Actually, Ives is mistaken. A draw against Nigeria clinches advancement. I just quickly worked out all the possible scenarios, and we hold the tiebreakers over Nigeria in all cases where we are tied with them. Nigeria has the same GD as us.
A choke of EPIC proportions. This is why the US will always be an also-ran in the world of soccer. Golden opportunity squandered by a stupid young player (Holden). Nigeria will beat them and US will go home. P.S. Maybe they should have paid heed to the wise sage Balboa and "knock it around" more.
In stoppage time...nobody with space to pass the ball to...kick it to the corner and waste 20 seconds...
Frustrating results, but what a game. I think our boys silenced doubters about whether they could play. Freddy, Alti, Holden (yes, Holden) and Sasha were brilliant in maintaining possession and creating chances. I hope this was a small snapshot of WC 2010.
Piss poor way to end it. Oh well. the 2nd goal was still huge, as it gives us the GF advantage over Nigeria.Which puts Nigeria in a must win position.
Typical USA soccer. One step forward, one step back, and you're home in time for the next round of NFL exhibitions. I have exactly zero hope for Nigeria. I suspect they're going to get killed.
Funny how being a fan works. Before the tournament started I would've been very happy to hear that the U.S. would get four points out of the first two games. Right now I feel like a UFC fighter just punched me in the gut.
where is everyone getting this we only need a draw thing? If we draw and netherlands win, then the table is Neth. - 5 pts. Nigeria - 5 pts. U.S. - 5 pts. Japan - 0 pts. Hence it goes to goal diff. right? and we're only +1 so we GO HOME
If Nowak had used our final sub 2 minutes into extra time we'd be in the quarters. Honestly, how can leave a sub on the bench when you're trying to hold onto a lead in extra time? How? Can anyone explain that?
You know what would be nice? If Japan won or drew. Now I have to cheer with the very co-workers I was teasing on Thursday.
Disastrous game management from 80:00, it was awful! We invited a goal. You simply can't just keep kicking up the pitch like that and not getting some support, you either build from the back and run it up or you support the long kicks with at least 3 guys. But I think a draw was hard on us... and I never thought I'd say that against the Dutch - so well done boys!
Something I learned a long time ago. You play to cautious and it will come back and bite you in the ass. Especially when you're playing a good team. US played way to cautious the last 8 minutes or so against a good Dutch team.
Thats what will get overlooked. That should have been the clincher. Sadly, Sacha NOT just booting the ball downfield is what led to the chance and the free kick. How frustrating.
Holden was great for most of the game. His workrate in the middle of the field had a dramatic impact on the game. Unfortunate that he lost his head towards the end. Nowak proved he's smarter than BS. Going with Kljestan again was the right move. (Can't believe he didn't sub out Holden or Kljestan late, though.) Benny has his big chance to earn a transfer in the next game.
Holden blew it in the last 5 minutes - not passing the ball on the breakaway and then the foul. He had a decent game up until then, but you gotta learn from your mistakes - I'll be looking forward to seeing him come out on fire against Nigeria. I am not a fan of Klesjan in the midfield, he is just not a good passer of the ball. He got a good goal, but past that he has been awful. Feilhaber is a much better option in the midfield, IMO. The wall shouldn't jump when the ball is that close to the 18. Almost every stirker is going to go low when they are that close to the box, we should have known that. All in all, a game that is going to teach us a little bit about how to win. We've got the "what not to do" scenario down, hopefully we learn from this and come out strong against Nigeria.
Well that's what I get for skipping church. Let's put this in perspective though. We were lucky to get a win against Japan. I'll gladly take an "unlucky" draw against the Netherlands. Yeah, we should have held on for the win. We're OK though. So much for sleeping on Wednesday though.