable.

90': US sub, Rico Clark on for Mastroeni.

Into stoppage time now. I'd tell you how much, but they haven't shown the fourth official's board and the game's been on mute since kickoff.

 

93': Canada with a free kick about 35 yards out. DeRo's serve hits the one-man wall that is Landon Donovan.

95': Canada gets the equalizer called back for offside. Onyewu deflected a long shot, which Hutchinson stuck into the back of the net. Not sure whether he was called offside on the initial shot or when it came off Gooch.

Tough one to lose. Good thing we have those classy, cultured Canucks to set a fine example for all the young'uns.

 

Tough end for Canada, a team that surprised and impressed me.

The USA's defense was awful and suspect all game. Terrible decisions, poor marking. The midfield and forwards were clever and creative, but damn, they couldn't finish. Had Donovan hit the empty net, the US wins 4-0 or 5-0.

Now, my take on the disputed goal. Note I've only seen the replay once. When the initial kick occured, it looked like Hutchinson was barely offside, which means when Onyewu headed the ball, he was offside when the ball was played. BUT ... was there a slight deflection by a Canadian in between? On replay it looked like there was, and in that brief instant, Hutchinson returned onside, which meant after Onyewu's header, Hutchinson was in a legal position.

I'd have to watch it again, but if there was no deflection by a Canadian, I believe the call was correct. Horrible play by Onyewu, however.

EDIT - No deflection. Have to watch it one more time to get a definitive answer as to a bad call or not.