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Thread: For the Soccer fans of the board..US v Mex report from C-bus

  1. #1
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    For the Soccer fans of the board..US v Mex report from C-bus

    Just got back from the shellacking the US delivered to Mexico at Columbus Crew Stadium. Holy $hit what a game to be at. This was an intense atmosphere. The weather was absolutely nuts, I bolded the part in the column below about the weather but it didn't do it justice. At least it calmed down during the game (the wind didn't). But the atmosphere was great, except for a few Mexican fans doing their best Stain fan imitation and challenging everyone to fights for no reason. 2-0 is a great result starting the final round of qualifying. US is in good shape. Great goals both of them.



    U.S. 2-0 Mexico: Bradley sinks El Tri
    COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Michael Bradley scored twice to lead the United States to a 2-0 victory over Mexico in a World Cup qualifier Wednesday night, preserving the Americans' domination in the series over the last nine years.

    "I think everybody on our team was really excited to play tonight," said Bradley, the son of U.S. coach Bob Bradley. "Anytime you play against Mexico, it's special. On top of it, it's for a World Cup qualifier."

    On a wet and windy night at Crew Stadium -- under the threat of a tornado watch -- the Americans ran their record to 9-0-2 on U.S. soil against Mexico since 2000. Tickets had sold out in 90 minutes, with many of the 23,776 fans showing up hours before to stand in the rain while waving flags and wearing their national colors.

    "It's never easy to beat Mexico," Bob Bradley said. "They're a good team, they have very good players. Our players love these games, the atmosphere. It's ironic that we start this round playing against them. But everyone was excited about it."

    After both teams played cautiously at the outset, the Americans finally broke through.

    DaMarcus Beasley's corner kick found Landon Donovan at the far side of the 6-yard box, with Donovan heading it back into the scrum. Oguchi Onyewu's header was stopped by diving Mexico goaltender Oswaldo Sanchez, but the rebound came right into the path of Bradley, who kicked it in from 6 yards.

    "It was a great corner from Beas, and Landon did a great job heading it back," Bradley said. "It was not so hard for me to put it in."

    That touched off a wild celebration just a few feet from the red-clad Sam's Army, which danced in the aisles and threw confetti up into the jet stream winds.

    Then, in second-half stoppage time, Bradley took a pass from Donovan and his shot from 28 yards dipped under Sanchez's arms. It secured the third straight 2-0 win for the Americans over Mexico at Crew Stadium in World Cup qualifying.

    "Clearly there's an advantage [in Columbus] for us, and a disadvantage for them," Donovan said. "Mentally it's got to weigh on them. I can't imagine they like coming here. And we love playing here."

    Mexico captain Rafael Marquez was ejected in the 65th minute when he went high to spike goalkeeper Tim Howard as they went for a loose ball. Howard, who angrily threw the ball down while he flexed his leg, also picked up a yellow card for delay of game on the ensuing free kick.

    "I apologized to the team," Marquez said. "I know I'm important to the team. And I shouldn't set this kind of example. But this is just starting. There are still many important games."

    The loss could mean more trouble for Mexico coach Sven-Goran Eriksson. His team, with just one win in its last seven outings, barely made it into the final round of qualifying. A former manager of England, he had been brought on to stop what many Tricolores fans consider an almost unforgivable sin: losing to the United States. Mexico easily controlled the series for decades, but the U.S. team has now gone 13-7-8 since 1990 to narrow Mexico's advantage to 29-15-11.

    "Football is a big sport and, face it, sometimes it's not a friend of [patience]," Eriksson said. "But I'm optimistic because I think we have a good team. We have to score goals -- that's our biggest problem."

    Michael Bradley said it was the Americans' defense which spelled the difference.

    "We did a real nice job of getting after them and not letting them breathe," Bradley said.

    The match was the first of 10 in the final round of qualifying for each team. The United States next plays at El Salvador on March 28 before taking on Trinidad and Tobago on April 1 in Nashville, Tenn. Mexico entertains Costa Rica on March 28.

    Both teams played somewhat guardedly in the opening minutes, thrusting and parrying to determine how the ball would react in the windy conditions and what the opposition strategy was.

    Mexico had one strong scoring chance stopped by Howard's leg save and another shot was high over the crossbar in the first 6 minutes. The United States' best early scoring chance came in the 22nd minute after a foul just outside the box. From 22 yards, Donovan's hard, low kick was just wide left.

    The Americans also had another prime opportunity in the 31st minute when Donovan headed the ball to Clint Dempsey for a hard shot that Sanchez deflected with the lower part of his body.

    Bradley then broke the impasse.

    Mexico's best shot at tying came in the 71st minute when Carlos Ochoa was wide right on a kick from 34 yards.

    The weather was relatively calm once the game got under way. A steady rain pelted the stadium most of the afternoon. Then around 90 minutes before the start, a mammoth storm front rolled through, shaking the windows around the stadium, blowing away anything that wasn't tied down and reducing visibility to almost nothing.

    Shortly after, crews came out twice to squeegee the field. Stadium officials warned the early-arriving spectators to seek shelter under the stands after a violent lightning strike not far away.

    With temperatures throughout the day in the 60s, a cold front came through to create dangerous possibilities. At gametime, it was 52 degrees.


    Fans from 43 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and, of course, Mexico snapped up the tickets. Hours before the game, the fans were singing, chanting, drumming and blowing on horns while wearing 3-foot wide sombreros, national flags and Uncle Sam hats.

    Notes: The United States has not lost a home match to a continental rival since 2001, going 37-0 with 10 draws. Included in that domination is a sterling record at Crew Stadium, home of the 2008 Major League Soccer champions. The Americans are unbeaten in eight international games (5-0-3) in Crew Stadium and are 4-0-2 in World Cup qualifiers. ... On Feb. 28, 2001, the Americans won 2-0 in 28-degree weather, with ice fringing the field -- a match now called Guerra Fria, or the Cold War. They won by the same score
    http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo156/shiek2134/SHIEK.jpg?t=1299014285

  2. #2
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    Re: For the Soccer fans of the board..US v Mex report from C-bus

    Excellent. Way to represent.

    And what a great way to start the hexagonal. The second goal was a bit soft, but it was nice to see Altidore help create the break. Hopefully he gets some playing time at Xerez and then moves back to Villareal sometime next year.

    I was disappointed, however, with the level of possession after the red card. Up a man and a goal i feel they should have been able to knock it around a bit more. But all's well that ends well, I guess.

    And the wind looked crazy on TV.

    Not sure if you caught this but T&T and El Salvador drew which could help if the US runs into disaster at some point.
    In response to his pleas, an officer said: "You think we've never arrested somebody that's made national media? ... We deal with the Bengals all the time."

    [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3880848"]http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3880848[/url]

  3. #3
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    Re: For the Soccer fans of the board..US v Mex report from C-bus

    Yeah snarky, I don't anticipate much trouble for US, but that definitely helps. The wind was insane. Long ball was completely out of play and it continued to amaze me how much they tried to use it. If you noticed though, the 2nd half US was going against the wind. Even balls on the ground were getting pushed back, it was tough going that way, a man up or not. Mexico in the first half probably was in offensive territory for 8 minutes I'd say. So they didn't fare much better. I was pleased with the overall level of play, particularly the defense and midfield. Ching/Donovan combo needs to be shelved. I've given up on Donovan pretty much. He gets the ball and rarely creates anything (although he had a part in that last goal if i'm not mistaken...i have to re-watch it on tv).

    Altidore is going to be a beast...wait til Adu gets back into the lineup as well, this team isn't even close to peaking.

    Andy good god, Gooch is a beast in person.
    http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo156/shiek2134/SHIEK.jpg?t=1299014285

  4. #4
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    Re: For the Soccer fans of the board..US v Mex report from C-bus

    Freakin awesome!!!! I'm watching teh dvr'd copy of mine and right after Bradley scored the first goal and goes to the corner to celebrate...this mexican dude takes his jersey off and starts waving it, then to the left of him someone was waving a Steelers flag!! Nation representation!
    http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo156/shiek2134/SHIEK.jpg?t=1299014285

  5. #5
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    Re: For the Soccer fans of the board..US v Mex report from C-bus

    I find it concerning that Adu can't get playing time on a middle of the table team in League1 - and this after his struggles at Benefica. I know he's added creativity when he has played on the USMNT - but I wonder if he has the consistency. Not saying he is a 'bust' but I'm seeing him more and more as an average to slightly above average member of the USMNT.

    I think at this point, Altidore shows much more promise and from what I have heard of him in interviews, he has the necessary humility to continue improving.
    In response to his pleas, an officer said: "You think we've never arrested somebody that's made national media? ... We deal with the Bengals all the time."

    [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3880848"]http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3880848[/url]

  6. #6
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    Re: For the Soccer fans of the board..US v Mex report from C-bus

    Totally agree with you. Alitidore doesn't have that "chosen one" status that Adu had as well. I like Adu's play set up more than any finishing or anything. He can put a ball anywhere, great passing skills. I could care less about his fancy moves and what not. Just pass the ball and get Jozy into space, that should be his job.
    http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo156/shiek2134/SHIEK.jpg?t=1299014285

  7. #7
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    Re: For the Soccer fans of the board..US v Mex report from C-bus

    Man, i am jealous Shiek, that must have been awesome!!! I was getting all pumped up during the National Anthem and went apeshyte on the free kick that we missed wide left. I freakin HATE the Mexican Keeper and loved the 2 goals we put on his sorry arse.

    Guess those Donovan voodoo dolls didnt work.

  8. #8
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    Re: For the Soccer fans of the board..US v Mex report from C-bus

    They worked on him and his play...but they didn't need a doll for that. I guess he had the nice header to set up the first goal....

    Got there just in time for our National Anthem and i was stoked as well.

    I think Oswaldo Sanchez is a very good goalkeeper. He doesn't irk me as much as that rat ba$tard Marquez. I put him up there in the hate list with Ray Ray the Knife. I was so glad to see him sent off. He's dirtier than most guys...
    http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo156/shiek2134/SHIEK.jpg?t=1299014285

  9. #9
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    Re: For the Soccer fans of the board..US v Mex report from C-bus

    yeah, that guy is a d-bag, glad he got tossed too.
    ... still dont know why we got a yellow though.

  10. #10
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    Re: For the Soccer fans of the board..US v Mex report from C-bus

    Howard was kinda walking away from the scrum and was frustrated that his leg was hit and he slammed the ball down or threw it off the field or something. Kinda dumb.
    http://i371.photobucket.com/albums/oo156/shiek2134/SHIEK.jpg?t=1299014285

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