All-Purpose, Never-Ending Soccer Thread

We've hit the hour mark, still 1-1.

I don't know if I like this high line the US back four is keeping. Crespo isn't much of a threat with his speed, but Messi taking Conrad or DeMerit 1v1? Yeah, that's a concern.

As I say that, Messi gets played in behind the defense. He gets closed down quickly, though, and shoots into the side-netting.

61': US sub, Eddie Gaven on for Olsen. Interesting move from Bob...

 

Goooooooooooooooooooooooooool Crespo. Clinical finish.

 

Natch.

US stands off Messi at the top of the box, he threads a ball past two defenders to Crespo, who shoots right under Keller and scores.

65', 2-1 Argentina.

 

I like Messi taking over here. Riquelme's been invisible in the midfield, so Messi has fallen back into a creative role. His speed is killing the back four.

 

And it's damn near 3-1 two minutes later.

Hospital ball from the US defense gives Messi an opening. Conrad closes him down quickly enough to snuff out the chance.

67': US sub, Herculez Gomez on for Twellman. Full credit to Bob ... he's going for a result here.

 

72': Bornstein booked for a tackle on Messi. Didn't look like a whole lot of contact on the replay, but Messi went down and out came the card.

Ensuing free kick from Veron just misses the head of an UNMARKED Messi.

 

It was Heinze, not Messi.

And que golllazo de Pablito Aimar. Book this one. 3-1 Albiceleste. Messi subbed off for Tevez to a nice ovation. He deserves it.

 

77': 3-1 Argentina. Now is not the time to shut down, folks.

As he has all night, Wynne pinches in far too much on the right side, leaving a huge gap down the line. Picture perfect cross finds Aimar running free down the middle ... bullet header past Keller.

Argie sub after the goal, Messi off for Carlos Tevez.
US sub, Kyle Beckerman on for Clark.

 

A decent performance by the U.S., but those two second half goals were very nice from Argentina.

 

4-1, 85th minute.

Long ball over the top to Tevez, who -- and here's a shocker -- beat the offside trap. Carlito rolls it past Keller, who's wondering when Borussia Moenchengladbach started wearing blue.

Argentina sub, Gago on for Veron.

 

Let's see ... Bradley is playing a high restraining line with:

A) Two inexperienced outside defenders, both of whom can't keep their positional discipline;
B) Two central defenders with Agoos-like foot speed; and
C) Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez on the other team.

Golly, I wonder why this didn't turn out well.

 

Are we supposed to feel good about a 4-1 loss?

The cracker on GolTV seems to think so.

I know, it wasn't that bad, but was it praiseworthy? I think not.