PBP: 2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship: USA vs. Suriname 11/9 5:30 ET

Suriname was done in by that 2-1 loss to Puerto Rico. Had they won a victory over the U.S. without regard to goal difference would have sufficed. I'm interested to see whether this game will be the "toughest" of the group. They did beat T&T 2-0, although we now know that T&T wasn't anywhere near what we thought they might be.

 

Suriname does seem to have some talent. I saw that one of their players is at Feyenoord, for instance.

I also love the fact that a bunch of their kids play for a team called FC Robinhood. Now that's a club name.

 

From the USSoccer preview:

• The two countries have met twice at the competition, with each team winning once.
• The first meeting came on Aug. 25, 1986 in Trinidad with Suriname edging the USA 1-0 in the final match of the first round.
• The teams’ last encounter was on March 29, 2011, with the USA claiming a 4-0 win off goals by Bobby Wood, Joey Gyau, Conor Doyle and Kelyn Rowe.
• Though 16 players are born in 1999 or 2000, the team also features three 16-year-olds in Ferando Hoepel, Damelcio Fer and Zerguinho Deira.

https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/20...cacaf-title-defense-on-nov-1-in-bradenton-fla

 

There are quite a few '02s at this tournament -- plus two '03s, both playing for Sint Maarten. (Haiti is the closest thing to a "power" country to bring an '02 or younger.)

 

I say put the scrubs out. The game is practically meaningless.

 

I assume the coach sees things quite differently, although our advancing to the next round is beyond doubt. How can we inject meaning into this 'meaningless game, and use our time on the field to best advantage?

 

Looking ahead ...

Today - final Group A game, USA v Suriname

Tomorrow - add/release (up to) 6 players from the roster

Tuesday, Nov 13 - [Watch] Honduras v Costa Rica

Friday, Nov 16 - USA v Costa Rica

Monday, Nov 19 - USA v Honduras

Wednesday, Nov 21 - Championship Game v Mexico, Panama or El Salvador

Group G
USA
Honduras
Costa Rica

Group H
Mexico
Panama
El Salvador

The top two teams in each final group will go to the World Cup, and the top team in each group will meet in the CONCACAF final. Interestingly, Honduras and Panama have the advantaged position (Games 1 and 3).

 

It's an opportunity to work on things like passing, dribbling, trapping, shooting, defense, positioning, tactics, strategy, conditioning, and other points of soccer. You're welcome!

 

Thanks, and that's not all. Let's assume the coach knows who's joining the team over the weekend (and that he's not just hoping for an early Christmas). There might be a couple of players (now on the roster) he wants to see one more time before he cuts them loose. He might want to see if a certain player can play/back-up a certain position. He might have a player nursing a bit of an injury, or one he feels he cannot risk being injured (in a game where the score is not really of consequence).

He could give certain players specific instructions. Why not have our midfielders practice their long-rang shooting (in game-like conditions)? Or insist that our backs work the ball out - even under pressure - rather than blasting it out?

And he should certainly be thinking ahead to games v Costa Rica and Honduras.

 

Check out @ussoccer_ynt’s Tweet:

Unfinished business. Meet our starting XI playing to win the group at #CU20! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/PTbuFzjNBo

— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) November 9, 2018

 

Do we know who the (up to) 6 players we're going to add are?

 

Dest and Amon are the only two I think are fairly certain.

But I’m sure there will be more.

Is Ledezma healthy now?

Sotto would be great to have in, but who knows.

 

Looks like:
Scott
Lindsey-McKenzie-Rogers-Gloster
Torres
Mendez-Amaya
Dorsey-Akinola-Pomykal

 

Nice FK from Mendez...1-0

 

Get in, Méndez! Really nice free kick.

That kid is smooth.

 

Dorsey wins a free kick 25 yards from the box. Mendez fires it into the net

1-0 US 7th minute

Stream: https://www.concacafgo.com/cu20c/live/db8c39de-5d29-4a68-97dc-1c99fc414eb1

Game is also on Univision Deportes

 

Akinola with the first touch of his life, then just gives it away. This guy kills me.

 

Pomykal taken down in the box.

Dorsey's PK saved.

 

I wouldn’t trust Dorsey to score in a brothel.

 

Mendez should have taken it. If Dorsey is not replaced Ramos should be replaced.

 

He shoots the same all the time. Lots of power, very close to the GK.

 

Dollars to donuts Dorsey's leaving after this game, I'm not going to freak out over a bad PK. So long as he doesn't take the next one...

 

Pomykal and Gloster combine out wide. Gloster's then sends in a cross that is headed home by McKenzie.

2-0 US 26'