COLUMBUS, Ohio — The USMNT beat El Salvador 1-0 in the ninth game of the 14-match World Cup qualifying Octagonal on Thursday, leaving the U.S. with 18 points and El Salvador with six. Here are my three thoughts on the game:
"a match further south wouldn't have been a one goal game" is a bullshit statement. Do better. "might" works. But soccer isn't a game of certainty, and as a journalist, you know better than statements of certainty.
# 20 flopped when got an opportunity to start. Two good looks at a goal and he could not even make the goalie work. Both shots high over the cross bar.
He makes one of those and the match changes completely.
Pepi should have started the match.
Team has 18 points because of talent not due to superior coaching
The USMNT came out expecting to win. El Salvador wasn't having it. It was fun and spirited contest until Zardes and Morris came in. El Salvador went back on their heels after that. I think El Salv felt disrespected with all of the unknowns (to them) in the lineup.
Three points. No extras or deductions for style. Getting the points is ALL that matters.
Expect to see Pepi, Miles, Arriola, Aaronson, start on Sunday. Wouldn’t surprise me to see 5 or 6 changes from tonight. It’s a VERY tight schedule. Fatigue needs to be a huge consideration. Honduras is a MUST win.
The GK position going forward should be interesting if Matt Turner goes to Arsenal. Because, barring injustices, he & Steffen won’t be playing any games. But what a coup for the USMNT to have *yet another* player join a big club in Europe!
I was glad we won but disappointed in our team. We have nearly all of our top players on hand and healthy. And yet, we squeaked by a doormat team of Concacaf. We looked no better than Salvador. They could easily have tied this one up. When, I keep wondering, are we going to see what we all hope is there? Is there a dominating game in this team? Pulisic looked like no one special. We can’t seem to close out the few opportunities we create. There was, to my eye, no soccer superiority on the US. As I say; happy but disappointed. I just don’t see how we can beat anyone at WC level.
Being at the game it was jarring to see how little of an impact CP had. Was trying to sell some calls and was not emphatic enough on possession. USA will need some more attacking flair to take 3 in Canada.
Sack GGG
Mousah was relatively quiet. I guessed it was because he was on the left? Am I right that he was more of a factor after Pulisic left?
"a match further south wouldn't have been a one goal game" is a bullshit statement. Do better. "might" works. But soccer isn't a game of certainty, and as a journalist, you know better than statements of certainty.
# 20 flopped when got an opportunity to start. Two good looks at a goal and he could not even make the goalie work. Both shots high over the cross bar.
He makes one of those and the match changes completely.
Pepi should have started the match.
Team has 18 points because of talent not due to superior coaching
The USMNT came out expecting to win. El Salvador wasn't having it. It was fun and spirited contest until Zardes and Morris came in. El Salvador went back on their heels after that. I think El Salv felt disrespected with all of the unknowns (to them) in the lineup.
Soccer's number one truism remains that the best chances fall to the guy who probably shouldn't have been starting.
Three points. No extras or deductions for style. Getting the points is ALL that matters.
Expect to see Pepi, Miles, Arriola, Aaronson, start on Sunday. Wouldn’t surprise me to see 5 or 6 changes from tonight. It’s a VERY tight schedule. Fatigue needs to be a huge consideration. Honduras is a MUST win.
The GK position going forward should be interesting if Matt Turner goes to Arsenal. Because, barring injustices, he & Steffen won’t be playing any games. But what a coup for the USMNT to have *yet another* player join a big club in Europe!
Anyone hear anything about why Miles Robinson did not play tonight?
I was glad we won but disappointed in our team. We have nearly all of our top players on hand and healthy. And yet, we squeaked by a doormat team of Concacaf. We looked no better than Salvador. They could easily have tied this one up. When, I keep wondering, are we going to see what we all hope is there? Is there a dominating game in this team? Pulisic looked like no one special. We can’t seem to close out the few opportunities we create. There was, to my eye, no soccer superiority on the US. As I say; happy but disappointed. I just don’t see how we can beat anyone at WC level.
Being at the game it was jarring to see how little of an impact CP had. Was trying to sell some calls and was not emphatic enough on possession. USA will need some more attacking flair to take 3 in Canada.
Bad collision of Jedi’s head into Pulisic’s ribs. Hope he’s okay. Tell him I asked how he’s feeelong
Did Ferreira sleep with Twellmans wife?
My god he was riding him all night. The guy was in great spots, got the assist.
Twellman was way off base. He went in with an agenda