Post-match: USA - Honduras 2018 World Cup Qualifier (Friday, 3/24) postgame thread [R]

Avaya Stadium is the elixir that cures the USMNT. All home qualifiers for USMNT must be played at Avaya Stadium from this moment on.And wow, Pulisic is really good.

 

place looked and sounded good on TV..(especially the Ultra's ).

Avaya looked pretty full for the most part on TV, though a few empty moat seats. Why was section 106 (where our season tickets are) so empty? someone buy a big block and tickets and then not show up or did that section not sell because of the high ticket prices?

Glad to see the USA get back on track.....players seem much more relaxed under BA than they did with JK....lets hope for a similar performance Tuesday against Panama....

 

Here are some pics from section 137, one of the makeshift stands in front of the LOBINA.

 

Here is a video I managed to capture of the Clint Dempsey free kick.

 

I don't remember the last time the USA won this big in a World Cup Qualifying game.The atmosphere at Avaya Stadium was electric!

 

Obviously we fell a few hundred short of a sellout, but US Soccer's strategy of limiting/dispersing Honduran fans via the lottery seemed to have worked...

Early goals had a big role in quieting Honduran fans, but I didn't see a big group of them concentrated in one area...

 

I was in BC27 which was mostly full and about 75% US fans. I'm guessing this wasn't shown on TV since it was on the other side from most of the cameras, but sections 103 and 104 (I think) were at least 75% empty.

Pulisic combined really well with Dempsey, didn't seem like he did with Altidore. I also thought Bradley had an excellent game.

Nagabe was pretty bad in my eyes, but maybe he was given strict instructions to play defensively given that lineup. Finally while we didn't get to see much of Legett (sp?), I didn't think he was very good either.

 

Lletget did a really nice job on his goal, the first of the game. Lots of players would have made a mess of the chance or not even have been in position to have the chance. Also, he was hobbling for a good while before he finally went down and had to be subbed out.

 

Pulisic played some inch perfect passes, like the one to Dempsey for the first goal. Wound up with a goal and 2 assists I think and really made the first goal happen as well though it didn't show up on the stat sheet. Not a bad nights work. I was wondering why Bruce didn't take him out though after it was 6-0 or sooner. Both he and Dempsey. Pulisic in particular was getting hacked pretty badly. I guess Bruce wanted to rack up goals for GD?

 

Fair on the injury... it wasn't clear to me what happened. And yes I'm glad he followed the play and scored. Guess I'll be unconvinced until I see him play a bit more at this level; Arena nepotism has left a bad taste in my mouth that is no fault of Lletget (thanks for the proper spelling!).

 

Injuries?

Pulisic is a really smart player for only being 18. His timing is outstanding... not only his runs, but how quickly he releases the ball, when he goes into a tackle, etc. His quickness and ability to read the game reminds me of LD way back when.

 

Well it doesn't matter how smart or quick you are, sometimes guys are going to get you, especially when they are embarrassed and pissed off. There was at least one time where he was hacked badly and was slow getting up. Plus there's another game in a few days. Why sub defenders. Only thing I can think of is that Bruce wanted to rack up goals and thought that he'd get while the gettin's good.

 

Found Bernardez from last night! From a thread on Reddit, he was on the Honduras TV crew:

 

That pic is not the "Honduras TV crew".

 

ok... I thought that's what the thread said.... I was at the game and haven't seen a recording. Univision?

 

Brooks went out with an injury. Not sure why Zusi was subbed in.

 

Christian Pulisic is only 18 years old and its amazing the skill level he is displaying. If they can produce more players like him, the USA shouldn't have a huge problem qualifying for WC 2018 and going far in the tournament.The problem is developing and finding those types of players.

USA-Honduras: Takeaways from a rare Hexagonal romp

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Video Pick: How Clint Dempsey completed his hat trick

USA-Honduras World Cup Qualifier Player Ratings

By the Numbers: USA ties Hexagonal records with 6-0 win

What They're Saying: Bruce Arena

What They're Saying: Christian Pulisic

 

Pulisic was involved in 5 of the 6 goals. Scored one, assisted on two, had the shot that was saved then tapped in by Llegett, and drew the foul that Dempsey scored on from the free kick. Should have had another assist late in the game when he played that perfect cross to Altidore in front of the goal, but,unfortunately Jozy misplayed it off his chest and it was defended.

 

Probably didn't take him out because two early subs were burned for injuries. Not sure why the Zushi-Cameron switch was made.

 

USA-Honduras World Cup Qualifier Player Ratings ...

 

Oh yeah, that's right, forgot about that. I would have still taken him out instead of Cameron. Him or Dempsey. But right now it seems that Pulisic is the USMNT's most important player. He's the new Donovan, only better I think.

 

Yes Univision crew. That's Marcelo Balboa (former US Nats player) in the pic.