Red-White-n-Blue goes up against Le Oranje. Predictions, people. Get 'em in the comments before kickoff.
Holland:
Vermeer, Zuiverloon, Marcellis, Jaliens, De Guzman, Emanuelson, Maduro, Drenthe, Bakkal, Babel, Beerens
U.S.
Guzan, Wynne, Edu, Parkhurst, Orozco, Rogers, Bradley, Kljestan, Holden, Adu, McBride
Coach Peter Nowak is growing some facial scruff - a VanDyke I guess. For luck? I don't know whether to hope the team loses so he loses it. It's just coming in.
Kickoff!
1- Rogers on the attack from the start.
3 - The Dutch quickly find their feet and start pressuring the U.S. goal.
4 - Guzan stretches to reach a high cross, then tumbles, but hangs on to the ball.
5 - The u.S. is having trouble working the ball out of the back. They barely cross the centerline before the Dutch claim the ball and attack again.
6 - Balboa rightly notes that Holland, playing a 3-5-2, outnumbers the U.S. in the midfield and this is causing the Americans problems. But so is Kljestan making passes to the Dutch defenders, like he did just now.
8 - Granted, it's raining and conditions are crappy and slippery.
9 - Yay, better from Sach - nice run and move to force a foul there. Yellow card, too, on Marcellis.
10 - Decent FK, but Vermeer catches. The U.S. regain the ball and counter - Adu cross to Bradley, but he hits his volley awkwardly and wide.
13 - U.S. FK - goes to the Dutch immediately, but the U.S. plays some nice D to get the ball again and rogers takes off on the wing, then biffs the cross out.
15 - Better midfield play from the U.S. - They give up a header to the Dutch, though, but it's high and wide.
17 - GOAL! As soon as I praise the U.S. midfield, they then look crappy, giving up a nice long stretch of possession to the Dutch. The cross finally comes in to Babel, who snaps a header that Guzan blocks, but the ball pops right back to Babel while the defenders stand in amazement. Babel promptly slams the ball into the underside of the net. 1-0. Netherlands.
20 - Pointless possession ends with a long ball over the top that Vermeer claims easily.
22 - Even Balboa is calling for Jozy to start. i wonder if Joz might be injured. He had a bit of an ankle thing before he left NY.
25 - Dutch look supremely confident now. They ping the ball around, making good connections even on long passes. Orozco fouls, but it seems to be mostly a calculated drink break for the Dutch.
27 - Freddy! He makes an amazing run, refuses to give the ball up, beats three guys, gets in the box and - puts his shot high. Get that on frame, Fred.
28 - Maybe Nowak is inspired by Wynne, whose Van Dyke is looking snazzy.
29 - As opposed to Wynne's first touch right there - which was quite horrid. He got to the pass, of course with his speed, and then basically kicked the ball out accidently.
31 - Drenthe's outside shot deflects for a corner. Guzan catches it.
33 - Freddy goes down. He's not getting that call. Rogers on the run, shot gets deflected for a throw.
35 - This time Freddy gets the call - he was on a sweet run right into the box. The FK is just outside the line. Fred isn't taking the FK? Why? Bradley steps up.
36 - Hits the wall, U.S. corner. Vermeer misses the service, but the ball goes over the line for a GK.
37 - Freddy draws another foul, but this one is spotted far out. Holden stands on it, serves it into the box - Orozco! misses, but was closeish.
40 - Nice play by the U.S. culminates in a Holden shot. Freddy backheeds to Wynne, whose cross is poor, but the U.S. manages to retain the ball and Holden slams a shot that forces a Vermeer save. Rogers follows up from distance, but Vermeer catches.
41 - More pressure from the U.S. The Dutch look a bit rattled - mistakes are made.
43 - Rogers fouls and the Dutch take their time with the FK - wanting to go in to the half with the lead.
45 - Rogers receives a nice through pass on the wing, but his pass to mcBride doesn't have much of a chance and is easily cut off.
45 + Guzan claims a cross and starts the counter. Freddy is on the run, surrounded by orange shirts and coughs up the ball.
Halftime
Well, the U.S. are a bit unlucky, perhaps, but the bottom line is that the Netherlands made good on their chance and the U.S. didn't. That's skill beyond the obvious technical advantage the Dutch have. It's competitive coolness under pressure.
46 - We're back. The Dutch seem to have their second wind. They're making canny passes and waiting for chances, making the U.S. chase.
48 - Edu foul gives up deep FK on the right side. service across the box, header! Outside side netting. Lucky U.S.
49 - How is that not a U.S. corner? Rogers is also disgusted by the poor call.
50 - The U.S. get a FK here. holden to McBride! He finally gets a ball he can get his head on and he sends it straight towards goal. Vermeer leaps to punch ball over the bar.
52 - The U.S. maintain the attack, but Vermeer is ready to pounce on a loose ball in the box.
53 - Guzan punches the ball, not quite to safety, but the U.S. get out on the counter, actually passing well through the midfield until Holden is shielded from a chip pass in the box.
55 - Edu can't control his momentum - bangs into Vermeer. Gets yellow.
58 - Mucky battle in midfield. It's hard to be precise with passes when there are chunks of mud holding up the ball.
59 - Wynne on the run! freddy's pass blocked.
60 - Orozco moving forward - gets fouled by Marcellis. Yellow.
61 - Service into the box, Vermeer comes out against the wave of traffic to punch ball clear.
62 - "I like it" is Balboa's catchphrase today. He sounds like Mikey of Life cereal. It was McBride's shot on goal that Balboa liked. Vermeer caught it.
64 - Balboa also likes Orozco getting forward, but the Dutch counter. Wynne has to race back and cover.
65 - GOAL! Sach! Freddy Adu nutmegs a defender, creating a throughball on a counter and Sach is off to the races, cutting back once in the box and shooting past Vermeer. Nice. 1-1.
66 - Jozy is in for Rogers, too.
67 - Bradley is arguing something. Cool, boy. Keep coolly cool, boy.
FK for Holland. Guzan arranges the wall. No need. DeGuzman skies the shot.
69 - Jozy hasn't touched the ball yet. Oh, there he goes, weird pass to Freddy.
70 - Jozy is the only U.S. player on the field who had his 2005 U17 World Cup dream end to the Dutch in the quarters.
71 - of course Freddy can just pass into space Wynne will get there. His cross is blocked out for a throw. Wynne is good at those - better than his crossing, sure.
72 - GOAL! Wynne's throw is deep and discombobulates the Dutch defense. They can't clear as the u.S. keep scrapping for it. Orozco hits a hard cross that basically bounces off big guy Jozy and into the goal! yay for Jozy's positioning! 2-1 U.S.
73 - Jozy is so cute - he celebrates like he actually took a shot.
75 - M'kay - here comes Makaay. The Dutch are getting serious here.
77 - Jozy in the box - hard shot, while holding off his defender, but Vermeer blocks it.
78 - Freddy gets a yellow for dangerous play against the goalkeeper. He's out of the next match, because of the even more stupid yellow he got against Japan. Freddy! Why?
80 - Guzan smothers a Sibon shot. Freddy comes out for Benny Feilhaber.
81 - The next ten minutes will be wild. Orange bodies will fly everywhere.
82 - It's Dance of the Headers in the box for a while as the ball keeps popping up, bu the U.S. finally get a foot on the ball to clear it.
84 - For such a skillful team, the Dutch lack creativity right now. They must be tired.
85 - Guzan punches a ball clear.
86 - Better attacks from the Netherlands, but the final header pops over the bar. Guzan goal kick, but he doesn't take too long, because he already has a yellow card.
87 - Makaay takes a quick short corner, but Feilhaber steals the ball before the pass comes to the box.
88 - Netherlands pinging the ball foward.
89 - Holden breaks the press, pushes forward, shoots wide, ignores an open Kljestan.
90 - Guzan makes me nervous with his basket catches. Players could challenge those.
90+ Kljestan is down. He takes his time getting up and Makaay gets pissy.
Bradley gets another stupid timewasting yellow card. I hate those. I'm sorry, I never think those are a good idea. Just play.
Jozy nice defensive play but the Dutch come right back and Holden gets a yellow for a foul - came in just a bit late. Dangerous freaking free kick, right outside the arc.
GOAL! It's hard and low and gets in under the wall as the wall jumps and Guzan's dive is late. 2-2
Final whistle
Well, well, the U.S. blew the full points at the end. A tie wouldn't have been a horrible result, but with the lead and only seconds left? It stings, big time.
Freddy played well, but I'm still bitter about his petulant yellow in the Japan game. Bradley is out on cards as well. So by default, I suppose we'll see Feilhaber and Jozy start the next match.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Japan/U.S running blog
An important match versus Japan looms. Predictions?
USA: 18-Hope Solo; 2-Heather Mitts, 15-Kate Markgraf, 3-Christie Rampone - Capt., 14-Stephanie Cox, 15; 9-Heather O'Reilly, 7-Shannon Boxx, 11-Carli Lloyd, 5-Lindsay Tarpley; 16-Angela Hucles, 8-Amy Rodriguez.
JPN: 1-Miho Fukumoto; 2-Yukari Kinga, 3-Hiromi Ikeda, 4-Azusa Iwashimizu, 7-Kozue Ando; 5-Miyuki Yanagita, 8-Aya Miyama, 10-Homare Sawa, 15-Mizuho Sakaguchi; 17-Yuki Nagasato, 11-Shinobu Ohno.
Kickoff!
1- The U.S. needs to score quickly to gain confidence.
3 - ARod with a header after a nice run of U.S. attacking play. It pops over the bar, but a decent attempt from the shorty.
5 - The longer Japan can hang on, the more of a threat they become. The U.S. should win, but the fact is, all the pressure is on the Americans, because that's where the expectations are.
6 - A long pass to O'Reilly gets cut off.
8 - Tarp with a nice long pass to HAO, wo brings it down and gets off a cross, but Japan clears the ball for a corner. The header from Boxx goes over the bar.
9 - Tarp in traffic, gets off a decent shot on goal, but Fukumoto is on it.
11 - The U.S. has come out with verve in this match, but no matter how good the team looks or how much time they have on the ball, without a goal, it's all style without substance.
13 - Mitts gives up a foul - a bit of a tricky free kick now for Japan, but the U.S. clear it.
14 - Japan comes back, though, and Solo is forced to punch the ball out for a deep Japanese throw.
15 - Kinga shot! She beats Solo, but her shot is wide by a bit.
17 - Again, the U.S. is denied on the doorstep of Japan's goal. There's just a bit of hesitation, leading to shots blocked. Tarpley, Boxx, Lloyd. Someone just needs to have no fear and take the ball first time or something.
19 - U.S. corner, but Rampone can't knock in Lloyd's flick to the far post - it's too high.
21 - Boxx takes down Ohno after a Japan run of play.
22 - Sawa shoots off the FK - forcing a nice tip save from Solo, but still a corner chance. The U.S. clears, but gives up possession. Rampone passes out to Japan - second time this game I've seen her do that. If she can't find a teammate, it might be smarter to put it out of bounds.
24 - Lloyd from distance, not that close.
25 - ARod with a nice run to beat a defender and earn a corner. The U.S. needs something to happen soon on these. Rampone takes a really weird volley shot on a deflection - way wide of goal.
27 - GOAL! Cox makes the run and the cross - which creates tons of danger. ARod misses it, but pulls defenders to her in the attempt and Lloyd runs on to the the ball near the top of the box and hammers it home. 1-0 U.S.
30 - Japan is on the attack, looking to equalize. They came back from two goals down versus New Zealand. They are a capable team.
32 - ARod is caught offside. Japan is successfully pressuring the U.S., in terms of the territory the game is played in.
33 - A Japanese cross goes past Solo and across the face of the goal and the U.S. is lucky that wasn't met with a strike.
38 - Amy bangs a cross off a defender for a corner.
39 - Lloyd gets a shot off a deflection - but it's way high.
40 - ARod fights for a ball in the box - very tenacious. She doesn't latch onto it, but forces a desperate clear that falls to Tarp, whose cross is deflected for a corner.
41 - Japan clears and kicks out on the counter immediately, forcing the U.S. to chase the play.
42 - ARod on the break, Hucles sprung her with a great pass - but ARod's chip is soft and easily caught.
44 - Mitts in the box - nearly beats the goalkeeper to a ball. Nothing like a defender on the attack to disturb the equilibrium of a match. Of course, it leaves gaps going the other way.
45 - One minute of injury time.
Halftime
The U.S. dominated play, but Lloyd's goal remains the close margin of advantage for the U.S., which badly needs the whole three points. Japan has been dangerous on the counter, so one slip up by the U.S. could be deadly. On the other hand, the U.S. is still creating chances and just needs to slot one home to breathe more easily.
47 - Oooh, so close for Japan there, and now they have a corner.
48 - Crappy corner, though, into the outside side netting.
49 - Chastain on the commentary lapses into the royal "we" when describing the U.S. play. It would have been less obvious if she hadn't apologized for it.
50 - Sawa's shot is blocked - Japan has brought more energy to their second-half effort.
52 - Right now, the U.S. midfield isn't holding the ball well at all, which is allowing Japan a lot of chances to press the defense.
53 - Chastain comments on the technique of the Japanese players - which is solid. They don't have the explosiveness of the U.S. players, but they don't randomly lose control as often as the Americans do.
56 - ARod chases down the ball on a break. The little blonde has a motor. She crosses - Boxx eventually gets a shot off, but it's over the bar.
59 - Fukumoto is out of her box, misses the ball, but a defender clears before the U.S. can take advantage.
60 - Boxx tests Fukumoto on the restart, but the goalkeeper parries well.
62 - Nagasoto from distance. It gets through traffic and past the gloves of Solo, but it's wide.
63 - ARod on a counter chance, splits two defenders, shoots - high. Too bad, she set it up so well.
65 - Ikeda gets squashed by Hucles falling on her after Ikeda slide-tackles a ball to safety.
68 - No subs yet for Pia. She's got to start thinking about who needs to be fresh for the next match, though.
71 - Japan is pressing for a while, but the U.S. break back and HAO earns another corner for the Americans.
72 - Another corner for the U.S. It's odd how they've been so ineffective on set plays. Oooh, Mitts nearly chances that it a solid shot on goal from a deflection. Fukumoto parries it out.
74 - Tobin Heath comes in for Tarp.
75 - Boxx takes a tackle from behind. Yellow for Sawa.
77 - Corner for Japan, which is threatening the U.S. goal again.
79 - Heath busts a move into the box, gets off a cross that ARod can't quite convert into a shot.
81 - ARod just wide with a shot in the box - oooh, just wide. She's been dangerous all game, but not deadly.
82 - Arakawa comes in for Ikeda as Japn goes more offensive in search of their goal. There's a lot of time left, actually.
83 - Japan FK - Miyama takes it and boots it too far to be a major threat.
Buehler comes in for Cox.
85 - So far the U.S. hasn't been able to take advantage of the three back line. But neither has the U.S. given way to the three Japanese forwards.
86 - Kai comes in for ARod, who did everything but score for her team today.
88 - Solo way out of position as the cross comes in - lucky that the header missed.
89 - Kai on the counter, into the box, shoots near post - outside side netting.
90 - Arakawa with a dangerous cross - Boxx nearly puts it into her own goal. Her touch on the ball did create a corner.
90+ Solo punches, but Japan recover. The ensuing cross is dangerous, but no one from Japan manages to get on to the ball. They're stalking the U.S. goal, though. Nervy stuff.
O'Reilly with a runs takes some time off the clock - doesn't quite make it to the corner to waste time there.
Mitts cuts off a long pass, but her own pass is picked off - doesn't matter. ]
Final whistle! The U.S. women are in the win column again - just barely.
Overall, the U.S. really picked up their performance, but only once did they leverage their many, many chances into an effective strike. Japan was also more than a bit unlucky not to score on one of their chances.
However, if the U.S. continues on the curve of improvement, they should still be in medal contention.
USA: 18-Hope Solo; 2-Heather Mitts, 15-Kate Markgraf, 3-Christie Rampone - Capt., 14-Stephanie Cox, 15; 9-Heather O'Reilly, 7-Shannon Boxx, 11-Carli Lloyd, 5-Lindsay Tarpley; 16-Angela Hucles, 8-Amy Rodriguez.
JPN: 1-Miho Fukumoto; 2-Yukari Kinga, 3-Hiromi Ikeda, 4-Azusa Iwashimizu, 7-Kozue Ando; 5-Miyuki Yanagita, 8-Aya Miyama, 10-Homare Sawa, 15-Mizuho Sakaguchi; 17-Yuki Nagasato, 11-Shinobu Ohno.
Kickoff!
1- The U.S. needs to score quickly to gain confidence.
3 - ARod with a header after a nice run of U.S. attacking play. It pops over the bar, but a decent attempt from the shorty.
5 - The longer Japan can hang on, the more of a threat they become. The U.S. should win, but the fact is, all the pressure is on the Americans, because that's where the expectations are.
6 - A long pass to O'Reilly gets cut off.
8 - Tarp with a nice long pass to HAO, wo brings it down and gets off a cross, but Japan clears the ball for a corner. The header from Boxx goes over the bar.
9 - Tarp in traffic, gets off a decent shot on goal, but Fukumoto is on it.
11 - The U.S. has come out with verve in this match, but no matter how good the team looks or how much time they have on the ball, without a goal, it's all style without substance.
13 - Mitts gives up a foul - a bit of a tricky free kick now for Japan, but the U.S. clear it.
14 - Japan comes back, though, and Solo is forced to punch the ball out for a deep Japanese throw.
15 - Kinga shot! She beats Solo, but her shot is wide by a bit.
17 - Again, the U.S. is denied on the doorstep of Japan's goal. There's just a bit of hesitation, leading to shots blocked. Tarpley, Boxx, Lloyd. Someone just needs to have no fear and take the ball first time or something.
19 - U.S. corner, but Rampone can't knock in Lloyd's flick to the far post - it's too high.
21 - Boxx takes down Ohno after a Japan run of play.
22 - Sawa shoots off the FK - forcing a nice tip save from Solo, but still a corner chance. The U.S. clears, but gives up possession. Rampone passes out to Japan - second time this game I've seen her do that. If she can't find a teammate, it might be smarter to put it out of bounds.
24 - Lloyd from distance, not that close.
25 - ARod with a nice run to beat a defender and earn a corner. The U.S. needs something to happen soon on these. Rampone takes a really weird volley shot on a deflection - way wide of goal.
27 - GOAL! Cox makes the run and the cross - which creates tons of danger. ARod misses it, but pulls defenders to her in the attempt and Lloyd runs on to the the ball near the top of the box and hammers it home. 1-0 U.S.
30 - Japan is on the attack, looking to equalize. They came back from two goals down versus New Zealand. They are a capable team.
32 - ARod is caught offside. Japan is successfully pressuring the U.S., in terms of the territory the game is played in.
33 - A Japanese cross goes past Solo and across the face of the goal and the U.S. is lucky that wasn't met with a strike.
38 - Amy bangs a cross off a defender for a corner.
39 - Lloyd gets a shot off a deflection - but it's way high.
40 - ARod fights for a ball in the box - very tenacious. She doesn't latch onto it, but forces a desperate clear that falls to Tarp, whose cross is deflected for a corner.
41 - Japan clears and kicks out on the counter immediately, forcing the U.S. to chase the play.
42 - ARod on the break, Hucles sprung her with a great pass - but ARod's chip is soft and easily caught.
44 - Mitts in the box - nearly beats the goalkeeper to a ball. Nothing like a defender on the attack to disturb the equilibrium of a match. Of course, it leaves gaps going the other way.
45 - One minute of injury time.
Halftime
The U.S. dominated play, but Lloyd's goal remains the close margin of advantage for the U.S., which badly needs the whole three points. Japan has been dangerous on the counter, so one slip up by the U.S. could be deadly. On the other hand, the U.S. is still creating chances and just needs to slot one home to breathe more easily.
47 - Oooh, so close for Japan there, and now they have a corner.
48 - Crappy corner, though, into the outside side netting.
49 - Chastain on the commentary lapses into the royal "we" when describing the U.S. play. It would have been less obvious if she hadn't apologized for it.
50 - Sawa's shot is blocked - Japan has brought more energy to their second-half effort.
52 - Right now, the U.S. midfield isn't holding the ball well at all, which is allowing Japan a lot of chances to press the defense.
53 - Chastain comments on the technique of the Japanese players - which is solid. They don't have the explosiveness of the U.S. players, but they don't randomly lose control as often as the Americans do.
56 - ARod chases down the ball on a break. The little blonde has a motor. She crosses - Boxx eventually gets a shot off, but it's over the bar.
59 - Fukumoto is out of her box, misses the ball, but a defender clears before the U.S. can take advantage.
60 - Boxx tests Fukumoto on the restart, but the goalkeeper parries well.
62 - Nagasoto from distance. It gets through traffic and past the gloves of Solo, but it's wide.
63 - ARod on a counter chance, splits two defenders, shoots - high. Too bad, she set it up so well.
65 - Ikeda gets squashed by Hucles falling on her after Ikeda slide-tackles a ball to safety.
68 - No subs yet for Pia. She's got to start thinking about who needs to be fresh for the next match, though.
71 - Japan is pressing for a while, but the U.S. break back and HAO earns another corner for the Americans.
72 - Another corner for the U.S. It's odd how they've been so ineffective on set plays. Oooh, Mitts nearly chances that it a solid shot on goal from a deflection. Fukumoto parries it out.
74 - Tobin Heath comes in for Tarp.
75 - Boxx takes a tackle from behind. Yellow for Sawa.
77 - Corner for Japan, which is threatening the U.S. goal again.
79 - Heath busts a move into the box, gets off a cross that ARod can't quite convert into a shot.
81 - ARod just wide with a shot in the box - oooh, just wide. She's been dangerous all game, but not deadly.
82 - Arakawa comes in for Ikeda as Japn goes more offensive in search of their goal. There's a lot of time left, actually.
83 - Japan FK - Miyama takes it and boots it too far to be a major threat.
Buehler comes in for Cox.
85 - So far the U.S. hasn't been able to take advantage of the three back line. But neither has the U.S. given way to the three Japanese forwards.
86 - Kai comes in for ARod, who did everything but score for her team today.
88 - Solo way out of position as the cross comes in - lucky that the header missed.
89 - Kai on the counter, into the box, shoots near post - outside side netting.
90 - Arakawa with a dangerous cross - Boxx nearly puts it into her own goal. Her touch on the ball did create a corner.
90+ Solo punches, but Japan recover. The ensuing cross is dangerous, but no one from Japan manages to get on to the ball. They're stalking the U.S. goal, though. Nervy stuff.
O'Reilly with a runs takes some time off the clock - doesn't quite make it to the corner to waste time there.
Mitts cuts off a long pass, but her own pass is picked off - doesn't matter. ]
Final whistle! The U.S. women are in the win column again - just barely.
Overall, the U.S. really picked up their performance, but only once did they leverage their many, many chances into an effective strike. Japan was also more than a bit unlucky not to score on one of their chances.
However, if the U.S. continues on the curve of improvement, they should still be in medal contention.
Friday, August 8, 2008
More Tri-bound players
Sven Goran Eriksson added several players to his original list of call-ups on Thursday. The plan is for all players who have been called up so far to report next week for two days of training. Then, there will be another list next week and that one will presumably be the one that will be for the game against Honduras.
The interesting name here is Francisco Fonseca. He had a slow and painful fall from grace a year ago. After returning from a failed stint at Benfica, Fonseca went to Tigres but didn't do a whole lot there. He started to lose his spot on El Tri and eventually wasn't called up at all. He's had a god start to the season though he hasn't scored in two games.
Julio Cesar Dominguez, Gerardo Torrado and Cesar Villaluz (Cruz Azul), Alejandro Arguello (America), Israel Castro (Pumas), Alan Zamora (Atlante), Horacio Cervantes (Morelia), Francisco Fonseca (Tigres).
The interesting name here is Francisco Fonseca. He had a slow and painful fall from grace a year ago. After returning from a failed stint at Benfica, Fonseca went to Tigres but didn't do a whole lot there. He started to lose his spot on El Tri and eventually wasn't called up at all. He's had a god start to the season though he hasn't scored in two games.
Julio Cesar Dominguez, Gerardo Torrado and Cesar Villaluz (Cruz Azul), Alejandro Arguello (America), Israel Castro (Pumas), Alan Zamora (Atlante), Horacio Cervantes (Morelia), Francisco Fonseca (Tigres).
Catrachos ready
Honduras released its list of players it will use against Mexico on Aug. 20 in a World Cup qualifier.
The list includes a pair of MLS players in Amado Guevara and Ivan Guerrero.
Honduras and Mexico played a memorable game in Azteca, of course. Back in November 2001 Honduras needed a win to get into the 2002 World Cup and knock Mexico out in the process but that didn't happen as Mexico won 3-0 behind goals from Francisco Palencia and Cuauhtemoc Blanco.
This will be just as difficult for Honduras. Not only is the game in Azteca but Mexico will play for the first time under Sven Goran Eriksson, who will likely have his squad fired up for the game.
For Honduras and the other two teams in the group - Jamaica and Canada - the key will be to win at home. They'll need to win at home and hope for a draw or two on the road. If any of the three can get a result in Mexico - even just a draw would be monumental - that team will have a great chance of getting through to the semifinal round.
I cut and pasted this list from MedioTiempo.com and they organized it by players based outside of Honduras and their domestic contingent so that's how I'm pasting it here. Sorry for the confusion.
David Suazo (Inter), Julio César León (Parma), Edgar Alvarez (Roma), Carlos Costly (Belchatow, Polonia), Amado Guevara (Toronto), Wilson Palacios, Maynor Figueroa (Wigan), Iván Guerrero (DC United).
Noel Valladares (Olimpia), Víctor Coello (Marathon), Víctor Bernárdez (Motagua), Miguel Castillo (Motagua), Milton Núñez (Marathon), Danilo Turcios (Olimpia), Sergio Mendoza (Olimpia), Emilio Izaguirre (Motagua), Óscar Bonie García (Olimpia), John Aston Boden (Victoria), Saúl Martínez (Marathon) y Osman Chávez (Motagua).
The list includes a pair of MLS players in Amado Guevara and Ivan Guerrero.
Honduras and Mexico played a memorable game in Azteca, of course. Back in November 2001 Honduras needed a win to get into the 2002 World Cup and knock Mexico out in the process but that didn't happen as Mexico won 3-0 behind goals from Francisco Palencia and Cuauhtemoc Blanco.
This will be just as difficult for Honduras. Not only is the game in Azteca but Mexico will play for the first time under Sven Goran Eriksson, who will likely have his squad fired up for the game.
For Honduras and the other two teams in the group - Jamaica and Canada - the key will be to win at home. They'll need to win at home and hope for a draw or two on the road. If any of the three can get a result in Mexico - even just a draw would be monumental - that team will have a great chance of getting through to the semifinal round.
I cut and pasted this list from MedioTiempo.com and they organized it by players based outside of Honduras and their domestic contingent so that's how I'm pasting it here. Sorry for the confusion.
David Suazo (Inter), Julio César León (Parma), Edgar Alvarez (Roma), Carlos Costly (Belchatow, Polonia), Amado Guevara (Toronto), Wilson Palacios, Maynor Figueroa (Wigan), Iván Guerrero (DC United).
Noel Valladares (Olimpia), Víctor Coello (Marathon), Víctor Bernárdez (Motagua), Miguel Castillo (Motagua), Milton Núñez (Marathon), Danilo Turcios (Olimpia), Sergio Mendoza (Olimpia), Emilio Izaguirre (Motagua), Óscar Bonie García (Olimpia), John Aston Boden (Victoria), Saúl Martínez (Marathon) y Osman Chávez (Motagua).
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Chalups is ok
Grahame checks in on the little redheaded girl.
Turns out, Lori is alright after her injury.
Turns out, Lori is alright after her injury.
China: what I'll be reading
Over the next couple of weeks, China and the Summer Olympics will capture the global spotlight. In our corner of the net, we'll be interested in the men's and women's football competitions but will also take some time to watch the rest of the games.
Here are three sources so far that I will be checking multiple times a day to keep up with the games as best as possible.
For traditional coverage, I'll be checking out SI.com. Is it a shameless plug, considering one of my outlets is SI.com? Nah. But in all seriousness... okay, the perception is there so why try and deny it. But seriously, the games haven't yet technically started and there's already quite a nice package of stories and coverage there already. And you could do worse than having Grant Wahl on staff.
For blogs and similar type coverage, one of the sites I'll be reading is Paul Oberjuerge's blog, Oberjuerge.com. My former editor at The Sun, Paul is in China as a freelancer. He's covered 12 previous Olympics so this is definitely someone who has an excellent grasp of the Olympics and can put things in perspective like few can. Already, he's got quite a bit of interesting tidbits up.
And the other site I'll check out is Mark Zeigler's blog on the San Diego Union-Tribune's web site. Like Paul, Mark has covered quite the many Olympics in his time. Mark does well to give you a feel of what it's like wherever he's at, in this case the world's most populous nation. In his first post, Mark tells us about his first impressions, which is the mass amounts of security the Chinese have stationed seemingly everywhere in Beijing.
Feel free to share any of the sites you'll be reading, particularly the foreign ones. It's always nice to get different perspectives.
Here are three sources so far that I will be checking multiple times a day to keep up with the games as best as possible.
For traditional coverage, I'll be checking out SI.com. Is it a shameless plug, considering one of my outlets is SI.com? Nah. But in all seriousness... okay, the perception is there so why try and deny it. But seriously, the games haven't yet technically started and there's already quite a nice package of stories and coverage there already. And you could do worse than having Grant Wahl on staff.
For blogs and similar type coverage, one of the sites I'll be reading is Paul Oberjuerge's blog, Oberjuerge.com. My former editor at The Sun, Paul is in China as a freelancer. He's covered 12 previous Olympics so this is definitely someone who has an excellent grasp of the Olympics and can put things in perspective like few can. Already, he's got quite a bit of interesting tidbits up.
And the other site I'll check out is Mark Zeigler's blog on the San Diego Union-Tribune's web site. Like Paul, Mark has covered quite the many Olympics in his time. Mark does well to give you a feel of what it's like wherever he's at, in this case the world's most populous nation. In his first post, Mark tells us about his first impressions, which is the mass amounts of security the Chinese have stationed seemingly everywhere in Beijing.
Feel free to share any of the sites you'll be reading, particularly the foreign ones. It's always nice to get different perspectives.
Pushmipullyu
It's not that I really expect consistency from Marcelo Balboa, who is doing color commentary on the matches in the Olympics.
However, I am curious, and perhaps someone has an explanation. In the Japan/U.S. match, there was a point where Freddy Adu was clearly pushed (not a bone-jarring shove, but a push all the same) and went down in the box. He didn't get a call, and Balboa praised the ref for not going whistle-happy over what he, "as a defender" considered strong defensive contact, apparently. Balboa contended that Freddy should have tried harder to stay on his feet instead of looking for the penalty call by going down with the contact.
Later on in the match, Maurice Edu pulled at a Japanese attacker's shirt in the box (a brief tug, but a pull all the same). In this case, though, Balboa argued immediately for the penalty call, "for me, that's a penalty" while failing to disclose any distinction between the two cases. The Japanese player, like Adu, didn't look like he was trying to stay on his feet, instead tumbling to make the contact more obvious. To me, it seemed the ref was being fairly consistent (in the Abbe Okulaja I'm-only-calling-a-bone-crunching-tackle-penalty way).
Balboa wasn't as reliable, which left me wondering, other than the obvious push versus pull, what would make one play "a good non-call" and the other "should be a penalty"? Thoughts?
However, I am curious, and perhaps someone has an explanation. In the Japan/U.S. match, there was a point where Freddy Adu was clearly pushed (not a bone-jarring shove, but a push all the same) and went down in the box. He didn't get a call, and Balboa praised the ref for not going whistle-happy over what he, "as a defender" considered strong defensive contact, apparently. Balboa contended that Freddy should have tried harder to stay on his feet instead of looking for the penalty call by going down with the contact.
Later on in the match, Maurice Edu pulled at a Japanese attacker's shirt in the box (a brief tug, but a pull all the same). In this case, though, Balboa argued immediately for the penalty call, "for me, that's a penalty" while failing to disclose any distinction between the two cases. The Japanese player, like Adu, didn't look like he was trying to stay on his feet, instead tumbling to make the contact more obvious. To me, it seemed the ref was being fairly consistent (in the Abbe Okulaja I'm-only-calling-a-bone-crunching-tackle-penalty way).
Balboa wasn't as reliable, which left me wondering, other than the obvious push versus pull, what would make one play "a good non-call" and the other "should be a penalty"? Thoughts?
Elsewhere in China
The United States-Japan match was not the only one played on Thursday, though it may have seemed like it. In fact, the US wasn't the only CONCACAF nation to kick off their quest for gold either.
But Honduras didn't fare quite as well as the Americans.
Italy routed Honduras 3-0. Giussepe Rossi scored one of the Italians' goals. Funny how an American scored a goal in the first day of the Olympics and it didn't come in the United States' game - Stuart Holden, the United States' goal scorer, was born in Scotland.
In a game of note for the US, the Netherlands and Nigeria tied 0-0. That puts the US atop the group with three points. If the US beats the Netherlands on Sunday and Nigeria-Japan ends in a draw, the US will clinch a spot in the knockout rounds.
Brazil beat Belgium 1-0 with a late winner from Hernanes. The goal was apparently a fantastic one though we didn't have a chance to see it.
Australia and Serbia tied 1-1. Ruben Zadkovich scored for the Aussies while Slobodan Rajkovic equalized .
Other scores (sorry, no links yet for these games): Argentina beat Ivory Coast 2-1. Lionel Messi scored for Argentina but Sekou Cisse equalized. Lautaro Acosta won the match with an 86th-minute goal.
China-New Zealand and Cameroon-South Korea each finished in a 1-1 draw.
But Honduras didn't fare quite as well as the Americans.
Italy routed Honduras 3-0. Giussepe Rossi scored one of the Italians' goals. Funny how an American scored a goal in the first day of the Olympics and it didn't come in the United States' game - Stuart Holden, the United States' goal scorer, was born in Scotland.
In a game of note for the US, the Netherlands and Nigeria tied 0-0. That puts the US atop the group with three points. If the US beats the Netherlands on Sunday and Nigeria-Japan ends in a draw, the US will clinch a spot in the knockout rounds.
Brazil beat Belgium 1-0 with a late winner from Hernanes. The goal was apparently a fantastic one though we didn't have a chance to see it.
Australia and Serbia tied 1-1. Ruben Zadkovich scored for the Aussies while Slobodan Rajkovic equalized .
Other scores (sorry, no links yet for these games): Argentina beat Ivory Coast 2-1. Lionel Messi scored for Argentina but Sekou Cisse equalized. Lautaro Acosta won the match with an 86th-minute goal.
China-New Zealand and Cameroon-South Korea each finished in a 1-1 draw.
U.S./Japan running blog
Sorry, this start time is painful on the West Coast.
--------------Guzan--------------------
--Wynne – Edu – Parkhurst – Orozco--
--Holden – Bradley – Kljestan – Rogers--
---------------Adu---------------------
--------------------McBride-----
Japan
Shusaku Nishikawa (G)
4 Hiroki Mizumoto (D)
5 Yuto Nagatomo (D)
6 Masato Morishige (D)
7 Atsuto Uchida (D)
8 Keisuke Honda (M)
10 Yohei Kajiyama (M)
12 Hiroyuki Taniguchi (M)
14 Shinji Kagawa (M)
16 Takuya Honda (M)
15 Takayuki Morimoto
23 - Announcers discuss the CAS ruling that clubs can recall even Olympic-eligible players.
25 - It's scoreless, by the way.
26 - The U.S. with a bit of an attack, but Freddy's shot is blocked out. Japan is really collapsing in and pressuring players with tenacious defense.
28 - Holden crosses to the box, but Freddy isn't as good of a target as McBride or Jozy, and he can't beat his defender to the ball, who clears it.
29 - Guzan cuts off a Japanese cross.
30 - Freddy loses a ball, appeals for foul, nothing, then the Japan attack manages a CK. Ball is headed high my Morishige.
34 - Freddy with an acrobatic juggle and strike - high, but it was pretty threatening.
37 - Guzan cuts off a pass in the box, denying Honda a chance.
38 - Parkhurst looks like he's trying to make McBride feel less lonely as the overage player. He's got serious facial scruff going on, which has him looking a lot older than his mid-twenties.
40 - Freddy gets tangled up on the edge of the box - Japan gets close on the counter, but Wynne is just there to deny his man the poke into the goal.
41 - Japan's corner isn't cleared well by Freddy - it rebounds back to a Japanese player, who crosses in front of goal and a header chance, beats Guzan, just wide.
45 - Rogers gets a nice Adu pass and creates a corner out of it. McBride gets a head on it, but it's off target.
45 + Japan gets another corner - except, no, the ref blows the whistle and denies the corner.
Halftime.
If Balboa uses "nice job" one more time as a description - well, it'd be around the thousandth time.
Well, the U.S. is falling prey to Japan on the counter, even if technically, it seems like the Americans have more possession and build-up. But they're backpedaling whenever a turnover gives the Japanese a chance, because the quick attack of the Asian squad is proving very effective, while their organization on defense is keeping the U.S. chances limited.
Balboa's polo shirt makes him look like a big Dynamo supporter.
Oh look, Gio Rossi scored for Italy. It was a PK, but still, that has to sting a bit, considering how the U.S. can't seem to get on the board. Then again, neither can the Brazilians right now.
46 - Balboa rightly notes that the U.S. players will have to step up.
47 - GOAL! Wynne answers the call. He uses his speed to beat his man, and gets in a decent low cross that is only semi-cleared off a defender's leg. Holden has wisely followed the play and drills a shot on goal that deflects off the goalkeeper's gloves and trickles across the line. 1-0 U.S.
50 - The U.S. pings the ball around with more confidence now.
51 - Adu goes down, no call, then tackles the legs out of his rival - yellow card. Unwise. It wasn't really a dangerous opportunity for Japan, and Adu is too valuable to be in red card jeopardy.
53 - Adu with an attacking play in the box, but he's called for a foul trying to get around his defender.
55 - Rogers with a nice move, beats a couple of defenders and lays the ball off for Bradley, who takes too long of a run-up and gets his shot deflected.
57 - The U.S. keeps the pressure on. Wynne and Freddy combine for a deep throw. It leads to another.
58 - Japan is able to eventually clear the ball.
59 - Uchida makes a play to save the ball from going out, but it doesn't quite come off. The U.S. looks closer to a second goal than Japan does to the equalizer, but their counter skill could revive at any moment.
60 - In fact, Japan earn a corner just now with better play than they've shown this second half.
61 - Japan takes the corner short, gets a cross off, but the header is high.
63 - Holden with a great tackle creates an opportunity. The Fk pops out to Rogers, who finally gets a cross off after some tricky dribbling play.
64 - Bradley gets a yellow for a slight tug. The ref is a little card happy here. The replay shows barely a foul.
65 - Japan comes close on the FK, but Edu's slight deflection puts the ball wide of goal.
67 - Freddy pushed down in the box - nothing on the call.
68 - Orozco puts the ball out on a Japan attack for CK. Kljestan blocks out the service and his former clubmate, Guzan, catches the ensuing pass into the box.
70 - The U.S. play the ball well out of the back along the sideline.
71 - Honda into the box, but Edu steps up to take it away before the cross comes off.
73 - Rogers is injured. Japan makes a sub. Robbie is up. K. Honda gets a yellow for the tackle.
74 - McBride comes off for Jozy.
75 - Rogers earns a deep throw, but a foul turns the ball over to Japan.
77 - Jozy tries to tear loose from the hold of T. Honda - a yellow comes out for T. Honda, who had Jozy's shorts in his grip.
79 - Freddy gets called for a foul on the breakaway chance.
80 - Japan has an arguable PK as Edu hit a player from behind in the box, but the ball was pinging around and the player went down before he even made any play on the ball.
81 - Jozy in the box the other way, gets a corner out of it. Adu puts in it in well, but a foul on the keeper negates the play.
82 - Japan going the other way earns yet another deep throw. Benny Feilhaber comes in for Holden, the current hero. K. Honda gets a header chance off the throw as the U.S. offside trap cuts it too close, but K.H. puts it wide.
85 - Toyoda and Guzan tangle up. Guzan milks a bit of time.
86 - Szetela comes in for Rogers - Clifton, NJ is represented twice over in these Olympics, Rossi and Szetela.
87 - Guzan beats Okuzaki to the ball in the box. Too close.
88 - Wow, so much for the U.S. not getting the benefit of calls, Edu gets away with a tug in the box.
90 - Guzan gets a yellow for time-wasting. Some might say that's strategic, but I never think a yellow is a good idea except as a final extremity option.
90+ About four minutes to go and the U.S. is defending against a revived and desperate Japan.
Guzan slides in to cut off a pass.
Bush has ruined the words "mission accomplished" for me, and I cringe when Balboa uses the term before the game ends.
Ball in the box, Guzan misses the punch and the header goes past him and - over the bar! Lucky.
Final whistle - the U.S. claims the points. Japan will no doubt argue about the calls. A lot of calls went against the U.S., but they ended up getting the ones that mattered.
Some good things for the U.S. here, but also plenty to worry about.
The goal was nice -great utilization of Wynne's speed and a nice cross, good teamwork to follow the play. The U.S. had the majority of possession and moved the ball pretty well.
Negatives - the U.S. gave up a lot of chances to Japan on the counter. They yielded a lot of set plays, too, and a team that's more effective on those would probably have put at least a goal away. Finally, Edu, who I thought played very well overall, arguably committed two PK fouls that weren't called.
Also, I don't like the unneeded yellows, especially when it seemed Adu was just frustrated. Grow up, Freddy. Bradley's I can't complain about, because that was just a bad call.
Finally, the U.S. just didn't create that many chances. Too often, they couldn't find each other with the final pass, or could get a cross off in a timely manner. Japan actually had more possibilities on goal, even with less time on the ball. That doesn't bode well unless the U.S. steps it up.
--------------Guzan--------------------
--Wynne – Edu – Parkhurst – Orozco--
--Holden – Bradley – Kljestan – Rogers--
---------------Adu---------------------
--------------------McBride-----
Japan
Shusaku Nishikawa (G)
4 Hiroki Mizumoto (D)
5 Yuto Nagatomo (D)
6 Masato Morishige (D)
7 Atsuto Uchida (D)
8 Keisuke Honda (M)
10 Yohei Kajiyama (M)
12 Hiroyuki Taniguchi (M)
14 Shinji Kagawa (M)
16 Takuya Honda (M)
15 Takayuki Morimoto
23 - Announcers discuss the CAS ruling that clubs can recall even Olympic-eligible players.
25 - It's scoreless, by the way.
26 - The U.S. with a bit of an attack, but Freddy's shot is blocked out. Japan is really collapsing in and pressuring players with tenacious defense.
28 - Holden crosses to the box, but Freddy isn't as good of a target as McBride or Jozy, and he can't beat his defender to the ball, who clears it.
29 - Guzan cuts off a Japanese cross.
30 - Freddy loses a ball, appeals for foul, nothing, then the Japan attack manages a CK. Ball is headed high my Morishige.
34 - Freddy with an acrobatic juggle and strike - high, but it was pretty threatening.
37 - Guzan cuts off a pass in the box, denying Honda a chance.
38 - Parkhurst looks like he's trying to make McBride feel less lonely as the overage player. He's got serious facial scruff going on, which has him looking a lot older than his mid-twenties.
40 - Freddy gets tangled up on the edge of the box - Japan gets close on the counter, but Wynne is just there to deny his man the poke into the goal.
41 - Japan's corner isn't cleared well by Freddy - it rebounds back to a Japanese player, who crosses in front of goal and a header chance, beats Guzan, just wide.
45 - Rogers gets a nice Adu pass and creates a corner out of it. McBride gets a head on it, but it's off target.
45 + Japan gets another corner - except, no, the ref blows the whistle and denies the corner.
Halftime.
If Balboa uses "nice job" one more time as a description - well, it'd be around the thousandth time.
Well, the U.S. is falling prey to Japan on the counter, even if technically, it seems like the Americans have more possession and build-up. But they're backpedaling whenever a turnover gives the Japanese a chance, because the quick attack of the Asian squad is proving very effective, while their organization on defense is keeping the U.S. chances limited.
Balboa's polo shirt makes him look like a big Dynamo supporter.
Oh look, Gio Rossi scored for Italy. It was a PK, but still, that has to sting a bit, considering how the U.S. can't seem to get on the board. Then again, neither can the Brazilians right now.
46 - Balboa rightly notes that the U.S. players will have to step up.
47 - GOAL! Wynne answers the call. He uses his speed to beat his man, and gets in a decent low cross that is only semi-cleared off a defender's leg. Holden has wisely followed the play and drills a shot on goal that deflects off the goalkeeper's gloves and trickles across the line. 1-0 U.S.
50 - The U.S. pings the ball around with more confidence now.
51 - Adu goes down, no call, then tackles the legs out of his rival - yellow card. Unwise. It wasn't really a dangerous opportunity for Japan, and Adu is too valuable to be in red card jeopardy.
53 - Adu with an attacking play in the box, but he's called for a foul trying to get around his defender.
55 - Rogers with a nice move, beats a couple of defenders and lays the ball off for Bradley, who takes too long of a run-up and gets his shot deflected.
57 - The U.S. keeps the pressure on. Wynne and Freddy combine for a deep throw. It leads to another.
58 - Japan is able to eventually clear the ball.
59 - Uchida makes a play to save the ball from going out, but it doesn't quite come off. The U.S. looks closer to a second goal than Japan does to the equalizer, but their counter skill could revive at any moment.
60 - In fact, Japan earn a corner just now with better play than they've shown this second half.
61 - Japan takes the corner short, gets a cross off, but the header is high.
63 - Holden with a great tackle creates an opportunity. The Fk pops out to Rogers, who finally gets a cross off after some tricky dribbling play.
64 - Bradley gets a yellow for a slight tug. The ref is a little card happy here. The replay shows barely a foul.
65 - Japan comes close on the FK, but Edu's slight deflection puts the ball wide of goal.
67 - Freddy pushed down in the box - nothing on the call.
68 - Orozco puts the ball out on a Japan attack for CK. Kljestan blocks out the service and his former clubmate, Guzan, catches the ensuing pass into the box.
70 - The U.S. play the ball well out of the back along the sideline.
71 - Honda into the box, but Edu steps up to take it away before the cross comes off.
73 - Rogers is injured. Japan makes a sub. Robbie is up. K. Honda gets a yellow for the tackle.
74 - McBride comes off for Jozy.
75 - Rogers earns a deep throw, but a foul turns the ball over to Japan.
77 - Jozy tries to tear loose from the hold of T. Honda - a yellow comes out for T. Honda, who had Jozy's shorts in his grip.
79 - Freddy gets called for a foul on the breakaway chance.
80 - Japan has an arguable PK as Edu hit a player from behind in the box, but the ball was pinging around and the player went down before he even made any play on the ball.
81 - Jozy in the box the other way, gets a corner out of it. Adu puts in it in well, but a foul on the keeper negates the play.
82 - Japan going the other way earns yet another deep throw. Benny Feilhaber comes in for Holden, the current hero. K. Honda gets a header chance off the throw as the U.S. offside trap cuts it too close, but K.H. puts it wide.
85 - Toyoda and Guzan tangle up. Guzan milks a bit of time.
86 - Szetela comes in for Rogers - Clifton, NJ is represented twice over in these Olympics, Rossi and Szetela.
87 - Guzan beats Okuzaki to the ball in the box. Too close.
88 - Wow, so much for the U.S. not getting the benefit of calls, Edu gets away with a tug in the box.
90 - Guzan gets a yellow for time-wasting. Some might say that's strategic, but I never think a yellow is a good idea except as a final extremity option.
90+ About four minutes to go and the U.S. is defending against a revived and desperate Japan.
Guzan slides in to cut off a pass.
Bush has ruined the words "mission accomplished" for me, and I cringe when Balboa uses the term before the game ends.
Ball in the box, Guzan misses the punch and the header goes past him and - over the bar! Lucky.
Final whistle - the U.S. claims the points. Japan will no doubt argue about the calls. A lot of calls went against the U.S., but they ended up getting the ones that mattered.
Some good things for the U.S. here, but also plenty to worry about.
The goal was nice -great utilization of Wynne's speed and a nice cross, good teamwork to follow the play. The U.S. had the majority of possession and moved the ball pretty well.
Negatives - the U.S. gave up a lot of chances to Japan on the counter. They yielded a lot of set plays, too, and a team that's more effective on those would probably have put at least a goal away. Finally, Edu, who I thought played very well overall, arguably committed two PK fouls that weren't called.
Also, I don't like the unneeded yellows, especially when it seemed Adu was just frustrated. Grow up, Freddy. Bradley's I can't complain about, because that was just a bad call.
Finally, the U.S. just didn't create that many chances. Too often, they couldn't find each other with the final pass, or could get a cross off in a timely manner. Japan actually had more possibilities on goal, even with less time on the ball. That doesn't bode well unless the U.S. steps it up.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
U.S. versus Norway
What a nightmare start for the U.S. women.
I'm not covering the U.S. games for articles, because my assignment is to report on the other teams in the tournament (North Korea just missed a PK), but I do have the U.S. game on in the background.
Unfortunately for the U.S. the jitters of starting the match were fatal. Norway took advantage and scored twice in the first ten minutes. The U.S. hasn't been able to get on the board yet.
57 - Kai with a cross that gets cut off. At least the U.S. is showing a little more on the attack. Norway is definitely getting the job done at this point.
59 - ARod is in for Tarpley, but she's seen little of the ball and has been unable to make an impact.
61 - Kai in the box, but her awkward shot is high.
62 - O'Reilly with an outside shot - high.
64 - Lloyd from just outside the box, but the strike has little bite.
67 - Good U.S. build-up, but Kai's final shot is a bit weak.
68 - Kaurin comes out for Knutsen
72 - CK for the U.S.
73 - Lloyd plays it short and then the U.S. gets a great cross - that absolutely no one touches.
74 - Solo with a save on the other end. Outlet reaches Kai in the box, but she can't get a good strike off.
75 - US FK. Lloyd sends it in but Norway clears.
77 - Cox is out, and the player I've been waiting for, Tobin Heath, is in. Tobin may not be able to change the game, but she's fun to watch.
80 - Lloyd with a double chance in the box, but she's a bit unlucky with the shot hitting the goalkeeper both times.
81 - Norway FK. It's cleared away with some difficulty by the U.S.
87 - Boxx from the outside, rebound cleared for a corner. Norway clears it.
90 - Well, this could be a wake-up call or a death knell for the U.S. team's hopes. It's only group play, but the margin for error is now nil.
90 + Hucles with a good shot, forces a parry out for a corner. Norway clears that. Lloyd with another outside shot - this one bends just wide.
Final Whistle.
I'm not covering the U.S. games for articles, because my assignment is to report on the other teams in the tournament (North Korea just missed a PK), but I do have the U.S. game on in the background.
Unfortunately for the U.S. the jitters of starting the match were fatal. Norway took advantage and scored twice in the first ten minutes. The U.S. hasn't been able to get on the board yet.
57 - Kai with a cross that gets cut off. At least the U.S. is showing a little more on the attack. Norway is definitely getting the job done at this point.
59 - ARod is in for Tarpley, but she's seen little of the ball and has been unable to make an impact.
61 - Kai in the box, but her awkward shot is high.
62 - O'Reilly with an outside shot - high.
64 - Lloyd from just outside the box, but the strike has little bite.
67 - Good U.S. build-up, but Kai's final shot is a bit weak.
68 - Kaurin comes out for Knutsen
72 - CK for the U.S.
73 - Lloyd plays it short and then the U.S. gets a great cross - that absolutely no one touches.
74 - Solo with a save on the other end. Outlet reaches Kai in the box, but she can't get a good strike off.
75 - US FK. Lloyd sends it in but Norway clears.
77 - Cox is out, and the player I've been waiting for, Tobin Heath, is in. Tobin may not be able to change the game, but she's fun to watch.
80 - Lloyd with a double chance in the box, but she's a bit unlucky with the shot hitting the goalkeeper both times.
81 - Norway FK. It's cleared away with some difficulty by the U.S.
87 - Boxx from the outside, rebound cleared for a corner. Norway clears it.
90 - Well, this could be a wake-up call or a death knell for the U.S. team's hopes. It's only group play, but the margin for error is now nil.
90 + Hucles with a good shot, forces a parry out for a corner. Norway clears that. Lloyd with another outside shot - this one bends just wide.
Final Whistle.
Glitch
So I woke up early this morning and realized it was a good thing I couldn't sleep. The US women's game is on and I went to find the channel it's on... and realized that I don't get MSNBC.
Crap.
Everyone here is still sleeping so I can't exactly call my satelite company right now for fear of waking up the entire Bueno household.
It looks like the games are being streamed on MSNBC.com (thanks AC!) so I'm heading there to watch it in the meanwhile.
Crap.
Everyone here is still sleeping so I can't exactly call my satelite company right now for fear of waking up the entire Bueno household.
It looks like the games are being streamed on MSNBC.com (thanks AC!) so I'm heading there to watch it in the meanwhile.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
SuperLiga final running blog
I've been watching from the start, but had some connection problems.
4 - DeRo from distance, off the post.
6 - Announcers discuss Igwe, correctly asses that Jay Heaps was unjustly suspended from the final in the Atlante scrum.
8 - Joseph with a scorcher from distance. High.
10 - This game has had a ton of intensity from the start.
11 - Joseph puts a ball out for a corner. Revs clear the corner.
13 - Davis gets a yellow for being just a bit late, but very aggressive on a Dube tackle.
15 - Bad final pass wastes a Revs chance.
18 - GOAL! Igwe's poor first touch leaves the ball free and Jaqua pounces, sending a low shot past a surprised Reis. 1-0 Houston.
20 - NO Goal! But so close! Igwe again loses the ball to Jaqua, who sends a pass to Ching, but his blooping shot, hit quickly to beat Reis, goes off the post. Revs escape.
23 - Poor Igwe. He made a mistake, sure, but it was really the absence of Heaps that hurt the team there. Young players are prone to mistakes.
25 - The announcers discuss how Nicol's tactics are part of the problem, leaving Igwe and Lawrentowitz isolated a lot. No help.
27 - The Revs need to stay aggressive, though. With this FK, they have a chance. Onstad puts the ball out for a corner.
28 - Ralston with a shot off the corner. High.
32 - Shot! Nyassi! But no, even though it was a good, aggressive, play, he missed the near post - shot just outside.
33 - Penalty! No, says the ref, but the announcers disagree. Waibel clearly pushed Mansally from behind, the replay makes that clear and the fans are in full voice, hating the ref for missing the call.
36 - SAVE! Reis dives to deny DeRo's hard shot. CK. Reis gets down to claim the ball from the corner.
37 - Onstad is out of the box to kick out the ball. DeRo going the other way, beats Reis, has a nearly open goal, but Albright (Chrissie!) saves the day by just reaching the ball. Corner.
38 - The kick falls in front of goal, Ries misses the grab but the rebound, lucky for the Revs, goes their way.
39 - Revs semi-clear, out for a Houston throw.
41 - No offense, but the cameras catch Taylor Twellman in a warm-up move where he is lying on the ground in the missionary position, moving back and forth slightly. I realize he's stretching is groin or something, but it looks like he's humping the grass.
42 - GOAL! Ralston! The fans roar as the veteran comes through. Ralston had a horrible angle on that shot, set up by a long Castro pass, but it didn't matter. Rally nailed it. 1-1 All square.
44 - DeRo from distance, but Reis is all over the ball and snuffs the shot.
45 - Ching misses with a header. He didn't really get his noggin on the ball.
Halftime
The announcers discuss how this is an exciting final, not just intense and filled with passion, but also with pretty good soccer. Aside from Igwe's howler, I'd have to agree.
The score is pretty deserved, because both sides have had solid chances.
47 - The announcers discuss how Barret let the pass slide past him on the Rev goal, thinking it would go out. So both goals were the result of defender errors, but Igwe's was more egregius.
51 - Reis with a save off a Davis shot. Davis should probably have passed, but he was probably trying to surprise Reis.
54 - The intensity is off just a bit in the second half - both teams are probing a bit more carefully.
55 - Davis tumbles in the box, but there's no call. Albright fell in front of him, but the ref has apparently rules that accidental.
58 - Twellman is in for Mansally, who took a knock, but might have been coming off anyway. Fernando Schwartz, the sideline dude, mimics the fans' chant for TT.
60 - Houston has had the better of play this half. NE with fewer attacks.
61 - Jaqua with an awkward shot, hits side netting, on the outside.
62 - Jaqua again, off a nice layback header from Ching, misses wide worse than before.
63 - Nyassi earns the Revs a corner, but the Dynamo clear it easily.
64 - Save! Onstad saves a ball that Twellman can't quite reach - I think Dube had the pass.
66 - The announcers debate whether this game will go to penalties. The majority think no.
68 - DeRo from distance again. Reis nabs it. He's got to be almost expecting those by now.
71 - Subs for both teams. Khano Smith in for Castro, and Kei Kamara comes on for Jaqua.
73 - Seems early for the MVP question, but Rally is my choice right now.
75 - Nyassi way wide. None of the coolness of Rally with a difficult angle.
76 - Ching! high.
77 - Smith shoots - Onstad saves!
78 - Barrett shoots! High. Why is a defender shooting? Ashe comes in for Mullan.
79 - Schwartz reports tension in the bench area.
80 - Cameron blocks a Nyassi cross - Revs corner. Dynamo clear.
81 - Joseph gets a yellow, pulled DeRo's shirt as DeRo tried to take off on a counter.
83 - The Dynamo look more likely to score as the game winds down, if only because the ball is down in the Revs own half nearly all the time.
85 - Reis cuts off a long pass, hanging on to the ball as Ching undercuts him, unable to stop the momentum he gathered trying to reach the ball.
87 - Davis fouls, but the FK is far out. Joseph serves it into the box, but the Dynamo clear the ball out.
88 - Revs having trouble with basic clearances, giving Houston hope and the ball repeatedly.
89 - Announcers discuss how the Revs seem fearful. They don't have the drive and guts of the first half.
90 - Ralston fouls Ashe. "This could be the million dollar ball!" the announcers say before the kick. Except, it's cleared.
90+ Houston still pressuring the Revs goal.
Igwe redeems himself a bit - picking the ball off Kamara's foot in the box just before the whistle blows.
Fulltime whistle!
Kinnear is interviewed before halftime. His Spanish is a bit rough, though his pronounciation is pretty good. (He forgets how to say "extra" in Spanish.) But anyway, Dom interviews that he is happy with the way his team is playing. He wants more of the same in extra time, but with one more goal.
Extra time
2 - Schwartz says the DeRo is bossing the midfield, not Joseph.
5 - DeRo called for a handball.
6 - Clark from just outside the box, but Reis nabs it.
8 - Houston circling the Revs goal.
9- GOAL! Kamara connects with a header over Reis, who failed to punch the ball to safety after he came out for it. It seemed like Reis called off the defense, Igwe in particular, who didn't contest the header. 2-1 Houston. Perhaps Reis would not have called off Heaps if he were playing.
13 - GOAL! Rally lines up a FK, and Joseph, despite being half-held, gets to it and pops in a header past Onstad. The Revs refuse to die! 2-2
15 - The announcers are still wondering about Kamara, who pulled a piece of cloth out of his shorts with a message. Toro #3 JTT. Well, Kamara played for Cal State Dominguez Hills - the Toros.
Second overtime period
4 - Both teams are looking weary, but the Revs have looked tired for a longer amount of time.
5 - Igwe clears a cross into the box. Corner for Dynamo. De Ro serves it in, Revs clear.
6 - Chris Wondolowski is in for Davis.
7 - Twellman is clearly frustrated - he must miss his set-up partner Pat Noonan.
8 - Revs with a corner of their own, but the Dynamo clear.
9 - SAVE! Reis dives down for an Ashe shot and Albright clears it. Chris looks so tired.
11 - As the announcers discuss penalty kicks, the Revs have perhaps their best run of this period. Rally's shot gets blocked, though and then Smith hits his shot wide.
12 - Albright can't clear via header and Ashe swoops in and gets fouled by Nyassi. It's a dangerous spot.
13 - But DeRo hits it high and no one even jumps for it, because it's so high.
14 - Revs give up a counter and Kamara has a chance with a shot but Reis gets down for the service. Both teams look about to fall over.
15 - Ching gets daylight between two defenders and tries a shot - wide.
15+ Reis blocks another shot, but puts it over the bar for a corner. DeRo serves it up and Wondo hits it way wide.
Whistle blows! We're off to Pks!
Selfishly, I hope Reis takes a kick. I love that.
Rally up first. He goes slowly, and Onstad moves, so Rally puts it softly the other way. 1-0 NE
Waibel next. He slams his shot in. 1-1
Reis next! Careful what you wish for Andrea - Reis is usually money with these, but he puts this one way high. Ugh. 1-1
Wondo up now. takes it quick and well. 2-1 Houston
Shalrie Joseph! Onstad almost reaches it, but it's in. 2-2.
DeRo now. Reis SAVES! 2-2
Twellman backs up a ton, but softly hits it away from Onstad. 3-2 Revs
Chingy! SAVE! REIS! 3-2 Revs.
Smith for the win - SAVE! Onstad gets to it. Revs can't get away with hitting that many soft shots. 3-2 Revs.
Clark for the tie. Upper 90! 3-3!
Ginger Jeffy Lawrentowitz is up. Slams it in. 4-3.
Barrett next. Same. 4-4.
Tierney the newbie. Slams it in. 5-4
Kamara hits the ball up, but in. 5-5
Albright. Chrissie, don't miss! He doesn't 6-5.
Ashe next - Crossbar!
The REVS WIN! The REVS WIN THE SUPERLIGA, BEATING THEIR NEMESIS HOUSTON!
Rally interview "It's fantastic to win in front of the home fans. We were due."
Castro is interviewed and says Houston is a great team, but the Revs preserved.
Albright is interviewed. "Houston is a great team and I'm very happy. It was a good game. We have a good group and we're good friends, so that helps us to achieve."
Reis wins the MVP, even with a crappy PK.
Chrissie gets the play of the game, for striking the winning PK.
Webb, the ref, is interviewed. He compared the final favorably to the soccer in England. Webb should have reffed other SuperLiga games.
Confetti is flying as Rally holds the trophy high. What's funny is that so many players have switched jerseys that through the hail of confetti, it looks like the Dynamo have won again. Nicol is happily presenting the trophy to the Revs fans.
The Revs didn't lose a single SuperLiga game, and are justifiable winners, even though they didn't dominate this match. They picked themselves up every time they were down and they never gave in, or up. The first MLS winners of the SuperLiga.
4 - DeRo from distance, off the post.
6 - Announcers discuss Igwe, correctly asses that Jay Heaps was unjustly suspended from the final in the Atlante scrum.
8 - Joseph with a scorcher from distance. High.
10 - This game has had a ton of intensity from the start.
11 - Joseph puts a ball out for a corner. Revs clear the corner.
13 - Davis gets a yellow for being just a bit late, but very aggressive on a Dube tackle.
15 - Bad final pass wastes a Revs chance.
18 - GOAL! Igwe's poor first touch leaves the ball free and Jaqua pounces, sending a low shot past a surprised Reis. 1-0 Houston.
20 - NO Goal! But so close! Igwe again loses the ball to Jaqua, who sends a pass to Ching, but his blooping shot, hit quickly to beat Reis, goes off the post. Revs escape.
23 - Poor Igwe. He made a mistake, sure, but it was really the absence of Heaps that hurt the team there. Young players are prone to mistakes.
25 - The announcers discuss how Nicol's tactics are part of the problem, leaving Igwe and Lawrentowitz isolated a lot. No help.
27 - The Revs need to stay aggressive, though. With this FK, they have a chance. Onstad puts the ball out for a corner.
28 - Ralston with a shot off the corner. High.
32 - Shot! Nyassi! But no, even though it was a good, aggressive, play, he missed the near post - shot just outside.
33 - Penalty! No, says the ref, but the announcers disagree. Waibel clearly pushed Mansally from behind, the replay makes that clear and the fans are in full voice, hating the ref for missing the call.
36 - SAVE! Reis dives to deny DeRo's hard shot. CK. Reis gets down to claim the ball from the corner.
37 - Onstad is out of the box to kick out the ball. DeRo going the other way, beats Reis, has a nearly open goal, but Albright (Chrissie!) saves the day by just reaching the ball. Corner.
38 - The kick falls in front of goal, Ries misses the grab but the rebound, lucky for the Revs, goes their way.
39 - Revs semi-clear, out for a Houston throw.
41 - No offense, but the cameras catch Taylor Twellman in a warm-up move where he is lying on the ground in the missionary position, moving back and forth slightly. I realize he's stretching is groin or something, but it looks like he's humping the grass.
42 - GOAL! Ralston! The fans roar as the veteran comes through. Ralston had a horrible angle on that shot, set up by a long Castro pass, but it didn't matter. Rally nailed it. 1-1 All square.
44 - DeRo from distance, but Reis is all over the ball and snuffs the shot.
45 - Ching misses with a header. He didn't really get his noggin on the ball.
Halftime
The announcers discuss how this is an exciting final, not just intense and filled with passion, but also with pretty good soccer. Aside from Igwe's howler, I'd have to agree.
The score is pretty deserved, because both sides have had solid chances.
47 - The announcers discuss how Barret let the pass slide past him on the Rev goal, thinking it would go out. So both goals were the result of defender errors, but Igwe's was more egregius.
51 - Reis with a save off a Davis shot. Davis should probably have passed, but he was probably trying to surprise Reis.
54 - The intensity is off just a bit in the second half - both teams are probing a bit more carefully.
55 - Davis tumbles in the box, but there's no call. Albright fell in front of him, but the ref has apparently rules that accidental.
58 - Twellman is in for Mansally, who took a knock, but might have been coming off anyway. Fernando Schwartz, the sideline dude, mimics the fans' chant for TT.
60 - Houston has had the better of play this half. NE with fewer attacks.
61 - Jaqua with an awkward shot, hits side netting, on the outside.
62 - Jaqua again, off a nice layback header from Ching, misses wide worse than before.
63 - Nyassi earns the Revs a corner, but the Dynamo clear it easily.
64 - Save! Onstad saves a ball that Twellman can't quite reach - I think Dube had the pass.
66 - The announcers debate whether this game will go to penalties. The majority think no.
68 - DeRo from distance again. Reis nabs it. He's got to be almost expecting those by now.
71 - Subs for both teams. Khano Smith in for Castro, and Kei Kamara comes on for Jaqua.
73 - Seems early for the MVP question, but Rally is my choice right now.
75 - Nyassi way wide. None of the coolness of Rally with a difficult angle.
76 - Ching! high.
77 - Smith shoots - Onstad saves!
78 - Barrett shoots! High. Why is a defender shooting? Ashe comes in for Mullan.
79 - Schwartz reports tension in the bench area.
80 - Cameron blocks a Nyassi cross - Revs corner. Dynamo clear.
81 - Joseph gets a yellow, pulled DeRo's shirt as DeRo tried to take off on a counter.
83 - The Dynamo look more likely to score as the game winds down, if only because the ball is down in the Revs own half nearly all the time.
85 - Reis cuts off a long pass, hanging on to the ball as Ching undercuts him, unable to stop the momentum he gathered trying to reach the ball.
87 - Davis fouls, but the FK is far out. Joseph serves it into the box, but the Dynamo clear the ball out.
88 - Revs having trouble with basic clearances, giving Houston hope and the ball repeatedly.
89 - Announcers discuss how the Revs seem fearful. They don't have the drive and guts of the first half.
90 - Ralston fouls Ashe. "This could be the million dollar ball!" the announcers say before the kick. Except, it's cleared.
90+ Houston still pressuring the Revs goal.
Igwe redeems himself a bit - picking the ball off Kamara's foot in the box just before the whistle blows.
Fulltime whistle!
Kinnear is interviewed before halftime. His Spanish is a bit rough, though his pronounciation is pretty good. (He forgets how to say "extra" in Spanish.) But anyway, Dom interviews that he is happy with the way his team is playing. He wants more of the same in extra time, but with one more goal.
Extra time
2 - Schwartz says the DeRo is bossing the midfield, not Joseph.
5 - DeRo called for a handball.
6 - Clark from just outside the box, but Reis nabs it.
8 - Houston circling the Revs goal.
9- GOAL! Kamara connects with a header over Reis, who failed to punch the ball to safety after he came out for it. It seemed like Reis called off the defense, Igwe in particular, who didn't contest the header. 2-1 Houston. Perhaps Reis would not have called off Heaps if he were playing.
13 - GOAL! Rally lines up a FK, and Joseph, despite being half-held, gets to it and pops in a header past Onstad. The Revs refuse to die! 2-2
15 - The announcers are still wondering about Kamara, who pulled a piece of cloth out of his shorts with a message. Toro #3 JTT. Well, Kamara played for Cal State Dominguez Hills - the Toros.
Second overtime period
4 - Both teams are looking weary, but the Revs have looked tired for a longer amount of time.
5 - Igwe clears a cross into the box. Corner for Dynamo. De Ro serves it in, Revs clear.
6 - Chris Wondolowski is in for Davis.
7 - Twellman is clearly frustrated - he must miss his set-up partner Pat Noonan.
8 - Revs with a corner of their own, but the Dynamo clear.
9 - SAVE! Reis dives down for an Ashe shot and Albright clears it. Chris looks so tired.
11 - As the announcers discuss penalty kicks, the Revs have perhaps their best run of this period. Rally's shot gets blocked, though and then Smith hits his shot wide.
12 - Albright can't clear via header and Ashe swoops in and gets fouled by Nyassi. It's a dangerous spot.
13 - But DeRo hits it high and no one even jumps for it, because it's so high.
14 - Revs give up a counter and Kamara has a chance with a shot but Reis gets down for the service. Both teams look about to fall over.
15 - Ching gets daylight between two defenders and tries a shot - wide.
15+ Reis blocks another shot, but puts it over the bar for a corner. DeRo serves it up and Wondo hits it way wide.
Whistle blows! We're off to Pks!
Selfishly, I hope Reis takes a kick. I love that.
Rally up first. He goes slowly, and Onstad moves, so Rally puts it softly the other way. 1-0 NE
Waibel next. He slams his shot in. 1-1
Reis next! Careful what you wish for Andrea - Reis is usually money with these, but he puts this one way high. Ugh. 1-1
Wondo up now. takes it quick and well. 2-1 Houston
Shalrie Joseph! Onstad almost reaches it, but it's in. 2-2.
DeRo now. Reis SAVES! 2-2
Twellman backs up a ton, but softly hits it away from Onstad. 3-2 Revs
Chingy! SAVE! REIS! 3-2 Revs.
Smith for the win - SAVE! Onstad gets to it. Revs can't get away with hitting that many soft shots. 3-2 Revs.
Clark for the tie. Upper 90! 3-3!
Ginger Jeffy Lawrentowitz is up. Slams it in. 4-3.
Barrett next. Same. 4-4.
Tierney the newbie. Slams it in. 5-4
Kamara hits the ball up, but in. 5-5
Albright. Chrissie, don't miss! He doesn't 6-5.
Ashe next - Crossbar!
The REVS WIN! The REVS WIN THE SUPERLIGA, BEATING THEIR NEMESIS HOUSTON!
Rally interview "It's fantastic to win in front of the home fans. We were due."
Castro is interviewed and says Houston is a great team, but the Revs preserved.
Albright is interviewed. "Houston is a great team and I'm very happy. It was a good game. We have a good group and we're good friends, so that helps us to achieve."
Reis wins the MVP, even with a crappy PK.
Chrissie gets the play of the game, for striking the winning PK.
Webb, the ref, is interviewed. He compared the final favorably to the soccer in England. Webb should have reffed other SuperLiga games.
Confetti is flying as Rally holds the trophy high. What's funny is that so many players have switched jerseys that through the hail of confetti, it looks like the Dynamo have won again. Nicol is happily presenting the trophy to the Revs fans.
The Revs didn't lose a single SuperLiga game, and are justifiable winners, even though they didn't dominate this match. They picked themselves up every time they were down and they never gave in, or up. The first MLS winners of the SuperLiga.
On the Olympics
A few days ago, I had decided to write my Tuesday PE column on MLS expansion. Although I had gathered some info and had my opinions on the matter, it struck me that the Olympics are days away from starting.
So I went with the timely column and penned about the Olympics instead... except I didn't use a pen.
I'll write more on the other reasons why I wrote this column later, waay later. I'm actually on vacation in Arizona right now getting ready for an 8 hour drive. Ugh.
So I went with the timely column and penned about the Olympics instead... except I didn't use a pen.
I'll write more on the other reasons why I wrote this column later, waay later. I'm actually on vacation in Arizona right now getting ready for an 8 hour drive. Ugh.
Ochoa and his life in the U.S.
Monterrey forward Carlos Ochoa was called up to the Mexican national team a week ago by Sven Goran Eriksson. A bit of a surprise call-up, Ochoa had not been with El Tri for quite a few years.
Ochoa, though, was a bit of a rarity among his Tri teammtes. Like Edgar Castillo, Ochoa has ties to the United States. But unlike Castillo, Ochoa was not born and bred in the United States.
I got a question from a reader about Ochoa and off hand I remembered hearing something about Ochoa growing up partly in SoCal. Well, he went to high school and college here in the US. He was a star at both Sierra Vista High in Baldwin Park, Calif., and Azusa Pacific University. At Azusa Pacific, he tallied 36 goals in three seasons.
He was born in Apatzingan, Michoacan, and lost both of his parents when he was eight years old. At age 12, he moved to California to live with a brother and spent the next eight or so years in the United States. In 1998, he apparently had some sort of tryout with the Galaxy but did not make it and instead tried his luck in Mexico.
According to an old story I dug up (in Spanish), he was referred to Necaxa by Carlos Hermosillo and Ochoa toiled his way through the Mexican lower divisions. He played a total of four games for Necaxa in 1999 and 2000 before moving to Tigres for the Verano 2001 season. By the Invierno 2001 season, he found his groove and scored five goals that year. He followed it up with a two-goal campaign in the Verano 2002 but made an even more impressive move afterward as he joined Spanish side Osasuna when former Tri coach Javier "Vasco" Aguirre took over the Spanish side.
Ochoa only played a handful of games with Osasuna before returning to Mexico, where he rejoined Tigres. He bounced around to Queretaro and Jaguares before joining Monterrey in the Apertura 2006 season. He has posted goal totals of 3, 2, 4 and 2 with Monterrey. This season, though, he has scored twice already.
So there you go. Ochoa played both high school and college soccer here in the States but went to Mexico to make a name for himself.
However, I don't put him in the same category as the other sangre americana lads, including Sammy Ochoa (no relation) because Carlos has not played for a U.S. youth national team like Sammy, the only Mexican-born player in the aforementioned group.
Did he slip through the cracks? Who knows? I don't know the circumstances of his tryout with the Galaxy in 1998. If he had made it, there's nothing that says Ochoa would be a star in MLS today. He's certainly not a star in Mexico, just an average forward with flashes of something more. To put it in perspective, he's played parts of 17 seasons in Mexico, has scored 54 goals and exactly zero seasons with 10 or more goals. Jared Borgetti, his teammate with Monterrey and a big name in Mexican soccer, has played parts of 25 seasons, has scored 241 career goals and has had 12 seasons with 10 or more goals.
Good for Ochoa that he did well with the challenges life threw his way, and good for Azusa Pacific who has a former player with the Mexican national team. But I don't know that Ochoa counts as another player who got away. Edgar Castillo, most definitely. Ochoa, not quite the same category.
Ochoa, though, was a bit of a rarity among his Tri teammtes. Like Edgar Castillo, Ochoa has ties to the United States. But unlike Castillo, Ochoa was not born and bred in the United States.
I got a question from a reader about Ochoa and off hand I remembered hearing something about Ochoa growing up partly in SoCal. Well, he went to high school and college here in the US. He was a star at both Sierra Vista High in Baldwin Park, Calif., and Azusa Pacific University. At Azusa Pacific, he tallied 36 goals in three seasons.
He was born in Apatzingan, Michoacan, and lost both of his parents when he was eight years old. At age 12, he moved to California to live with a brother and spent the next eight or so years in the United States. In 1998, he apparently had some sort of tryout with the Galaxy but did not make it and instead tried his luck in Mexico.
According to an old story I dug up (in Spanish), he was referred to Necaxa by Carlos Hermosillo and Ochoa toiled his way through the Mexican lower divisions. He played a total of four games for Necaxa in 1999 and 2000 before moving to Tigres for the Verano 2001 season. By the Invierno 2001 season, he found his groove and scored five goals that year. He followed it up with a two-goal campaign in the Verano 2002 but made an even more impressive move afterward as he joined Spanish side Osasuna when former Tri coach Javier "Vasco" Aguirre took over the Spanish side.
Ochoa only played a handful of games with Osasuna before returning to Mexico, where he rejoined Tigres. He bounced around to Queretaro and Jaguares before joining Monterrey in the Apertura 2006 season. He has posted goal totals of 3, 2, 4 and 2 with Monterrey. This season, though, he has scored twice already.
So there you go. Ochoa played both high school and college soccer here in the States but went to Mexico to make a name for himself.
However, I don't put him in the same category as the other sangre americana lads, including Sammy Ochoa (no relation) because Carlos has not played for a U.S. youth national team like Sammy, the only Mexican-born player in the aforementioned group.
Did he slip through the cracks? Who knows? I don't know the circumstances of his tryout with the Galaxy in 1998. If he had made it, there's nothing that says Ochoa would be a star in MLS today. He's certainly not a star in Mexico, just an average forward with flashes of something more. To put it in perspective, he's played parts of 17 seasons in Mexico, has scored 54 goals and exactly zero seasons with 10 or more goals. Jared Borgetti, his teammate with Monterrey and a big name in Mexican soccer, has played parts of 25 seasons, has scored 241 career goals and has had 12 seasons with 10 or more goals.
Good for Ochoa that he did well with the challenges life threw his way, and good for Azusa Pacific who has a former player with the Mexican national team. But I don't know that Ochoa counts as another player who got away. Edgar Castillo, most definitely. Ochoa, not quite the same category.
Monday, August 4, 2008
The local spin
Well, as was pointed out before, A-Rod is a local gal.
So she finally gets her local story.
So she finally gets her local story.
B-Ball vs Futbol
I like basketball. I play it when I can. I've been a fan for a long, long time. But something it's still a bit strange to see the absolute wall-to-wall, bounce by bounce coverage of the U.S. basketball team at the Olympics. My theory is that it reveals something about American attitudes - let me share this shocking revelation: People in the U.S. love a winner.
Many Americans are not interested in the noblesse of suffering along with their team(Cubs fans perhaps excepted). They want to bet on the winner, the sure thing, the favorite. At the Belmont this past year, there wasn't frenzied cheering when the upstart longshot won. That's because almost everybody had bet on Big Brown.
Now, I know that USA Basketball has fallen on some hard times recently, but the team is always going to be one of the top contenders for gold. I also realize that part of the attraction for coverage is the fact that there are marquee names like Kobe and LeBron involved.
Still, the daily reports, the updated practice quotes, the breathless minute-by-minute of yet another pre-Olympic triumph, the measuring of who sweat how much every game - it's getting to be a bit much.
I guess I don't really understand the thrill of watching an almost-sure-thing unfold. Isn't it more exciting when the degree of uncertainty is raised?
For example, will the U.S. men's soccer team even score a goal? That's a big unknown.
Some of the win-win thinking transfers to those who follow league play, too. I've talked to friends who are fans of soccer leagues in other countries (Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, England, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, etc) and more than a few of them complain that MLS is too competitive. They want to root for an underdog or a top dog and they can't really decide which is which.
For example, one guy asked me earlier this season how many league titles the Revolution have won. Well, that answer is infamous, but does it really make the Revs underdogs? Underachievers? Or does their excellent record year to year in the face of challenges make them overachievers?
In terms of number of titles, well, DC United lay a big claim there, but is that almost like Uruguay winning early World Cup victories? Almost all those DC wins came when the rest of the league was still finding its footing. Are the Dynamo the true dynasty now?
Every season, these questions and more are debated and perhaps even answered.
At some point, however, there's going to be a shift in the way things are structured, though. It's not just some fans who want winners - some owners want the leeway to bring impact players in without always bumping up against league restrictions. That will probably lead to less parity. Fair is a relative concept of course, because some would argue it's unfair to have a willing spender be denied by a league cap that more thrifty owners are fine with.
Many Americans are not interested in the noblesse of suffering along with their team(Cubs fans perhaps excepted). They want to bet on the winner, the sure thing, the favorite. At the Belmont this past year, there wasn't frenzied cheering when the upstart longshot won. That's because almost everybody had bet on Big Brown.
Now, I know that USA Basketball has fallen on some hard times recently, but the team is always going to be one of the top contenders for gold. I also realize that part of the attraction for coverage is the fact that there are marquee names like Kobe and LeBron involved.
Still, the daily reports, the updated practice quotes, the breathless minute-by-minute of yet another pre-Olympic triumph, the measuring of who sweat how much every game - it's getting to be a bit much.
I guess I don't really understand the thrill of watching an almost-sure-thing unfold. Isn't it more exciting when the degree of uncertainty is raised?
For example, will the U.S. men's soccer team even score a goal? That's a big unknown.
Some of the win-win thinking transfers to those who follow league play, too. I've talked to friends who are fans of soccer leagues in other countries (Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, England, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, etc) and more than a few of them complain that MLS is too competitive. They want to root for an underdog or a top dog and they can't really decide which is which.
For example, one guy asked me earlier this season how many league titles the Revolution have won. Well, that answer is infamous, but does it really make the Revs underdogs? Underachievers? Or does their excellent record year to year in the face of challenges make them overachievers?
In terms of number of titles, well, DC United lay a big claim there, but is that almost like Uruguay winning early World Cup victories? Almost all those DC wins came when the rest of the league was still finding its footing. Are the Dynamo the true dynasty now?
Every season, these questions and more are debated and perhaps even answered.
At some point, however, there's going to be a shift in the way things are structured, though. It's not just some fans who want winners - some owners want the leeway to bring impact players in without always bumping up against league restrictions. That will probably lead to less parity. Fair is a relative concept of course, because some would argue it's unfair to have a willing spender be denied by a league cap that more thrifty owners are fine with.
99 LuftBallons Rankings (Aug. 4)
99 Luftballons
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont...
By the way, luft doesn't translate to red. Luft is air but red apparently sounded better.
1. New England (10-4-3). Will jump right back into the fray against its most difficult opponent on Saturday...
2. Chicago (8-5-5)... as Fire will visit New England, with Cuauhtemoc Blanco back from one-match ban.
3. DC United (8-8-1). No, he wasn't exactly Iker Casillas but Zach Wells got his first shutout of the year.
4. Columbus (9-6-4). Three points total from two western venues may not be such a bad thing.
5. Real Salt Lake (7-6-6). In solid footing out west; one of few Western clubs who can say that.
6. Houston (6-4-8). Brad Davis' goal was sublime. Brian Ching's wasnt, but at least he put it in back of net.
7. FC Dallas (6-6-7). Every time Cooper scores, the back of the net makes a sound similar to a cash register.
8. Chivas USA (6-7-4). Good news is, Maykel Galindo and Alecko Eskandarian both played on Saturday.
9. Los Angeles (6-8-5). With this defense, Galaxy needs to score four goals a game to have a shot of winning.
10. Toronto FC (6-7-5). Stick a fork in TFC if they can't win at BMO Field.
11. Kansas City (5-6-7). Wasn't Claudio Lopez supposed to score goals for KC? Wasn't that part of the deal?
12. Colorado (6-9-3). Have both must-win and sure-win next week as Toronto FC visits DSG Park.
13. San Jose (4-9-6). 'Quakes didn't look like an expansion team on Sunday.
14. New York (5-6-7). Red Bulls took week off to prepare for an ass-kicking from Barcelona.
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont...
By the way, luft doesn't translate to red. Luft is air but red apparently sounded better.
1. New England (10-4-3). Will jump right back into the fray against its most difficult opponent on Saturday...
2. Chicago (8-5-5)... as Fire will visit New England, with Cuauhtemoc Blanco back from one-match ban.
3. DC United (8-8-1). No, he wasn't exactly Iker Casillas but Zach Wells got his first shutout of the year.
4. Columbus (9-6-4). Three points total from two western venues may not be such a bad thing.
5. Real Salt Lake (7-6-6). In solid footing out west; one of few Western clubs who can say that.
6. Houston (6-4-8). Brad Davis' goal was sublime. Brian Ching's wasnt, but at least he put it in back of net.
7. FC Dallas (6-6-7). Every time Cooper scores, the back of the net makes a sound similar to a cash register.
8. Chivas USA (6-7-4). Good news is, Maykel Galindo and Alecko Eskandarian both played on Saturday.
9. Los Angeles (6-8-5). With this defense, Galaxy needs to score four goals a game to have a shot of winning.
10. Toronto FC (6-7-5). Stick a fork in TFC if they can't win at BMO Field.
11. Kansas City (5-6-7). Wasn't Claudio Lopez supposed to score goals for KC? Wasn't that part of the deal?
12. Colorado (6-9-3). Have both must-win and sure-win next week as Toronto FC visits DSG Park.
13. San Jose (4-9-6). 'Quakes didn't look like an expansion team on Sunday.
14. New York (5-6-7). Red Bulls took week off to prepare for an ass-kicking from Barcelona.
Sangre americana J2 recap
Week 2 (or 3 for some of the Primera A guys) is in the books and there wasn't a whole lot of action. Only two of the top-flight guys played, and one was a sub.
However, Jesus Padilla scored a goal. And it wasn't against a scrubby second-division side either.
Edgar Castillo - Played 90 minutes in Santos' 1-1 draw with Pumas.
Jose Francisco Torres - Played final 20 minutes in Pachuca's 3-2 loss to San Luis.
Marco Antonio Vidal - Did not play in Indios' 2-0 loss at Monterrey.
Daniel Hernandez - Did not play in Jaguares' 3-1 loss to Tigres
Sonny Guadarrama - Did not play in Morelia's 0-0 draw with Atlante
Michael Orozco - Is with US Olympic team
Jesus Padilla - Scored a goal and came on at halftime of Chivas' 5-2 friendly loss to Barcelona in Chicago.
Carlos Borja - Started and played 71 minutes in Tapatio's 4-2 win over Salamanca.
Sammy Ochoa - Served second of three-match ban
Noel Castillo - Did not play; Indios' bye week
I wanted to take the time to write about Padilla. The cactus is alive and well apparently. If you didn't see the play, Padilla latched onto a bad pass that Carlos Puyol was slow to react to, and slammed a shot from the top of the area on goal. Barca keeper Jose Manuel Pinto got a piece of it but couldn't stop Padilla's potency.
English-language outlets - the few that covered the match - didn't speak with him, and if they did I couldn't find what they wrote. MedioTiempo talked to him though and here's a rough translation of what he said.
"I'm happy to have scored a goal against a great club like Barcelona and I need to just keep working. My job as a forward is to score goals and I did so I just need to keep working.
"Goals are goals. They are valuable so I need to continue scoring. Let's enjoy this one. You hardly ever get the chance to play against Barcelona and we just need to learn from both the good and bad."
What he should have said was...
- It's nice to score against Barcelona because when you score goals against clubs like Lobos BUAP nobody notices or cares. -
Okay, well, maybe people notice but it hasn't gotten him any playing time. Don't know if this latest tally will get him some playing time with the first team but it can't hurt.
However, Jesus Padilla scored a goal. And it wasn't against a scrubby second-division side either.
Edgar Castillo - Played 90 minutes in Santos' 1-1 draw with Pumas.
Jose Francisco Torres - Played final 20 minutes in Pachuca's 3-2 loss to San Luis.
Marco Antonio Vidal - Did not play in Indios' 2-0 loss at Monterrey.
Daniel Hernandez - Did not play in Jaguares' 3-1 loss to Tigres
Sonny Guadarrama - Did not play in Morelia's 0-0 draw with Atlante
Michael Orozco - Is with US Olympic team
Jesus Padilla - Scored a goal and came on at halftime of Chivas' 5-2 friendly loss to Barcelona in Chicago.
Carlos Borja - Started and played 71 minutes in Tapatio's 4-2 win over Salamanca.
Sammy Ochoa - Served second of three-match ban
Noel Castillo - Did not play; Indios' bye week
I wanted to take the time to write about Padilla. The cactus is alive and well apparently. If you didn't see the play, Padilla latched onto a bad pass that Carlos Puyol was slow to react to, and slammed a shot from the top of the area on goal. Barca keeper Jose Manuel Pinto got a piece of it but couldn't stop Padilla's potency.
English-language outlets - the few that covered the match - didn't speak with him, and if they did I couldn't find what they wrote. MedioTiempo talked to him though and here's a rough translation of what he said.
"I'm happy to have scored a goal against a great club like Barcelona and I need to just keep working. My job as a forward is to score goals and I did so I just need to keep working.
"Goals are goals. They are valuable so I need to continue scoring. Let's enjoy this one. You hardly ever get the chance to play against Barcelona and we just need to learn from both the good and bad."
What he should have said was...
- It's nice to score against Barcelona because when you score goals against clubs like Lobos BUAP nobody notices or cares. -
Okay, well, maybe people notice but it hasn't gotten him any playing time. Don't know if this latest tally will get him some playing time with the first team but it can't hurt.
Week 19 Spotlight
Four shutouts and one shootout accounted for Week 19 of the MLS season. DC United was on the winning side of a shutout for a change this season, the first time that's happened in 2008, but Zach Wells just had to make things interesting.
Meanwhile, LA was rattled by the 'Quakes just five days after LA was rattled by a quake.
Top XI
G: Zach Wells John Busch
D: Gonzalo Segares
D: Adrian Serioux
D: Ryan Cochrane Bakary Soumare
M: Darren Huckerby
M: Arturo Alvarez
M: Brad Davis
M: Brian Mullan
F: Patrick Nyarko
F: Luciano Emilio
F: Kenny Cooper
Coach: Frank Yallop's moves finally paid off. Suddenly, the 'Quakes seem strong with the additions of Scott Sealy, Arturo Alvarez, Francisco Lima and Darren Huckerby. But can the 'Quakes make a late playoff push? That we are even asking that question this late in San Jose's expansion season is amazing.
Top player: Kenny Cooper had two goals in the last 10 minutes that helped give FC Dallas a rare victory at BMO Field. The goals also tied him with Landon Donovan atop the goal-scoring charts. Cooper is a wanted man by Cardiff City, Rosenborg, FC Dallas and MLS but, strangely, not by the US national team. Let's hope that changes soon.
Top goal: Brad Davis' 20-yard rocket past William Hesmer was the best goal scored this week.
Top save: Pat Onstad had a terrific save off a shot from Guillermo Barros Schelotto in the second half with nothing but space in between the two players.
Top game: San Jose 3, Galaxy 2. San Jose has many new faces that will undoubtedly help the club the rest of this season while the Galaxy's defense is lousy as always. That combination made for a terrific match.
Golden Boot race heats up - all the top contenders scored this weekend, keeping the contest tight.
LOWLIGHTS
The Galaxy's defense is bad enough but it's only made worse by goalkeeper Steve Cronin. Time and time again, Cronin has proven himself completely not ready to handle the load of a starting MLS goalkeeper.
In keeping with the Galaxy theme, wasn't Eduardo Dominguez supposed to have been an upgrade on the Galaxy's backline? He was an upgrade on their bench Sunday.
Chivas USA knew all season that Brad Guzan stood a good chance of leaving. Then, he was dealt away to Aston Villa. So when did they get his replacement? A day before the club's first league match in the post-Guzan era.
Zach Wells and DC's much-maligned defense finally earned a shutout and it was of no surprise to anyone that Kansas City was on the wrong end of it. San Jose has a league-low 15 goals but the 'Quakes have improved tremendously. KC hasn't, and the club may finish the season dead last in goals scored.
Karma for TO fans? Their home-field advantage seems to have dissipated.
Meanwhile, LA was rattled by the 'Quakes just five days after LA was rattled by a quake.
Top XI
G: Zach Wells John Busch
D: Gonzalo Segares
D: Adrian Serioux
D: Ryan Cochrane Bakary Soumare
M: Darren Huckerby
M: Arturo Alvarez
M: Brad Davis
M: Brian Mullan
F: Patrick Nyarko
F: Luciano Emilio
F: Kenny Cooper
Coach: Frank Yallop's moves finally paid off. Suddenly, the 'Quakes seem strong with the additions of Scott Sealy, Arturo Alvarez, Francisco Lima and Darren Huckerby. But can the 'Quakes make a late playoff push? That we are even asking that question this late in San Jose's expansion season is amazing.
Top player: Kenny Cooper had two goals in the last 10 minutes that helped give FC Dallas a rare victory at BMO Field. The goals also tied him with Landon Donovan atop the goal-scoring charts. Cooper is a wanted man by Cardiff City, Rosenborg, FC Dallas and MLS but, strangely, not by the US national team. Let's hope that changes soon.
Top goal: Brad Davis' 20-yard rocket past William Hesmer was the best goal scored this week.
Top save: Pat Onstad had a terrific save off a shot from Guillermo Barros Schelotto in the second half with nothing but space in between the two players.
Top game: San Jose 3, Galaxy 2. San Jose has many new faces that will undoubtedly help the club the rest of this season while the Galaxy's defense is lousy as always. That combination made for a terrific match.
Golden Boot race heats up - all the top contenders scored this weekend, keeping the contest tight.
LOWLIGHTS
The Galaxy's defense is bad enough but it's only made worse by goalkeeper Steve Cronin. Time and time again, Cronin has proven himself completely not ready to handle the load of a starting MLS goalkeeper.
In keeping with the Galaxy theme, wasn't Eduardo Dominguez supposed to have been an upgrade on the Galaxy's backline? He was an upgrade on their bench Sunday.
Chivas USA knew all season that Brad Guzan stood a good chance of leaving. Then, he was dealt away to Aston Villa. So when did they get his replacement? A day before the club's first league match in the post-Guzan era.
Zach Wells and DC's much-maligned defense finally earned a shutout and it was of no surprise to anyone that Kansas City was on the wrong end of it. San Jose has a league-low 15 goals but the 'Quakes have improved tremendously. KC hasn't, and the club may finish the season dead last in goals scored.
Karma for TO fans? Their home-field advantage seems to have dissipated.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Galaxy/Quakes running blog
Will the Galaxy break their unbeaten streak versus the San Jose Earthquakes? Or will the Quakes' new reinforcements strike back at their California rivals in their final meeting of the regular season? Predictions before kickoff, please.
The Telefutura announcers rightly note that records don't matter in a clasico. Also, that the Galaxy need to win to get back in the playoff picture.
Galaxy Startin IV
* 1 - Steve Cronin (GK)
* 3 - Greg Vanney
* 4 - Ante Jazic
* 7 - Chris Klein
* 8 - Peter Vagenas
* 10 - Landon Donovan
* 14 - Edson Buddle
* 21 - Alan Gordon
* 23 - David Beckham
* 26 - Ely Allen
* 28 - Sean Franklin
Earthquakes IV
* 1 - Joe Cannon (GK)
* 2 - Eric Denton
* 3 - Nick Garcia
* 5 - Ryan Cochrane
* 6 - Darren Huckerby
* 7 - Ronnie O'Brien
* 10 - Francisco Lima
* 12 - Ramiro Corrales
* 17 - Arturo Alvarez
* 21 - Jason Hernandez
* 33 - Scott Sealy
So after his rather nightmare debut. Eduardo Dominguez is not starting, but he is on the bench.
Kickoff!
1 - SJ defense cuts off the first Galacy foray into Quakeland.
2 - The Telefutura graphics are annoying, they cut right into the main picture. Someday someone is going to score right in the opening seconds and the viewers are going to get cheated because of the display.
5 - If Alvarez is part of a Quake defeat of the Galaxy today, he'll have beaten LA twice in a row with different teams.
6 - Sealy gets away with a foul on the attacking end. No surprise, since Abbe Olkulaja is the ref. Then Sealy is surrounded on another attack and gets a shot off that goes over the bar and hits the Galaxy net on the outside.
7 - Another SJ attack leads to a corner, but Okylaja blows the whislte on this one and the ball goes for a GK.
8 - GOAL! AA! The early pressure by the Quakes pays off! Sealy and Alvarez work a nice interplay which leaves the D in the box outnumbered and Alvarez slots it low past Cronin, who was coming out to try to pressure the ball. 1-0 Quakes.
9 - B uddle over the bar on a counter.
11 - Donovan on the attack, but his shot is deflected and Cannon picks the ball up.
12 - Buddle whistled for offside on an attack. He looks very unhappy at the call, but no replay to show validity or not.
13 - Ronnie O'Brien offside.
14 - Cronin out for a low cross - barely beats AA to it. The ball bounces away from Cronin, but Franklin clears it to safety.
16 - "Si se pudo" now the announcers discuss the SuperLiga and MLS success in ousting the Mexican teams. They don't mention the crappy reffing.
17 - San Jose looking more dangerous, while the little spurt by the Galaxy passed rather quickly.
18 - "Miserable" the announcers call the pass from Beckham, and it was, just after LD sprung Becks on a great pass of his own, threading three defenders. Becks was trying to reach Gordo, but the pass wasn't close.
19 - Cannon snatches as ball out of the air, despite the best efforts of Alan Gordon to get a head on it.
20 - No goal. It looked like an offside, but Ramiro Corrales looked for a flag and not getting one, went in alone against Cronin and shot past him - into the outside of the side netting. That could easily have been the second.
24 - Ely goes down in the box, where Buddle fed him a great pass. Hard to see if there was a foul, but he's certainly not getting a call from Okulaja.
25 - CK for the Galaxy, but Becks shoots over everyone in the box and the opportunity is lost.
27 - Now the Galaxy are getting a bit of purchase in the midfield, but the Quakes are fighting them every inch of the way, tooth and nail to hang on to their lead by denying the Galaxy even a sniff of the goal.
29 - Save! O'Brien crosses to AA, who sends a solid header on goal, but Cronin stops it.
31 - The midfield for the Quakes is strong and had moved the squad out of the defensive shell they've occupied most of the year.
33 - Ely give up a FK - dangerous, though a bit far. O'Brien slams it into outer space. Far, far over the goal.
34 - Quake counter messed up by a poor O'Brien cross.
35 - LD fouled by Hernandez. The FK reaches Gordon, but he can't get a good header off.
39 - Jazic gets off a good cross and Gordon heads it down in front of goal, but no one from the Galaxy can get anything on the ball to dink it inside before it goes out over the line.
40 - GOAL! Huckerby beats Klein on the wing, or Klein slips, and Huckerby charges in on goal alone, Vanney gets out to gut part of the angle, but Huckerby shoots straight at Cronin, who can't deflect it to safety, only to the far post, where it slips in. 2-0 Quakes.
42 - GOAL! Twice Becks tees up a cross for LD, who gets off a header that Cannon saves, but the rebound gets out to Becks again and his second cross again finds LD, who this time, pops the ball into the corner away from Cannon's save. 2-1 Quakes still lead.
45 - O'Brien nearly takes on four Galaxy players, but then loses the ball over the line.
Halftime - Well, the newbies on the Quakes are certainly making themselves welcome, scoring goals to give the team the lead. The new- look Quakes are playing all-around better, though, and could make a final run in what's left of the season.
As for the Galaxy - their now-usual mix of good and bad. Franklin is doing well on his return. Ely looks intimidated in front of goal and Beckham can follow a poor cross with the loveliest one. LD, meanwhile, pads his Golden Boot lead just a bit.
With the way the Galaxy can play, a second goal is very possible, if not even more, but whether it's the shaky defense that gives before the offense strikes is an open question.
In the pre-recorded interview played at halftime, LD is asked if he sees his team in the MLS final. He answers, basically. "No. Our team doesn't seem complete yet. Teams who advance in the playoffs have a good defense and we don't have that right now. We need to improve. With me, Edson and Carlos, we're going to score goals, so if our defense improves, we could do well."
46 - Heh, as the announcers complain about the amateur nature of Mike Randolph entering late as a sub, holding up the match slightly, they repeatedly call him Troy Roberts. So, professional indeed, not knowing the actual players on the team.
47 - Randolph (they finally get his name right) is in for Ely Allen.
48 - Cochrane picks up a yellow.
49 - CK for the Quakes as Cronin fumbles with the ball, and Klein is forced to kick it away to safety.
50 - CK again, but the Galaxy finally get the ball again.
51 - Huckerby is playing well, which probably pisses off John Carver, but Huckerby didn't like the Toronto turf.
52 - Another Ck for the Quakes, but the Galaxy clear.
54 - Beckham down in the box, no call, Gordon attempts a shot, Cannon catches and starts a counter that ends with a Sealy shot that barely misses high.
56 - Lima is also improving SJ a lot. He's in the mix of everything, denying the Galaxy a lot of passes and chances.
57 - A poor Cronin clear leads to an SJ corner, but Cronin redeems himself a bit by catching the service.
58 - huh, one of the announcers thinks the McBride deal was a bad one for the Fire. Doesn't think a young player should be traded. Ok.
61 - The Galaxy with a slightly better of a run of play for a bit, but no real chances yet.
62 - "Arturito!" but his shot is stopped by Cronin. AA seems thrilled to be back in San Jose. He's playing great.
63 - Long pass by Becks to Gordo leads to a FK chance, but the D of SJ rejects the service from Beckham. Becks is playing far, far back this half.
66 - Abbe won't stop play for a fallen and apparently injured Corrales, but LD finally does. There's no foul, because Franklin got to the ball first. Corrales limps for a bit, but seems to be walking it off.
68 - Sure enough, there is Corrales running on the field again.
70 - Buddle shot after fighting through the defense of SJ, but Cannon dives down for the ball.
72 - LD fights through about four SJ defenders in the box, but is cross gets cut off.
73 - O'Brien shoots just wide on an SJ counter attack.
74 - LD gets a yellow for a hand on Huckerby's back. That gives the home crowd reason to cheer.
75 - Buddle with a shot that goes high. Ruiz enters for Chris Klein. So the Galaxy are going with a defensive line of three players. Wow.
76 - GOAL! Buddle! Funny, because the announcers have been harshing on him all game. Cochrane helped inadvertently by falling over Nick Garcia and Buddle rocketed through the glimmer of daylight that remained.
78 - SJ looking to strike back - have a corner. Cronin catches.
79 - Randolph in the box, but the ball is out for a corner.
82 - The Galaxy are looking for the win - not protecting the road draw. It could pay off, or it could be fatal.
83 - Ryan Johnson in for O'Brien.
85 - Back and forth, but no solid chances for either side yet.
87 - Nick and Carlos get into it. Abbe comes over as the Ruiz taps Garcia on either side of the face.
88 - SJ corner. Galaxy clear, but the ball goes out for a deep throw.
89 - GOAL! Another SJ attack and Cronin saves one attempt, but the Galaxy fail to clear and the ball slips out to Cochrane, who drills it near post. 3-2 SJ. Announcers discuss how another ref might have red-carded Cochrane, who went on to change the game for SJ.
90 - Alan Gordon heads the ball over the goal.
90+ The Galaxy with a chance in the box, but can't put the ball on frame.
Final whistle.
The Quakes take away a victory, an especially sweet one given how they got the win in late in the game.
The Telefutura announcers rightly note that records don't matter in a clasico. Also, that the Galaxy need to win to get back in the playoff picture.
Galaxy Startin IV
* 1 - Steve Cronin (GK)
* 3 - Greg Vanney
* 4 - Ante Jazic
* 7 - Chris Klein
* 8 - Peter Vagenas
* 10 - Landon Donovan
* 14 - Edson Buddle
* 21 - Alan Gordon
* 23 - David Beckham
* 26 - Ely Allen
* 28 - Sean Franklin
Earthquakes IV
* 1 - Joe Cannon (GK)
* 2 - Eric Denton
* 3 - Nick Garcia
* 5 - Ryan Cochrane
* 6 - Darren Huckerby
* 7 - Ronnie O'Brien
* 10 - Francisco Lima
* 12 - Ramiro Corrales
* 17 - Arturo Alvarez
* 21 - Jason Hernandez
* 33 - Scott Sealy
So after his rather nightmare debut. Eduardo Dominguez is not starting, but he is on the bench.
Kickoff!
1 - SJ defense cuts off the first Galacy foray into Quakeland.
2 - The Telefutura graphics are annoying, they cut right into the main picture. Someday someone is going to score right in the opening seconds and the viewers are going to get cheated because of the display.
5 - If Alvarez is part of a Quake defeat of the Galaxy today, he'll have beaten LA twice in a row with different teams.
6 - Sealy gets away with a foul on the attacking end. No surprise, since Abbe Olkulaja is the ref. Then Sealy is surrounded on another attack and gets a shot off that goes over the bar and hits the Galaxy net on the outside.
7 - Another SJ attack leads to a corner, but Okylaja blows the whislte on this one and the ball goes for a GK.
8 - GOAL! AA! The early pressure by the Quakes pays off! Sealy and Alvarez work a nice interplay which leaves the D in the box outnumbered and Alvarez slots it low past Cronin, who was coming out to try to pressure the ball. 1-0 Quakes.
9 - B uddle over the bar on a counter.
11 - Donovan on the attack, but his shot is deflected and Cannon picks the ball up.
12 - Buddle whistled for offside on an attack. He looks very unhappy at the call, but no replay to show validity or not.
13 - Ronnie O'Brien offside.
14 - Cronin out for a low cross - barely beats AA to it. The ball bounces away from Cronin, but Franklin clears it to safety.
16 - "Si se pudo" now the announcers discuss the SuperLiga and MLS success in ousting the Mexican teams. They don't mention the crappy reffing.
17 - San Jose looking more dangerous, while the little spurt by the Galaxy passed rather quickly.
18 - "Miserable" the announcers call the pass from Beckham, and it was, just after LD sprung Becks on a great pass of his own, threading three defenders. Becks was trying to reach Gordo, but the pass wasn't close.
19 - Cannon snatches as ball out of the air, despite the best efforts of Alan Gordon to get a head on it.
20 - No goal. It looked like an offside, but Ramiro Corrales looked for a flag and not getting one, went in alone against Cronin and shot past him - into the outside of the side netting. That could easily have been the second.
24 - Ely goes down in the box, where Buddle fed him a great pass. Hard to see if there was a foul, but he's certainly not getting a call from Okulaja.
25 - CK for the Galaxy, but Becks shoots over everyone in the box and the opportunity is lost.
27 - Now the Galaxy are getting a bit of purchase in the midfield, but the Quakes are fighting them every inch of the way, tooth and nail to hang on to their lead by denying the Galaxy even a sniff of the goal.
29 - Save! O'Brien crosses to AA, who sends a solid header on goal, but Cronin stops it.
31 - The midfield for the Quakes is strong and had moved the squad out of the defensive shell they've occupied most of the year.
33 - Ely give up a FK - dangerous, though a bit far. O'Brien slams it into outer space. Far, far over the goal.
34 - Quake counter messed up by a poor O'Brien cross.
35 - LD fouled by Hernandez. The FK reaches Gordon, but he can't get a good header off.
39 - Jazic gets off a good cross and Gordon heads it down in front of goal, but no one from the Galaxy can get anything on the ball to dink it inside before it goes out over the line.
40 - GOAL! Huckerby beats Klein on the wing, or Klein slips, and Huckerby charges in on goal alone, Vanney gets out to gut part of the angle, but Huckerby shoots straight at Cronin, who can't deflect it to safety, only to the far post, where it slips in. 2-0 Quakes.
42 - GOAL! Twice Becks tees up a cross for LD, who gets off a header that Cannon saves, but the rebound gets out to Becks again and his second cross again finds LD, who this time, pops the ball into the corner away from Cannon's save. 2-1 Quakes still lead.
45 - O'Brien nearly takes on four Galaxy players, but then loses the ball over the line.
Halftime - Well, the newbies on the Quakes are certainly making themselves welcome, scoring goals to give the team the lead. The new- look Quakes are playing all-around better, though, and could make a final run in what's left of the season.
As for the Galaxy - their now-usual mix of good and bad. Franklin is doing well on his return. Ely looks intimidated in front of goal and Beckham can follow a poor cross with the loveliest one. LD, meanwhile, pads his Golden Boot lead just a bit.
With the way the Galaxy can play, a second goal is very possible, if not even more, but whether it's the shaky defense that gives before the offense strikes is an open question.
In the pre-recorded interview played at halftime, LD is asked if he sees his team in the MLS final. He answers, basically. "No. Our team doesn't seem complete yet. Teams who advance in the playoffs have a good defense and we don't have that right now. We need to improve. With me, Edson and Carlos, we're going to score goals, so if our defense improves, we could do well."
46 - Heh, as the announcers complain about the amateur nature of Mike Randolph entering late as a sub, holding up the match slightly, they repeatedly call him Troy Roberts. So, professional indeed, not knowing the actual players on the team.
47 - Randolph (they finally get his name right) is in for Ely Allen.
48 - Cochrane picks up a yellow.
49 - CK for the Quakes as Cronin fumbles with the ball, and Klein is forced to kick it away to safety.
50 - CK again, but the Galaxy finally get the ball again.
51 - Huckerby is playing well, which probably pisses off John Carver, but Huckerby didn't like the Toronto turf.
52 - Another Ck for the Quakes, but the Galaxy clear.
54 - Beckham down in the box, no call, Gordon attempts a shot, Cannon catches and starts a counter that ends with a Sealy shot that barely misses high.
56 - Lima is also improving SJ a lot. He's in the mix of everything, denying the Galaxy a lot of passes and chances.
57 - A poor Cronin clear leads to an SJ corner, but Cronin redeems himself a bit by catching the service.
58 - huh, one of the announcers thinks the McBride deal was a bad one for the Fire. Doesn't think a young player should be traded. Ok.
61 - The Galaxy with a slightly better of a run of play for a bit, but no real chances yet.
62 - "Arturito!" but his shot is stopped by Cronin. AA seems thrilled to be back in San Jose. He's playing great.
63 - Long pass by Becks to Gordo leads to a FK chance, but the D of SJ rejects the service from Beckham. Becks is playing far, far back this half.
66 - Abbe won't stop play for a fallen and apparently injured Corrales, but LD finally does. There's no foul, because Franklin got to the ball first. Corrales limps for a bit, but seems to be walking it off.
68 - Sure enough, there is Corrales running on the field again.
70 - Buddle shot after fighting through the defense of SJ, but Cannon dives down for the ball.
72 - LD fights through about four SJ defenders in the box, but is cross gets cut off.
73 - O'Brien shoots just wide on an SJ counter attack.
74 - LD gets a yellow for a hand on Huckerby's back. That gives the home crowd reason to cheer.
75 - Buddle with a shot that goes high. Ruiz enters for Chris Klein. So the Galaxy are going with a defensive line of three players. Wow.
76 - GOAL! Buddle! Funny, because the announcers have been harshing on him all game. Cochrane helped inadvertently by falling over Nick Garcia and Buddle rocketed through the glimmer of daylight that remained.
78 - SJ looking to strike back - have a corner. Cronin catches.
79 - Randolph in the box, but the ball is out for a corner.
82 - The Galaxy are looking for the win - not protecting the road draw. It could pay off, or it could be fatal.
83 - Ryan Johnson in for O'Brien.
85 - Back and forth, but no solid chances for either side yet.
87 - Nick and Carlos get into it. Abbe comes over as the Ruiz taps Garcia on either side of the face.
88 - SJ corner. Galaxy clear, but the ball goes out for a deep throw.
89 - GOAL! Another SJ attack and Cronin saves one attempt, but the Galaxy fail to clear and the ball slips out to Cochrane, who drills it near post. 3-2 SJ. Announcers discuss how another ref might have red-carded Cochrane, who went on to change the game for SJ.
90 - Alan Gordon heads the ball over the goal.
90+ The Galaxy with a chance in the box, but can't put the ball on frame.
Final whistle.
The Quakes take away a victory, an especially sweet one given how they got the win in late in the game.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
The one in charge
Some of the Galaxy players were giving their coach, Ruud Gullit, a hard time.
"I can't believe you're selling that house," said one.
"It's not up to me," Ruud responded. "I thought the house was fine. I liked the house. My wife was the one who didn't really like it."
"How could she not like that place?" asked another. "It's great. That house is amazing."
"Well, she didn't, so what could I do?" Ruud asked. "She spends more time in the house, so one she likes is important to her. I don't really care."
The players departed, one shaking his head at the other. "Man, if I had that place, no one could make me leave."
"I can't believe you're selling that house," said one.
"It's not up to me," Ruud responded. "I thought the house was fine. I liked the house. My wife was the one who didn't really like it."
"How could she not like that place?" asked another. "It's great. That house is amazing."
"Well, she didn't, so what could I do?" Ruud asked. "She spends more time in the house, so one she likes is important to her. I don't really care."
The players departed, one shaking his head at the other. "Man, if I had that place, no one could make me leave."
What you reading?
Round the web I go, where I stop, now you know.
The article's not much, but the attached video of a 14-year-old Chris Seitz? Priceless.
The OC Register profiles another Olympian, ARod.
Ridge smacks down SuperLiga.
Greg Ryan recalls Olympic glory.
The article's not much, but the attached video of a 14-year-old Chris Seitz? Priceless.
The OC Register profiles another Olympian, ARod.
Ridge smacks down SuperLiga.
Greg Ryan recalls Olympic glory.
Friday, August 1, 2008
More from Carlos Albert
Basically, Carlos doesn't think teams should play SuperLiga if they can't behave better. But he also blames the structure of the tournament.
By the way, don't knock me for not knowing all the panelists names - I don't watch the show that often, but feel free to inform me if you know who they are.
Carlos Albert: When is Atlante going to go back? What did the players have to lose? Probably never, so it didn’t matter to them, Vilar, Mustafa, and the rest, how they behaved or if they got carded. And the fields were bad. We’ve got to understand that the team directors went in search of a million dollars and came back without that and in many cases, without dignity. That can’t be permitted – against the U.S. teams, that we’re always the villains, because we can’t lose. We have to go to win, we have to learn to win, but we also have to learn to lose. We can’t be ridiculous and lose our dignity like so many on Atlante and a few on Pachuca the other day. What we saw in the SuperLiga wasn’t new or strange – we can’t cry about it. Coaches, administrators and players, they all have to learn to do their preseason differently, with dignity. It’s embarrassing, as a Mexican. It makes me mad.
Heriberto Murrieta: You really think Atlante has lost their dignity?
CA: Don’t tell me that Vilar hasn’t lost it.
HM: He lost his head.
CA: And his dignity.
HM: Well, his sporting dignity.
CA: Everything I’m saying is at the sporting level. When a player reacts the way he did to a loss, that’s a loss of dignity.
HM: But don’t you think such reactions are due to crappy refereeing?
Panelist #2: That’s not a decent excuse. Mexican teams know that the refs are terrible and they go there with that knowledge. These two teams, Pachuca and Atlante, come back with nothing. What if this had been a final?
Panelist #3 But bad refs can really change a game and upset players. It clearly happened in Pachuca’s game, and again with Atlante. Did you see the handball play near the end of the game? Would you consider that a penalty for Atlante?
CA: Yes.
P3: Then I’m telling you, the bad calls by the refs changed those games.
By the way, don't knock me for not knowing all the panelists names - I don't watch the show that often, but feel free to inform me if you know who they are.
Carlos Albert: When is Atlante going to go back? What did the players have to lose? Probably never, so it didn’t matter to them, Vilar, Mustafa, and the rest, how they behaved or if they got carded. And the fields were bad. We’ve got to understand that the team directors went in search of a million dollars and came back without that and in many cases, without dignity. That can’t be permitted – against the U.S. teams, that we’re always the villains, because we can’t lose. We have to go to win, we have to learn to win, but we also have to learn to lose. We can’t be ridiculous and lose our dignity like so many on Atlante and a few on Pachuca the other day. What we saw in the SuperLiga wasn’t new or strange – we can’t cry about it. Coaches, administrators and players, they all have to learn to do their preseason differently, with dignity. It’s embarrassing, as a Mexican. It makes me mad.
Heriberto Murrieta: You really think Atlante has lost their dignity?
CA: Don’t tell me that Vilar hasn’t lost it.
HM: He lost his head.
CA: And his dignity.
HM: Well, his sporting dignity.
CA: Everything I’m saying is at the sporting level. When a player reacts the way he did to a loss, that’s a loss of dignity.
HM: But don’t you think such reactions are due to crappy refereeing?
Panelist #2: That’s not a decent excuse. Mexican teams know that the refs are terrible and they go there with that knowledge. These two teams, Pachuca and Atlante, come back with nothing. What if this had been a final?
Panelist #3 But bad refs can really change a game and upset players. It clearly happened in Pachuca’s game, and again with Atlante. Did you see the handball play near the end of the game? Would you consider that a penalty for Atlante?
CA: Yes.
P3: Then I’m telling you, the bad calls by the refs changed those games.
X-factor
Every year at around this time, MLS moves out of the Home Depot Center and the Galaxy and Chivas USA play a bunch of road games because of the X-Games.
It makes AEG a good chunk of change and a new field is relayed before the soccer starts up again. Here's a few shots of what's going on in the grounds instead of the beautiful game.
Rest of the field
I wrote about the other teams in the women's Olympic Games field.
I ranked the teams, but I'm curious as to what our readers think and why. Explain who looks golden to you.
I ranked the teams, but I'm curious as to what our readers think and why. Explain who looks golden to you.
Pia lets it go
As any competitive athlete would likely be, Briana Scurry wasn't happy about being left off the Olympic roster. She said as much to certain media.
Another coach might have taken offense to being second-guessed, might have avoided working with Scurry or deemed her presence a negative distraction to the players who were picked over her.
Pia Sundhage named Scurry to the alternate list. Scurry is actually in China, training and traveling with the US women's squad, though obviously unlikely to take part in any games. "Force majeure" would have to happen first.
Scurry worked long and hard for her opportunity. She's not getting a chance at Olympic gold because sports is a tough world where cuts have to be made. She was upset and she said her piece.
As far as I can tell, Pia didn't take it personally. She moved on.
Another coach might have taken offense to being second-guessed, might have avoided working with Scurry or deemed her presence a negative distraction to the players who were picked over her.
Pia Sundhage named Scurry to the alternate list. Scurry is actually in China, training and traveling with the US women's squad, though obviously unlikely to take part in any games. "Force majeure" would have to happen first.
Scurry worked long and hard for her opportunity. She's not getting a chance at Olympic gold because sports is a tough world where cuts have to be made. She was upset and she said her piece.
As far as I can tell, Pia didn't take it personally. She moved on.
New Becks spot
So, who likes this commercial better than the Sharpie one?
The "Practice Pop-In" is a tactic that's been done before for adidas and DSG with different athletes. Reggie Bush (Becks' buddy from an earlier commercial the two did together) featured in one.
The "Practice Pop-In" is a tactic that's been done before for adidas and DSG with different athletes. Reggie Bush (Becks' buddy from an earlier commercial the two did together) featured in one.
A vote of no confidence?
Or covering their backsides?
Chivas USA traded for Zach Thornton from the New York Red Bulls.
Dan Kennedy will likely start in goal but with Lance Parker the number two option, the experience level in goal was pretty limited. Thornton certainly gives the club some experience, a wealth of it. The deal was for future considerations, so there isn't much to lose on that end.
We'll see what Kennedy can do in Chicago on Saturday. Thus far, he hasn't been the steadiest goalkeeper as he lost games to RSL and New England but was in goal against Santos when Chivas USA won 1-0.
Chivas USA traded for Zach Thornton from the New York Red Bulls.
Dan Kennedy will likely start in goal but with Lance Parker the number two option, the experience level in goal was pretty limited. Thornton certainly gives the club some experience, a wealth of it. The deal was for future considerations, so there isn't much to lose on that end.
We'll see what Kennedy can do in Chicago on Saturday. Thus far, he hasn't been the steadiest goalkeeper as he lost games to RSL and New England but was in goal against Santos when Chivas USA won 1-0.
Expansion talk
There has been a lot of news about MLS expansion floating around and I havent' written much on it because I've been sort of saving some of my thoughts for my PE column. I'm planning on writing next Tuesday's piece on expansion and kind of break down where things stand and what cities should get an expansion team.
But there's one city I'd love to see win an expansion side.
I've never been there - and maybe that's my thinking, an MLS expansion club would be a reason for me to travel there - but it would be great if Portland were to get an expansion team.
Timbers owner Merritt Paulson already threw his name in the ring and wants to bring MLS to Portland and I'm all for that.
It just seems like a city that would get behind their team and support soccer. Maybe it's because the Blazers have done so well throughout the years in attendance and fan support and the major Oregon schools get behind their teams too, but Portland and MLS seem like a natural fit.
But there's one city I'd love to see win an expansion side.
I've never been there - and maybe that's my thinking, an MLS expansion club would be a reason for me to travel there - but it would be great if Portland were to get an expansion team.
Timbers owner Merritt Paulson already threw his name in the ring and wants to bring MLS to Portland and I'm all for that.
It just seems like a city that would get behind their team and support soccer. Maybe it's because the Blazers have done so well throughout the years in attendance and fan support and the major Oregon schools get behind their teams too, but Portland and MLS seem like a natural fit.
Torres for SI
I shared Jose Francisco Torres' tale with my SI.com readers.
I tried to add some new elements by making a comparision between Torres and Michael Orozco as well as Edgar Castillo. Orozco of course is with the US and Castillo with Mexico. Torres may become the next Orozco, the next Castillo or just a solid league player with no international prospects.
Torres, Orozco and Castillo of course are all part of a large untapped talent base across the US, and that's also an underlying theme of the story. I didn't get into it but we all know there are many Mexican-Americans like those three out there waiting to get found.
Perhaps I'll explore that theme in the coming weeks and/or months. For now, I wanted to get this out there.
I tried to add some new elements by making a comparision between Torres and Michael Orozco as well as Edgar Castillo. Orozco of course is with the US and Castillo with Mexico. Torres may become the next Orozco, the next Castillo or just a solid league player with no international prospects.
Torres, Orozco and Castillo of course are all part of a large untapped talent base across the US, and that's also an underlying theme of the story. I didn't get into it but we all know there are many Mexican-Americans like those three out there waiting to get found.
Perhaps I'll explore that theme in the coming weeks and/or months. For now, I wanted to get this out there.
Sangre americana J2 preview
Week Two (or Jornada 2) in the Mexican Apertura 2008 is upon us. Several of our America-born players have already seen action in both la Primera and Primera A but others have yet to debut and won't debut this weekend either.
Here is a preview of the Mexican-Americans down south.
Edgar Castillo, Santos vs Pumas, Sunday 3 p.m. Fresh off a call to the Mexican national team, Castillo will try and show why Sven Goran Eriksson included the New Mexico native in his first-ever list of call-ups. Castillo went the distance in a season-opening 3-2 loss at America and now will face another challenge in Pumas. Daniel Luduena is still recovering from surgery which means Castillo will continue to play as an attacking midfielder for Santos. TV: Azteca America.
Jose Francisco Torres, Pachuca vs. San Luis, Saturday 5 p.m. Torres did not play in last week's season opener against Tigres (a 0-0 draw) but stands a chance to play in this league game. Torres wound up playing most of Tuesday's 2-0 SuperLiga loss to Houston. With nothing but league play for Pachuca to focus on, at least in the next few weeks, los Tuzos midfield might become a battle for playing time since coach Enrique "Ojitos" Meza won't have to worry about saving players for upcoming non-league matches. He might mix-and-match according to opponents but regardless Torres will need to fight for playing time. TV: Azteca America.
Marco Antonio Vidal, Indios at Monterrey, Saturday 3 p.m. Vidal and Indios debuted in the First Division a week ago but fell to Tecos 1-0. A daunting trip to Monterrey looms. Vidal will be given the task of slowing Monterrey's national team midfielder Luis Perez down in the midfield and will likely also match up against Carlos Ochoa - who also got called up by Eriksson - as well Jared Borgetti. Oh, and if that weren't enough, how about Chupete Suazo? Vidal did well for himself a week ago, as well as you could expect. He should be a lock to play week in and week out for Indios, even if clubs like Monterrey give them a solid thumping. TV: Galavision.
Sonny Guadarrama, Morelia vs. Atlante, Sunday 1 p.m. Guadarrama did not play in Morelia's season opener against San Luis. Before Guadarrama earns a start, he needs to hope for an appearance off the bench, injuries or suspensions. Newcomer Hugo Droguett is suspended for the match as well as Maurico Romero, but Guadarrama doesn't fit into either role. TV: Azteca America.
Daniel Hernandez, Jaguares vs. Tigres, Saturday 3 p.m. Hernandez won't play in this game. He's suspended. But you can watch how bad Jaguares are without him and the other five suspended players. TV: Azteca America.
Michael Orozco, San Luis at Pachuca, Saturday 5 p.m. Orozco is off with the US Olympic team and won't return for several more weeks. San Luis allowed two goals last week without him. Expect the goal tally to continue to rise. TV: Azteca America.
Jesus Padilla and Carlos Borja, Tapatio vs. Salamanca, Sunday 10 a.m. Jesus Padilla scores the goals, but Omar Arellano gets the glory. Padilla's goals, of course, come against second-division competition. Arellano's have come with the first club and as such he gets noticed. Arellano got called up to the senior side while Padilla will test his fate against Salamanca. Borja meanwhile will have the chance to start his second consecutive match for Tapatio. Borja played all 90 minutes a week ago after making his season debut as a late-game substitute in the season opener.
Sammy Ochoa, Tecos vs. Dorados, 4 p.m. Ochoa will serve a suspension this week and will not play. It's the second of a three-match ban.
Noel Castillo, Indios. Castillo won't play as well, but neither will Indios. They've got a bye week.
Here is a preview of the Mexican-Americans down south.
Edgar Castillo, Santos vs Pumas, Sunday 3 p.m. Fresh off a call to the Mexican national team, Castillo will try and show why Sven Goran Eriksson included the New Mexico native in his first-ever list of call-ups. Castillo went the distance in a season-opening 3-2 loss at America and now will face another challenge in Pumas. Daniel Luduena is still recovering from surgery which means Castillo will continue to play as an attacking midfielder for Santos. TV: Azteca America.
Jose Francisco Torres, Pachuca vs. San Luis, Saturday 5 p.m. Torres did not play in last week's season opener against Tigres (a 0-0 draw) but stands a chance to play in this league game. Torres wound up playing most of Tuesday's 2-0 SuperLiga loss to Houston. With nothing but league play for Pachuca to focus on, at least in the next few weeks, los Tuzos midfield might become a battle for playing time since coach Enrique "Ojitos" Meza won't have to worry about saving players for upcoming non-league matches. He might mix-and-match according to opponents but regardless Torres will need to fight for playing time. TV: Azteca America.
Marco Antonio Vidal, Indios at Monterrey, Saturday 3 p.m. Vidal and Indios debuted in the First Division a week ago but fell to Tecos 1-0. A daunting trip to Monterrey looms. Vidal will be given the task of slowing Monterrey's national team midfielder Luis Perez down in the midfield and will likely also match up against Carlos Ochoa - who also got called up by Eriksson - as well Jared Borgetti. Oh, and if that weren't enough, how about Chupete Suazo? Vidal did well for himself a week ago, as well as you could expect. He should be a lock to play week in and week out for Indios, even if clubs like Monterrey give them a solid thumping. TV: Galavision.
Sonny Guadarrama, Morelia vs. Atlante, Sunday 1 p.m. Guadarrama did not play in Morelia's season opener against San Luis. Before Guadarrama earns a start, he needs to hope for an appearance off the bench, injuries or suspensions. Newcomer Hugo Droguett is suspended for the match as well as Maurico Romero, but Guadarrama doesn't fit into either role. TV: Azteca America.
Daniel Hernandez, Jaguares vs. Tigres, Saturday 3 p.m. Hernandez won't play in this game. He's suspended. But you can watch how bad Jaguares are without him and the other five suspended players. TV: Azteca America.
Michael Orozco, San Luis at Pachuca, Saturday 5 p.m. Orozco is off with the US Olympic team and won't return for several more weeks. San Luis allowed two goals last week without him. Expect the goal tally to continue to rise. TV: Azteca America.
Jesus Padilla and Carlos Borja, Tapatio vs. Salamanca, Sunday 10 a.m. Jesus Padilla scores the goals, but Omar Arellano gets the glory. Padilla's goals, of course, come against second-division competition. Arellano's have come with the first club and as such he gets noticed. Arellano got called up to the senior side while Padilla will test his fate against Salamanca. Borja meanwhile will have the chance to start his second consecutive match for Tapatio. Borja played all 90 minutes a week ago after making his season debut as a late-game substitute in the season opener.
Sammy Ochoa, Tecos vs. Dorados, 4 p.m. Ochoa will serve a suspension this week and will not play. It's the second of a three-match ban.
Noel Castillo, Indios. Castillo won't play as well, but neither will Indios. They've got a bye week.
Guzan tribute: from the club
Chivas USA is both sad to see Brad Guzan leave but excited for him and his great opportunity abroad. They paid him a bit of a tribute and I helped out on some of it.
Here's my part, a column on what Brad meant to the club, what he did and how he'll forever be a Chiva.
And here's a video tribute the club put together.
Here's my part, a column on what Brad meant to the club, what he did and how he'll forever be a Chiva.
And here's a video tribute the club put together.
Sensitive souls
I've been accused of being thin-skinned, and I probably am in certain respects. Perhaps, then, I can relate a bit to Neven Subotic.
I'm not surprised that Neven has serious doubts about playing for the U.S. and is likely to want to suit up for another country instead.
I met a teen-aged Neven in Peru at the 2005 U17 World Cup, when he was playing for the U.S. Despite his youth, he was on the quiet, somewhat serious side. He spoke English with only a trace of a European accent.
The same hotels would often house multiple squads and I remember being amused at the contrast between the U.S. and the other teams. The Italians, for example, all looked like one extended family, tall, athletic, with classic Latin features. They tended to group together, eating only food prepared for them by a team chef. Turkey, another squad sharing a later hotel, had similarly tall players, but with wilder hair and darker eyes. Each delegation of players and support staff had a certain look that was readily identifiable.
The Americans were recognizable only by their variety and lack of a certain typecast. They were a hodge-podge of ethnicities, sizes and personalities. Some of the louder jokesters could be heard rooms away. Some were very social, signing autographs for Peruvian fans and trying out their high school Spanish with the locals. Some were the epitome of mellow, lounging in the lobby with headphones and music.
The hotel kitchen marveled that the U.S. players would eat practically anything - they were the only team at the hotel who didn't request a special menu. I did notice a couple of players whose meals seemed to be grilled chicken and french fries practically every day.
Though Neven didn't appear super-close to anyone on the team (at least, not like the "we're brothers" bond of Preston Zimmerman and Quavas Kirk), he seemed another part of the group that was united by a common purpose and cause.
Of course, though, he was different, and not just because he was born elsewhere. Neven was the only player who didn't live at the U17 residency at Bradenton, because well, he already lived in Bradenton with his family. Neven would join the team for practices, but then go home to his family, missing out on the experiences of having teammates as roommates. That probably put him at least a little bit on the outside of things.
I recall at one point at a hotel, David Arvizu passed by with the Farfan brothers, chattering away in Spanish. Neven was nearby and he looked after them a little forlornly. "Why do they do that?" he said to no one in particular. "They do it on the field sometimes, too. Not everybody speaks Spanish. Why can't they speak English so we all understand?"
I almost laughed - the Spanish speakers on the team had been doing interviews in that language, generating a lot of press and goodwill for the squad, and also translating for teammates who wanted to go shopping and out on the town. Why was it a big deal if they lapsed into conversation in a way they felt comfortable?
On the other hand, one look at Neven's earnest face convinced me that he felt left out. This was a kid who spoke three languages, who had already traveled the world with his family, not to play in tournaments, but to try to find a home. He was trying to fit in with this American team, and it frustrated him when he couldn't share in certain experiences.
Neven wasn't on the U17 U.S. squad's regular starting eleven. Coach John Hackworth spoke of Neven's skill on the ball and his tactical ability, but it was plain to see that Neven was still gawky and not as athletically developed as some other players. However, partly due to injuries and suspension, Neven was playing in the decisive knockout match versus the Netherlands. Neven didn't play badly, but he was often stranded against the Dutch attack. He ended up getting two yellow cards and was ejected from the game. While I heard from many that his second foul looked rash (there was no video in the Peruvian press box)Neven was defiant when I interviewed him, saying he didn't even think his tackle was a foul. He was clearly crushed about the U.S. team's loss and elimination. "I did the best I could," he answered softly when I asked him if he felt pressure against the heavily-favored Dutch.
While someone might wonder why Neven would care what Thomas Rongen says or thinks, it strikes me as part of his character to be sensitive about something like that, regardless of the fact that Rongen is the U.S. coach of a limited age group that presumably Neven has passed. Besides, it's possible that Rongen had a point in his observation - at that time. Neven could take it as a point of honor that he has improved since then.
Actually, I had thought the Olympic team might be perfect for Neven's return to the U.S. ranks. Nowak speaks German well. Sacha might even know a little bit of Serbian, too, giving Neven a chance to crack some jokes in that language if he so desires.
Yet it's hard to play if your heart isn't in it and you feel discouraged by critics.
As someone who has traveled a lot as well, I understand that at some point, one can arrive somewhere and feel, "Hey, I get this place. Things make sense here, I can relate to the people here - this is where I belong." Perhaps Neven feels that way about Germany and he wants to repay that feeling with his service as a player.
People are allowed to have preferences. Honestly, the U.S. is a hard country to play for in some ways - players don't get the recognition or adoration that they would in other places for being part of the national team. A lot of die-hard American soccer fans are also relentless critics of the top U.S. players. Neven's experiences with the U17 U.S. team already taught him the squad is often booed (yes, even what is essentially a boys team) for political reasons wherever it travels to play. It really might not be the best place for anyone thin-skinned.
Guzan gets go-ahead
It's official now. Brad Guzan can continue his quest abroad as his work permit was approved on Friday.
That was the lone stumbling block that prevented his move from MLS to England in January, a move that cost the league millions of dollars. But after Guzan played in numerous U.S. matches this year, including both World Cup qualifiers, there seemed to be no way he would be denied. And he wasn't.
Of course, with Brad Friedel around, just how much playing time Guzan receives in league play remains to be seen. He might get the occasional cup game, though sometimes those games come around more than just occasionally.
We'll keep tabs on Guzan, the boy who became a man right before our eyes, right here and hopefully he will be Villa's number one keeper no matter what.
That was the lone stumbling block that prevented his move from MLS to England in January, a move that cost the league millions of dollars. But after Guzan played in numerous U.S. matches this year, including both World Cup qualifiers, there seemed to be no way he would be denied. And he wasn't.
Of course, with Brad Friedel around, just how much playing time Guzan receives in league play remains to be seen. He might get the occasional cup game, though sometimes those games come around more than just occasionally.
We'll keep tabs on Guzan, the boy who became a man right before our eyes, right here and hopefully he will be Villa's number one keeper no matter what.
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