US-Honduras, the defense (R)

[superdave]

They were hung out to dry by Dempsey on the first goal, but they got their feet under them and played well. Spector was extremely strong.

[cleansheetbsc]

That was a hell of an effort by the five of them.

[DaMa]

Should probably just merge this thread with the spector thread since I expect he is what everyone is going to be talking about. In fairness, Bornstein was several magnitudes better than Beasely. That left side with he and Donovan looked like the most alive we've seen that side of the field in a long time. I will have to look at the goal again but I still get the feeling we are giving up shots when we should be stepping into attackers earlier.

[ty webb]

Great performances all around.

Spector was brilliant.

[FCmagic01]

To be honest Boca on Onyewu are both at fault for the first goal. Boca let Costly run across the field, Onyewu didn't pick him up, and then didn't close him down.

Otherwise the backline was awesome. Spector was the beast down the wing. Bornstein never gave up. And what to say about Boca on the goal, guy is captain for a reason.

[Tonerl]

Bornstein showed why you like him, and why he drives you crazy. His passing is dangerous...in the bad way. But he's very good against dribblers and can help you attack if he can get to the by-line.

Bocanegra and Onyewu were both very good.

Spector made Bob's reluctance to play him look even weirder.

[Scotty]

I thought that Bornstein had a solid game overall. Enough to get a start in the next game, too.

His finally getting regular, consistent playing time at left back for his club (last season with Chivas he was often played in midfield) is starting to pay off.

[DaPrince84]

I thought Spector played very well

Bornstein was okish...

like it was pointed out earlier, Gooch and Boca were at fault for the first goal... and if they had anyone else but Pavon up top, Honduras could have gotten 3 in that first half

[OWN(yewu)ED]

Spector just made bob look like a stupid-face.

Bornstein's ok is the best we have at that position right now. Ill take it.

[CHthirteen]

Spector just made bob look like a stupid-face.

Bornstein's ok is the best we have at that position right now. Ill take it.

I think that DeMerit put in a good enough shift, at least in his few minutes, to at least try starting him, and playing Boca at LB for a game or two. If Spector can keep that form, and DeMerit can continue to hang in there, it'd be an unbelievable improvement from what we've seen in recent games from the back four.

[YankBastard]

Glad to see the one that BB did well was to bring in Johnny Specs. Something he should have done at Costa Rica.

Overall the defense was solid. Would still like to see Zak Whitbread.

[MrHobbles]

Very, very nervous ten minutes with Beasley at left back. Otherwise decent effort except for the first goal of course.

[YankBastard]

Very, very nervous ten minutes with Beasley at left back. Otherwise decent effort except for the first goal of course.

Left back? He was attacking.

[UxSxAxfooty]

Very, very nervous ten minutes with Beasley at left back. Otherwise decent effort except for the first goal of course.
Nervous? I was yelling at my TV watching Beasley absolutely clueless about positioning and marking space. Honduras knew it too - they kept attacking down the right and it almost worked. It was a disaster waiting to happen.

The better adjusment would've been to move Spector to the left and Clark to RB, but I digress.

[Craig P]

Left back? He was attacking.
After Bornstein's cramp, Bornstein went to right mid briefly, then to forward. Beasley went to left back, Dempsey went back to right mid.

[NoSix]

Analysis of the goal:
Before anyone gets the wrong idea, let me state that obviously Dempsey made an egregious error in turning the ball over in a dangerous spot to begin with. That said, the goal might have been avoided if not for a second, much more subtle error. After the turnover, it was still a 3 on 3 situation: Palacios, Guevara, and Costly versus Bocanegra, Onyewu, and Bornstein. Costly runs down the right wing marked by Bornstein and then makes a great run across the top of the defense. Bornstein attempts to pass Costly off to Bocanegra just at the instant when Bocanegra is setting himself up to tackle the onrushing Palacios. Either Bornstein should have stayed with Costly's run, or he should have passed Costly off to Boca and tackled Palacios, but by passing Costly off to Boca and falling back to passively observe the rest of the play, he turned a manageable 3 on 3 situation into a deadly 3 on 2.

That said, full credit to Honduras. The timing of Costly's run was exquisite, the pass from Palacios perfectly weighted, and Costly's finish sublime. Guevara also made a great run to the near post, which was tracked correctly by Onyewu.

[Tonerl]

3 versus 3 should be considered and advantage for the attacking side.

[NoSix]

3 versus 3 should be considered and advantage for the attacking side.

Oh, and why is that?

The point is: Bornstein misplayed the situation, not Bocanegra and Onyewu as claimed by previous posters.

[Tonerl]

Oh, and why is that?

It is. A lot of the times counters occur, there are the same number of defenders as attackers involved. The advantage comes from defenders having to move toward their own goal. If they can continue to face, they have the disadvantage of running backwards. If not, they have to turn their backs on most of the play.

It's a basic tenet of soccer that you have to defend with seven when attacked by six. It's why you see nine back when a team is pinned against the opponents front-six-plus-fullbacks.

The point is: Bornstein misplayed the situation, not Bocanegra and Onyewu as claimed by previous posters.

I thought both Bornstein and Onyewu made mistakes there, but as you say Dempsey has to take the lion's share. Onyewu chased out of his zone and wasn't in position to step to Costly.

[JohnR]

3 versus 3 should be considered and advantage for the attacking side.

It is, but 3v2 is even better!

In fairness to our defenders, Honduras played that counterattack to perfection. They looked like Man U for that particular 7 seconds. Fortunately, the comparison ended after that.