PBP: MLS N&A Running USMNT and other International Games Thread {R}

Dumb to try to tackle for the ball while behind the attacker.

 

And PK is saved.

Game got real CONCACAFy drama real fast

 

Following the save, three El Salvador players fouled the Canadian who got to the ball first, then one guy elbowed another Canadian player in the face. Gotta be another red for El Slavador.

 

Lol. And a stupid elbow and red to ES

 

El Salvador . . . love the "passion", but guys, you totally coulda won this match.

 

I actually think El Salvador has been given fewer yellows than deserved this half.

 

The old Canada would find a way to lose this 2-0.

 

We might be fixin' to get the most CONCACAF half of football ever CONCACAFed.

 

They may end up forfeiting this game due to reds at this rate.

 

They're gonna take the "my brother playing against me on FIFA 96" strategy.

 

Lol. Honduran GK with one of worst adventuring in GK leading to an own goal

 

El Salvador es no bueno.

Last time they beat a team above #170 in the world was January 2022.

 

Already one foul by ES that should have been a yellow, not given.

 

That scorebug is not intuitive. The +2 makes me think it’s minutes, not reds.

 

That was a precise finish by Jonathan David.

Now ES to get more CONCACAFy

 

Good finish from Jonathan David. 1-0 and the floodgates (and foul-gates?) are about to open.

 

The other game is where the action is now.

 

If I were Canada, at 3-0 I'd keep it around midfield rather than run up the score and risk injury.

 

Lol. What did the ball hit? A rooftop camera? So CONCACAFy

 

I want Curaçao to win to punish Honduras for wearing LAFC replicas just like Panama.

 

Stoppage time goal for Honduras to end it for Curaçao.

 

We are easily the most overrated team in the region. I sounded the alarm in another thread after the Guatemala game, which I quote below but it is long so I will just sum up my updated takeway as follows:

Yes, our Group B for fall world cup qualifying is "easy" (Curacao, Trinidad, Bermuda), but there is absolutely no reason to believe that a Jamaica team that shows the level of tactical and mental preparation and effort displayed at this Gold Cup is a lock to top that Group B in fall.

Curacao is better on paper than the Guatemalans who dog-walked us last week and had a stronger tournament showing than we did. They can beat us, and I wouldn't be surprised if they did should our current form continue. Trinidad is much worse than Curacao but they will be motivated and ready to take advantage of us going to sleep like we did this summer.

McLaren simply hasn't gotten the most out of this player pool, and we look tactically and mentally underprepared each time we have taken the field after the Unity Cup showing at the end of May (where we secured that credible 2-2 regular time draw against a strong Nigeria team). His job is to set the team up to succeed and that job doesn't look done - we look lost.

We lost Isaac Hayden, who admittedly is a very key player (one we really haven't had in our player pool in recent years, Jamaica doesn't produce many pro-caliber #6s), but even if I accept that excuse (I don't), there's no reason for the loss of a single player to totally destroy a team like this. We've gotten good results without a player like that in the pool before (see: previous 5 Gold Cups). This is bad man management and preparation, period.

The players seem a bit undermotivated as well - maybe the World Cup is all that's on their mind, and they're so focused on that they've overlooked this summer. But even if that is true (and it is the most charitable interpretation I think I can give), it's hard to argue that one can just "switch on" motivation on a whim after being lackadaisical for so long.

I'll try to be optimistic. Players will be more motivated in fall, McLaren will improve just enough on his tactics/prep/motivation with the lessons from this summer, the opponents will be a little easier than the ones we faced in this group stage, Hayden will be fit again and maybe a handful of other players enter the side to shore up the central midfield and improve depth.

That's as optimistic as I can get, and it still feels like a stretch right now. Time will tell, I guess.

 

You know, it was very nice to see El Salvador actually punished for their attempt at physical intimidation against Canada. It's been used against the USMNT many times without a single ejection.

 

Referee absolutely vaporized a Honduran player with her glare around 73 minutes.

 

Honduras wins on penalties. Lame that there is no extra time this year.