USA Mens National Team Secures a Tie

Written By;

Anthony Sanchez

Team USA came into tonight's game against Panama knowing they were already secured into the next stage and it was evident in their first half play. There was a great crowd out in Sporting Park, Kansas City and the atmosphere was electric, wish I could say the same for the U.S. team first half effort, which lacked excitement, fire and or motivation followed up by too many turnovers.

Panama's Blas Perez scored in the 34th minute taking advantage of a lackadaisical U.S. team early on, but then the U.S. team seem to regroup at the half coming out with a bit more urgency and energy. Michael Bradley answered in the 55th minute to help team USA secure a tie at one apiece, with the tie the U.S. finish atop of group (A) with seven points.

There was plenty of bad to speak of in the first half, but the U.S. team found a way to turn things around in the second half thanks to better pressure on the ball, energy and started pushing rather than sitting back and reacting.

Goalkeeper Brad Guzan for the U.S. had a solid showing tonight coming up with some timely saves to help protect a 1-1 tie, After watching tonight's game I still have depth and some serious concerns for team USA heading into the knockout stage.

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Plenty To Cheer About For Team USA In Route To A Tie Against Portugal

Posted By:

Anthony Sanchez

The match against Portugal did not start how team USA wanted they were stunned early on around the fifth minute when Geoff Cameron completely missed a clearance attempt which in turn left Portugal's Nani wide open in the far post for a shot past Tim Howard to take a very early lead of one to zero. Team USA looked a little nervous early on you can say they came out a bit tight, but as the half went on team USA seemed to settle down and loosen up. The tide began to turn when Clint Dempsey just missed on a free kick that went over the cross bar, Michael Bradley had a couple of opportunities where he came close to scoring twice and just seemed to lift the spirits of the American fan base that was present in Brazil and seemed to spark some life into the team heading into the half all be it down one to zero.

The first ten minutes of the second half seemed like a mirror image of the first Portugal had taken control, was applying constant pressure and had team USA's defense on its heels. The game seemed to slow down in the second half as the weather started to affect the players, but one player who could not blame the weather for not looking like himself was Christiano Ronaldo who's knee injury was affecting him more then he lead on.

Team USA kept clawing, scratching and fighting until they finally broke through in the sixty-fourth minute of the match Jermaine Jones with a laser past Portugal's goalie to even things up at one a piece. Portugal did not let up either, but USA's defense was tough and did a good job challenging passes and shots, the constant was the the struggle an clear frustration on the face of Christiano Ronaldo and at no other time was the frustration more apparent then when Ronaldo got loose and had an opportunity to score past Tim Howard instead his shot did not have the typical crisp touch and in turn went off target. Team USA in never give up fashion took the lead in the eighty-first minute off a goal by Clint Dempsey, who was set up beautifully by Graham Zusi making it two to one at that point.

In the end it looked like team USA was well on their way to move on from group play, but not so fast with seconds left in the match Christiano Ronaldo found an extra gear getting free on the right and sent a perfect cross to Silvestre Valera who then fired a header past Tim Howard to tie the game at two a piece. That was the shot that left all Americans stunned & with shear disbelief of how close we came to advancing, all is not lost as long as team USA can win or tie versus Germany they will move on to the next round. It can be very easy to second guess what happened in the end, was it great play from a great player, did the defense of team USA wear out, did USA get lazy, but in all honesty team USA should feel good about the position that it is in considering we have the chance to move on which no one gave this team a chance to do so.

 I say believe in USA and a big congratulations is in order for the job that coach Jurgen Klinsmann  has done especially not having one of their best players in Jozy Altidore who was scratched for this game due to injury. Stay Tuned for team USA's next game game versus Germany on June 26th, 2014 (Thursday), as we have the opportunity to advance to the round of sixteen.

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Team USA Victorious In Game one of World Cup Play Versus Ghana

Posted By: 

Anthony Sanchez 

The World Cup could of not got started any better for the US Men's National Team as they won their opening match versus Ghana two to one. The game by no means was a perfect performance, but it did show us the resilience and the never say die attitude that this team possess.

The game got started with an electrifying Clint Dempsey score just less than one minute into the game, which was considered to be one of the fastest goals in world cup history making the game at that point one to zero. I will say for the most part Ghana was the better team, the U.S. team was in flat out survival mode trying to keep Ghana's constant attack on goal to a minimum.

The Ghana team statistically dominated the U.S. especially holding fifty-nine percent of the possession's in the match, which in turn led to plenty of shots on goal. The gut wrenching moment came in the eighty second minute when Ghana scored the equalizer to tie the game one a piece and it just seemed like the air was let out of the balloon at that point.

In true american fashion we stood up, fought back and in the eighty sixth minute hero John Brooks scores a goal to put the team ahead two to one, he was inserted at halftime due to injury to starting center back Matt Bessler . That would not be the only injuries that team USA would suffer in this match, early on in the twenty third minute of the match Jozy Altidore went down with a strain of the hamstring, Clint Dempsey also was injured when he took a foot to the face and needed to have his nose packed during the match, reports were that more then likely he had a broken nose.

Team USA had some heroes on this day, while many will not be recognized I took notice on a couple of guys that should be mentioned for their extraordinary effort and tenaciousness which are; Jermaine Jones who was an absolute rock in the midfield for the U.S. matching Ghana's physicality, Kyle Beckerman who just seemed to be at the right place at the right time and what can you say about the job that Tim Howard did coming up with key saves and how he balanced his back line.

In the end it was not the best game played, but team USA found a way to steal a game and to secure three points. Team USA not only survived, but showed off their fighting spirit in the midst of obstacles and adversity throughout the match, stay tuned for team USA next Opponent on Sunday 06/22/14 against Portugal.

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Preview of The US Men's National Soccer Team World Cup 2014

Posted by:

Anthony Sanchez

 

The United States Men's National Soccer Team embarks on a tough journey, it all begins with merely surviving and advancing out of "Group G" which might I add is made up of Germany, Ghana & Portugal. In less than two weeks the gauntlet begins, the world cup officially starts June 12th, 2014 we go into this world cup without a former captain in Landon Donovan. Manager Jurgen Klinsman felt he was not worthy of a twenty-three man roster spot, although i would think with a team who generally has trouble scoring goals wouldn't you want a person who can score goals and has for team USA in previous world cups? I believe i would, but I am not the manager and I will be cheering proudly for the team assembled who does have Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley leading the way.

This USA roster is made of the players; Jozy Altidore, Damarcus Beasley, Kyle Beckerman, Alejandro Bedoya, Matt Berler, Michael Bradley, John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, Timmy Chandler, Brad Davis, Clint Dempsey, Mix Diskerud, Omar Gonzalez, Julian Green, Brad Guzan, Tim Howard, Aron Johannsson, Fabian Johnson, Jermaine Jones, Nick Rimando, Chris Wondolowski, Deandre Yedlin and last but not least Graham Zusi.

All is not roses heading into this world cup, much concern for the teams center back situation has grown troubling. Routinely the back four have conceded too much room, lack spatial awareness and as a team USA further exposed holes in their game that teams like Portugal, Ghana and Germany will capitalize on.

The other worry I see is Jozy Altidore's lack of scoring, but then again he has been doing other things well; bullied his away around opening up space and continued to draw free kicks.  A player to keep an eye on is Fabian Johnson, he has given everything manager Jurgen Klinsman has demanded of him especially in pushing the pace, getting forward, finishing goal opportunities and swinging in dangerous balls.

There is no sugar coating the fact that coming out of this group is a long shot, but we have seen miracles occur before, USA has to play with reckless abandon, a team that has nothing to lose, a team that is using house money to bet. I urge all Americans to support our  Men's National Soccer Team as we try to do the impossible and literally shock the world. Stay Tuned on June Sixteenth at 7 pm when Team USA takes on it first opponent GHANA.

My final thought is that i do believe we are younger, quicker and have added good scorers, the worry comes by way of our defense who continually seems to allow penetration. The positive, we do have a very good goal keeper in Tim Howard who helps align the defense and is very vocal on what he see's in front of him. I think team USA will give it all they have, we will see an energized bunch out there ready to compete and leave it all on the field. I leave you with these final words, USA, USA, USA, lets show the world we have heart, passion, lay down for no one and show them the perseverance that makes this country great.


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