The U.S. were minutes away from a 1-0 at Guatemala in World Cup qualifying when a Marco Pappa free kick froze goalkeeper Tim Howard. Despite the disappointment of the late draw the United States still top their Concacaf World Cup qualifying group.
1.) JERMAINE JONES
Big fan of Jones who brings a presence in midfield, worked his tail off and remains a big piece of U.S. future. The man will be playing Champions League Football with Schalke and will continue to be important for the U.S. in the future.
2.) CONCACAF
Sure it was disappointing to concede a late Marco Pappa free kick (Howard caught moving to right) but the fact is the U.S. top the group and are positioned well after these two games.
Who would have thought that Antigua Barbuda would draw with Jamaiaca?
Those “Benna Boys” are making a name for themselves and reminding us that this process brings surprises.
3.) DEMPSEY
Around the penalty area one has to love Dempsey.
Premier League quality shown on his goal against Guatemala.
Nonsense that he can’t start at a top club.
Only Van Persie, Rooney and Aguero scored more goals than him in the EPL.
Bias shown because he is American by some as to his potential to play for a bigger club.
4.) KLINSMANN SHOWS FAITH IN CAMERON
With Clarence Goodson carrying a yellow card Jurgen Klinsmann had the confidence to bring on Geoff Cameron who got through the initiation of Concacaf World Cup qualifying.
This bodes well for Cameron.
5.) ALTIDORE
All I can say is real disappointment here in this striker.
Jurgen Klinsmann mentioned to me he came in to camp unfit. Really?
Last night we did not see visible signs of the improvement of Altidore from his time in the Netherlands.
He gave up on a play when Michael Bradley got to the end line and delivered a fine cross.
His in-ability to hold the ball makes you yearn for Brian McBride and Brian Ching.
What stuck out in your mind from Concacaf World Cup qualfiying?
NETHERLANDS/GERMANY TODAY
The Dutch are up against it today against their rivals.
This should make for real drama.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal need points against Denmark in this group.
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*What stuck out in your mind from Concacaf World Cup qualifying?*
The horrendous officiating would have to be it.
Would love to see somebody like M. Pappa or Gringo T in a Dynamo uniform.
Glenn, I’m curious what you think about the foul that led to the equalizer. Was Ruiz fouled?
I only saw a brief highlight of the foul. To me it looked like he pushed the ball forward into space, thus conceding possession of the ball. Then Johnson (who was the nearest player to the now-ownerless ball) made himself big to shield the ball that he more than anyone had a right to protect. Then Ruiz ran into Johnson and fell down.
I’m asking as a general question (trying to avoid the bias tied to this specific situation, in that Ruiz is “that type of player” and because the foul went against “my team” in this instance) because I see this all the time: players who can’t do anything else with the ball because they are in a situation beyond their own skillset, so they push the ball into space where they no longer control the ball, then run into the nearest opponent after the opponent moves on the ball. Sometimes it’s called, sometimes it isn’t. I think this is a failure in officiating that hurts the sport. (A more specific instance of “diving.”)
Terrible Ref. 7482 fowls called that night. yellow cards flying everywhere. Let them play the game. Not to mention getting to watch a game that i paid 30 bucks for through what looked like a fish eye lense. Highschool football broadcasts are better quality.