Oct 14, 2009
Pre Game:
The US starting lineup is slightly different from the Honduras game, but is still the "A" lineup.
GK: Howard
RB: Cherundolo
CB: Onewyu
CB: Bocanegra
LB: Bornstein
RM: Holden
CM: Bradley
CM: Feilhaber
LM: Donovan
ST: Altidore
ST: Casey
So Cherundolo replaces Spector, Feilhaber replaces Clark and Altidore is in for Davies. Bradley is going to play his top squad to try to win the group. There's a legitimate question as to whether this is the right call. Alexi Lalas is correct in worrying about red cards here; a red means suspension for the first game of the World Cup. Careful boys.
Qualifying update: Argentina just took a 1-0 lead on Uruguay. That pretty much puts Argentina into the 4th spot in South America and officially into the World Cup. That is a boon to who ever finishes fourth in CONCACAF; they'll see either Ecuador or Uruguay.
More Pre Game: Should be interesting; Costa Rica is playing a 2-5-3.
1st Half Kickoff: And we are off.
1st min: Jozy Altidore wins a corner. That was fast. Donovan's cross is easily handled by the goalie.
2nd min: It's over in South America; Argentina is 4th. Uruguay is 5th.
4th min: Cherundolo plays it out to Holden in his own end. Holden lost it but ball is played weakly and Howard takes it.
5th min: Altidore challenges the Costa Rica defense with his size but can't generate a shot. On the other side Costa Rica counters strongly and looks to end up with a threatening chance. However, it comes to nothing as the ball goes through to Howard.
7th min: Bornstein plays a long ball that Donovan can't control. The midfielder ends up fouling, ending the US chance.
9th min: Costa Rica has gotten some quality possession here. They generate a corner.
Onewyu clears it...
Hero one night, the goat tonight for Conor Casey.
Altidore somehow took on multiple Costa Rican defenders near midfield and into the attacking third. He finds Casey ALL BY HIMSELF and Casey puts it over the bar. Ugh.
10th min: The ninth minute tribute to Charlie Davies goes off nicely but almost ended with a Costa Rica goal. Poor defense forces a save from Howard at point blank range. The corner doesn't threaten and the US clear.
13th min: Altidore looks like the best player on the field right now. Imagine what he'd look like if he got more playing time!
14th min: Altidore just picked up a card after what looks like a dive by the Costa Rican player Marshall. Now he's got to be careful. Another will get him banned from the first game of the World Cup.
18th min: Casey delivers a great flick on to Stuart Holden who whips in a solid cross. It comes low to Altidore who couldn't finish. It goes out for a goal kick.
20th min: Bradley's tackle frees up Donovan for a counter. He finds Casey, who struggles to get it under control and then puts a weak shot in.
21st min: Costa Rica scores!
The US gets beat on the wing. After it's played in to Ruiz, he beats Onewyu and puts a shot through Howard's five hole to put the Ticos up 1-0. What's up with the US defense these days?
23rd min: People hate on John Harkes, but he is right in that the US pissed away too many chances in the first 20 minutes. Pissed is my word....
And... 2-0...
24th min: What in god's name was that? The defending is atrocious on that play. Ruiz scores again, but a series of great passing and sloppy defending on the left side lead to that blast from outside the area that found the net. The shot was stunning, as was the defending.
The left side; Bornstein, Bradley and Donovan take the hit for that.
26th min: So 2-0. This looks like the game at the Saprissa. But it's on US soil this time.
27th min: Altidore again makes things happen and wins a free kick from the left hand side just outside of the area.
The kick is sent in and cleared. Feilhaber wins back possession and wins a corner.
28th min: Holden's corner is poor and the ball is cleared.
29th min: This has been a poor effort with the exception of Altidore so far. Bornstein turns it over in the midfield.
30th min: Bornstein beaten, then Bradley and Donovan fail as well. Eventually the US recovers and clears. That left side looks extremely shaky right now.
32nd min: US Free kick just outside the area. Who won it? Jozy Altidore of course.
And Donovan's free kick is about as bad as his free kick goal against Honduras was good.
33rd min: Holden had the right idea but a miscommunication with Casey results in a turnover.
35th min: A much better effort from Casey though his pass to Donovan is just off. After they win the ball back, Donovan gets a free kick and a card. The free kick results in a foul called against either Bocanegra or Casey, but it's a poor call.
37th min: Altidore's header springs Donovan, but his shot goes over the bar. Tough chance. Casey was open according to Harkes, but you can't blame Donovan for not seeing it.
Trinidad apparently is up on Mexico. Good for them. Maybe I should be checking that game out.
39th min: Great plays by Holden but neither player he sets up for good crosses (Cherundolo and Bradley) don't do anything with it.
41st min: This is why the Honduras game was so big. Never chance things like this. I know things would be different if the US were fighting for the lives here, but geez.
Altidore wins another free kick. Probably dove too. Careful Jozy, you can get cards for that.
The kick was a lay off to Bradley. It's blocked out for a corner.
42nd min: Much better corner by Donovan, but it's still cleared out.
44th min: Danger... danger... Altidore makes a daring slide tackle with his card. He wins the ball and frees up either Donovan or Casey for a shot. But the goalie Navas stops Donovan. Then he stops Altidore seconds later on another US chance.
45th+ min: Donovan and Altidore combine to win another corner. The US can't capitalize.
Halftime: Costa Rica 2-0 USA
Halftime Thoughts: Altidore was amazing in that half. He arguably missed one chance, the header. The second one was just a brilliant save. Unfortunately with the card already out for him, Bradley should pull him off for the second 45.
Donovan had a solid 45. He takes some blame on the second goal, but the rest of his play makes up for it.
Other than that, yeesh. Holden's few good crosses and set ups put him as the third best US player right now. The defense was an embarrassment, giving far too much space and looking very vulnerable on the wings. Both of Costa Rica's goals started there and that falls to Cherundolo and Bornstein getting beat to long balls and inability to stop play coming back to the center of the field.
It was a pretty poor half for Benny Feilhaber. It might be time to bring on Jose Francisco Torres along with Kenny Cooper for Altidore.
2nd Half Kickoff: And we're off.
47th min: Altidore sends it across to Bornstein who gives to Feilhaber. Unfortunately, he loses the ball.
50th min: Good effort on the right side by Cherundolo, Altidore and Bradley. But the result ends in a shot wide.
53rd min: Bornstein plays it to Altidore who holds the ball up extremely well, then sends back to Donovan. His cross is handled by Navas.
55th min: Much better possession play for the US. They haven't been able to do anything with it so far, but you get the sense a goal is coming.
56th min: Bornstein's best tackle of the night results in a header chance for Casey at the top of the area, but it would have been something if he finished it.
58th min: I'm not sure what Harkes is talking about? He wants someone to stand up and be counted? To take charge? Has he been watching Altidore? But the man can't do it himself.
59th min: Casey looks poor right now. I'd call for him to be pulled off, but I don't want Altidore picking up a card.
Ruiz fires a shot in that Howard gets to.
61st min: Costa Rica finally counters with some build up. Again it's on the wing. Bocanegra plays it out for a corner. It's dealt with and the US regains possession.
Torres is about to come on.
63rd min: Torres on for Feilhaber. Altidore looks like he's in a little pain.
66th min: Torres' first two touches are good while Casey continues to struggle. The ball falls to Bornstein who puts it out for a goal kick.
67th min: A prolonged Costa Rica possession results in a kick going high.
69th min: Robbie Rogers is coming on. May god have mercy on our souls.
So what does he do? He sends in an incredible cross that Casey heads. It ends up going out for a corner.
Torres whips in a great corner but it's cleared.
71st min: Scary moment. Rogers under pressure tries to play it back short to Onewyu. He misplays it and a chip shot goes over Howard and just wide.
GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The play starts with Altidore holding it up and then laying it off to Rogers. Rogers' cross is met by Bradley and falls to Donovan. His shot is blocked by Bradley is there to finish it. 2-1.
73rd min: Holy Crap. Robbie Rogers is making me look like an idiot. His pace has been incredible. He springs free, unfortunately he can't finish.
76th min: The US looks much better right now; Torres is playing very well in the midfield facilitating the play. Rogers pace is making a difference.
77th min: Robbie Rogers is doing his best Ryan Babel impersonation. He's in everything but isn't able to get over the hump. Cherundolo brings in a great lob into the box, but Rogers gets no power behind his header.
79th min: Kenny Cooper is on. Casey off. Okay Jozy. Be careful...
Cooper is what the team needs right now...
And Altidore gets free after he sets it up well. But he puts it wide.
82nd min: Altidore wins a corner again. Torres will take it...
Torres sends it in...
Oh geez...
Onewyu... something went in his leg.
84th min: The US has no further subs, but that's irrelevant now. Onewyu looks bad. This is what you fear.
86th min: US is down to 10 men.
87th min: Altidore fouls. No card, but he'd better watch his mouth and mannerisms right now.
89th min: Good push by the US, but Bradley's shot went wide. Meanwhile Rene Simoes, Costa Rica's coach was thrown off for delaying the game.
And another assistant has been sent off.
90th+ min: Torres wins a free kick. He's been excellent since coming on. By the way, five minutes of extra time.
90+min: Corner for the US gets header but Navas makes two good plays. Torres makes two excellent plays in defense and the US counters. Corner...
AND BORNSTEIN SCORES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe it was Torres who took that corner and delivered it perfectly. Bornstein was unmarked and headed it in.
And the US gets the draw. Holy crap, what a finish!
Full Time: They display the Davies jersey- great effort at the end. Down to 10 men and the boys do it. Full marks go to Bornstein and Torres who made the play at the back to strip possession and then who sent that ball into the box.
Costa Rica is sent to fourth place. They get Uruguay in a playoff.
The bad news- Onewyu. It looked like his knee went. Hopefully the damage isn't significant.
Sign off: So that's it for tonight. It's getting late so match ratings will be up tomorrow. Hope you had as much fun with this one as I did.
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