The impressive thing baout the Gio goal is the accuracy in the placement--he put it right in that top corner. The GK actually touched the ball but Gio placed it so well that the only thing that the Tigres GK did was to push the ball up against the bar which then forced the ball in. Either way it was going in.
Giovinco deserved a spot on the bench but he's not the reason why Italy didn't qualify. He's not a starter for Italy
Is this the first year there was a belief that MLS teams could go to Mexico and earn results? I think so.
right now MLS is +7 in goal differential, this could be the first season of CCL that MLS finishes with a positive goal differential vs. LMX.
As good as that fk goal was, let's not overlook the cool, calm composure Carioca exhibited. He controlled it first time, realized he had space, picked his spot, and rolled it past the keeper. That was a professional finish.