Oh the offensive performance was absolutely terrible, but the only things that matter to me are 1)qualifying and 2) doing so in a way that ensures our ranking stays high enough that we remain in Pot 2. If we do that I do not care at all who finishes first, whether it's us or Mexico (or Canada).
I don't think that data means anything. The rest of CONCACAF has improved dramatically. I don't think that history means anything. Mexico and Costa Rica have already failed to win in Panama as well. So maybe Panama isn't Andorra. And maybe Panama in 2021 isn't the same as Panama in 2001. Hell, we failed to beat Panama at home at the 2015 and 2017 Gold Cups. So what are we talking about here? I don't know. Its as if people are surprised that Panama is competent. What I'll say about Panama is they used their A lineup in the first two games. We'll see what they have left in this third game. While we did the opposite. We gambled and saved for the CR match. A gamble we lost.
I guess we want a draw between Panama-Canada, El Salvador win versus Mexico, and Jamaica win versus Honduras.
Im rooting for draws in all other matches every matchday! Nobody can really build a huge point total with all draws and qualifying SHOULD be a given.
Table at halftime of the USA-Costa Rica match and close to 30 minutes into Canada-Panama. Mexico 11 Panama 11 USA 9 Canada 7 Costa Rica 7 El Salvador 5 Honduras 3 Jamaica 2 Edit - Canada scores literally one minute after I posted this lol
Been watching the entire match, and I can tell you the visuals match the stats. Honduras has looked abysmal. It's been refreshing to see us look dominant for once, but this isn't what you expect in San Pedro Sula. They're sloppy, struggling to create any chances, can't seem to get out of their own half consistently, and aren't able to overwhelm our depleted midfield. It's perplexing, but I'll take it.
Here is a link to watch the goal and the buildup. He ran like 60-70 yards to keep that in and score. Incredible. https://streamja.com/OBAqn
Start with the speed to get there. Because everyone including the cameraman thinks it's going out. He had to be close to twice as far as the defender. Then even to think about trying to save the ball with a rabona. Then just solid in finishing it.
You don’t have to always tie on the road, it’s the goal but not necessary to get 7 road points overall. especially when there have been many many ties in the octagonal.
That was amazing. Like watching the bionic man from the 1970s. Can you imagine knowing you are capable of such things?
I know, but we lost to the team that might be most likely to bump us into 4th. A draw would’ve had them two points further back, and us much more likely to go through.
You’re right, it’s a bad loss from the perspective that you wanted to prevent Panama from getting 3 pts, in reality, from here on out you kind of want USA, Mexico and Canada to just run away with it.
It really sucks that we now lost to Panama... Canada, honestly, look better than we do. Mexico isn’t slowing down. So, it looks like US vs Panama going to the World Cup.