The Soccer Thread (IV)

This referee should never work another game.

 

Will need to play much better against Trinidad. That's another game the USA cannot afford to lose.

 

Agreed. Too lackadaisical in their own end, and they need to capitalize better on chances on offense.

Entertaining game, though.

 

Two teams at 13 points, two at 12. I'm worried US might not make it to South Africa.

 

Considering Trinidad got their hats handed to them by Honduras tonight, I'm not expecting too much.

 

Mexico scores another one...

 

Not even close. Fortunately, it didn't affect the outcome of the match.

T&T is no gimme - they're good enough to do something at home - but this result allows the U.S. to breathe a little easier, eh?

 

Dos Santos is killing Cost Rica.

 

I fear that he's going to be killing a lot of people in the years to come. Probably the same sinking feeling some of those guys felt down there when they saw Landy for the first time.

 

Costa Rica is starting to fall apart. They have to go to El Salvador and the USA still. So long as the US wins at Trinidad, there won't be a problem.

 

It's also likely that the playoff match would be against either Colombia, Uruguay or Ecuador, all teams the U.S. should be able to beat.

There's also an outside chance it could be against Argentina, in which case I hear the beach is lovely in June.

 

I was disappointed with the first goal. I don’t like that it occurred. However, the US did win. Another point of note was that the win should have had the US with at least 3 goals. Altidore wasn’t even remotely offside on that play.

So, with the linesman clearly against the US and the ref doing a poor job, I am okay with the 2-1 win. Sure, 3-1 would have been closer to my 3-0 hope but it didn’t happen.

Another item of note was that I don’t think Feilhaber and Bradley work in the middle together. There is no defensive cover. Yes, Feilhaber has some great touches and that is part of the reason the US was down the field so much. The problem is that Bradley is already yellow card prone. If he becomes more defensive then that risk goes up even more.

I don’t have any real fear that the US won’t qualify. You have the road game to T&T which Honduras was able to romp through. T&T will play differently against the US and I expect more bunkering but the US should still pull through. The rough game will be away at Honduras.

I find it so interesting how CONCACAF is so grouped this year. Normally, there are the two dominant teams and that one walk-over. Now, it seems like two walk-overs and everyone else holding home turf.