The USMNT scrimmage was a nailbiter today. I didn't get there in time for the whole thing, but when I did arrive, I was struck by the fact that Bob Bradley was observing while camped out inside the goal of Tim Howard.
Maybe that intimidated the yellow team a little bit, as they fell behind early. Clint Dempsey scored at least one goal for the Blues, who were firing against Kasey Keller, who is a lot more vocal than Howard is in organizing the defense.
But the yellows pulled back to tie, thanks to goals by Chivas USA teammates Jonny Bornstein and Ante Razov. Razov's goal was a beaut - pinging in off the inside of the post.
Bradley decreed that the next goal would win, and the intensity of the match ratcheted up.
"Come on!" Oguchi Onyewu exhorted his Blues teammates. "We don't lose."
Lee Nguyen, on the opposing squad, said something right then to Gooch, but I couldn't catch it. Whatever it was, it provoked Gooch to reach over and give a good-natured tousle of Lee's hair.
A couple of chances were shut down, for both sides, one with a vintage Keller save on a shot by Dempsey. Carlos Bocanegra held off a Blues breakaway and then became the hero for the Yellows when he buried a low shot to the corner of the goal.
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