Ocampo-Chavez in for Freeman 64' Reyna moves central and it looks like Ocampo-Chavez out to the left it looks like.
After a corner, the ball was cleared and the Guatemala player just kicked Yow in the shin when the ref wasnt looking
Another generation of frustrated butchers! They will grow up to hack the heck out of our guys in C'Caf or MLS.
It's a tradition by now. Some of you who have been around a while might remember the USA's WCQ against them in Washington DC back in 1996. One of the dirtiest teams I can recall us playing against.
The midfield I actually want to see start. Leyva, Saldana, Fuentes. Sub in Reyna for Yow and that front 6 is solid.
Leyva pounches on an under hit outlet by Guatemala, plays a one-two with Fuentes, and hits a cross from the endline that Ocampo-Chavez heads in from point blank range at the back post. 3-0 US 86' Ocampo-Chavez had swapped wings with Yow at the 80th minute after the third sub.
3-0 US FT The second half was mostly played in the Guatemala half. The US continue making their way through the Gua sides, taking on Guadeloupe in the Round of 16. Game is Thursday 5/9 at 6:00 eastern. The winner faces the Panama - Guatemala victor in the quarterfinals for a ticket to the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Game was fine. Seemingly no injuries. Job done. Our path to the U17 World Cup is set. Need to beat Guadeloupe and then winner of Panama/Guatemala.
Solid win. Started shaky. Guatemala started strong, bright, and had some moments. They played the game as if it lasts only 20 minutes though. Physically, mentally and tactically just petered out. We dominated for most of game. Yow scored twice but he just doesn't have enough strength and is very loose on the ball. Armour is just over his head. He just gives the ball away for nothing. Liked Ocampo on wing moves nicely with ball. I just like Kayo on the ball nothing scares him. Except maybe break aways. I like Leyva Kayo midfield with a Gray/Axel CB Kobe on the left (won't happen but would like to see it) Scally and Ocampo, Reyna, Pepi for forwards. Fuentes or Busio as #10.
Reynya (the PA announcer said it too) needs plenty of refinement in his mentality to not try and take on the world, or with his vision. But that kid has about as much talent as any American prospect ever. He's solidly sized, has above average speed, moves, excellent technique, at least basic footballing instinct, etc. He plays with effort when he needs to. If he puts it together he could be world class. Even if he doesn't he has a high floor for this age range. I'd be shocked if he couldn't carve out a career as a pro in a respectable league. Fuentes and AOC provided bumps when they came on. I think Fuentes needs to start in that a-mid spot w/ maybe Reyna moving up to wing. Good adjustment/experiment playing AOC on the wing off the bench with Pepi. AOC now indicated he can make it work "out of position". Put in a defensive shift. Had the pace to join the attack. Slalomed some guys. Interplayed a bit. Of course he can finish if provided service.
52/48 ball possession for the game against Guatemala at home. This age group continues to be comparatively terrible to their peers. How do we evaluate games against teams like Guatemala? Should fans be happy if we beat them? When has Guatemala ever been anything other than very unlikely to beat us at home at any level? The Canada and Barbados performances weren't too good either. There weren't many good performances. Las made a great save to keep Guatemala off the board in the first half. Cuevas was the best player in this game, IMO. I thought Yow had one of the better games I've seen him play. Freeman wasn't bad. AOC was good off the bench, and Pepi was a little better in the second half after an invisible first half. I thought the CM's really struggled. Armour was terrible, Gray was terrible. I am still not convinced of qualification, although the competition isn't so great either. As bad as we are, we should be able to beat a team like Panama to qualify.
So, are we going to talk about the two-studs up slide tackle into our guy's back legs as he shepherded a ball out of play on the near touchline? That an automatic red card anywhere else in the world, and it was only a yellow card...
Who makes up these numbers definately not 52/48. It was 80-20 in the 2nd half and I'll give them 50/50 in the first half. I have always wanted to figure out how they calculate possession. Dude you have to lighten up on your all knowing arrogance. We only play who we play.
It looked more like a yellow than red. I initially thought it was a red. Thats the type of challenge I would've liked to see our players get mad about. It wasn't that far off a legal challenge, but it was so unnecessary. If you want to challenge for that ball, you can try to knock the guy out of the way with your shoulder. Sliding into his legs is very dirty.
Not a dominating victory, but an authoritative enough one under the circumstances. We had nothing to play for, and Guatemala needed only avoid an absurdly pornographic loss. So in light of all that cruising to a 3-goal win seems fine. Mostly I'm just glad to see this team get more than one day off in between games before the next one. Three matches in five days is a brutal pace.
CONCACAF says 52/48. Where did I say I know all? Feel free to disagree with what I said, but I don't think its right to accuse me of arrogance because I have an opinion you don't agree with.