Didn't see this one started so here... Game starts in an hour - I'm headed out now to get there. BTW - for anyone in Dallas, Ben's Halfyard House will *not* be showing the Man U/Arsenal game at 2:00... Hope Adu plays....
Chiva's only beat the canucks 2-1, so anything other than a loss to municipal will give us the 1st place spot in the group.
The US U-17's advance based on goal differential. Tie-breakers are: "(1) goal difference in overall competition; (2) highest gross goals scored in overall competition; (3) head to head competition; (4) least amount of penalty points (caution = 1 point, send off = 2 points); (5) Tournament Manager's decision."
Result now in... US U-17 Nats 1, Municpal 0 US wins the group on GD and advances to the Semi-Finals. Surprising results today as both Municipal and Azurri were blown out on the previous match days, but gave both the nats and chivas tough matches in their final group games today.
I was lucky enough to watch about 3/4 of the match. The US dominated much of the play, but was let down by shaky finishing. Adu showed some amazing skills with the ball. One time he was pinned in the corner by 3 Costa Rican players and somehow managed to slip by all three to make a nice cross. Other players that impressed were Gonzalez, Spector, and Gaven.
The brackets are set up for the US to play the wildcard team. Could we play Chivas again in the semi's or would they move the brackets around if the wildcard team comes from the same group? The goal differential looks to be in Chivas' favor vs. the teams in the other brackets.
The wind was a big factor today. A lot of misplayed balls of punts, free kicks etc. The US looked like the needed the field to be 10-20 yards longer. Several thru balls got gobbled up by the keeper but would have been good scoring chances at a Lake Highlands size field.
Memo Gonzalez scored on a penalty kick. I believe it was Adu who was fouled, but I'm not positive about that. The crowd was 2 or 3 deep and it was hard to follow all of the action.
Adu looked impressive at the end of the game but the first 3/4 he tried too many tricky touches and moves when they were not necessary and lost the ball almost every time. Once he learns when to be simple and when to be fancy he will be unstoppable. Today I was impressed by Diraimando and his never quit attitude. He may not have the best talent or speed on the team but he never gives up on a ball and comes away with a lot of them that he seems to have no chance on. The right back Chevannes is a Sanneh starter kit and has grown on me.
The U.S. goalie saved a pk at the end of the first half on (what I thought was) a questionable foul. The player that was fouled was down acting like he was in real pain, but then got up and took the pk. Did anyone else see that play differently?
C'mon guys Is anyone getting any VIDEO of these matches? I sent an email to "MLS Wrap" at FSW, suggesting they cover the semis and the finals (fully expecting Adu and company to be there), at least to get some video for the highlight show this weekend. Also, are the local Dallas TV sports guys covering this at all?
i saw some mexican cats taping the match. adu was impressive as were gonzales-#10 and diraimandos attitude was fantastic, Gaven was absolute crap, my mate that watched the prior u.s matches told me gaven was horrible, i didnt believe him , i told him the kid must be legit he got drafted by ny/nj but man he was horrible, he must have wasted at least 7 or 8 clear chances none more so than his second half header which he failed to get on goal. the mexican teams goal kicks were horrible and each time they fell to gaven he would either take a horrible shot or the defenders would recover faster than him. from what i saw the kid aint no forward or target man. if the u-17s had a striker like a edson buddle or someone like that theyd be in business. also corey ashe was great-i think thats who #15 was, that kid was fast as F.u.c.k. adu also was faster than i thought and his speed is deceptive, he just picks up pace and coasts past defenders. supreme foot work by him.
adu reminds me of denilson more than any other player, they are both built the same, prefer their left foot( but adu seems to use his right more than denilson) they both have excellent footwork, i think both of them are so alike.
I disagree - that kid taking those kicks had a BOOMING right foot and, in the wind, he consistently put the ball at or past half field. What more do you want from a long goal kick?
After watching both the 16's and 17's, I am more impressed with two kids from the 16's--Ward and Jimenez than anyone on the 17's besides Adu. Gaven is bad, and all the defenders besides Spector are unskilled and clueless with what to do with the ball. Though the black right back was less clueless than the left back and the other center back. A lack of command of the ball from the defenders was what struck me most about the 17's. With the amount of press Gonzalez has gotten, he did not impress me. He didn't seem to have that good of a touch, didn't seem like a leader, and didn't move much effectively. This team has no edge to it besides Freddy. Odd, since several of the 16's defenders had MAJOR skills.
forgive me for not staying up to date on all the blody costa rican and mexican teams, i'm show my mates from costa rica would not appreciate that too. i disagree, the kid rarely put the ball past midfield, s..h.i.t. he rarely put the ball past gaven.
easy guys...these are 17 year old kids (or younger) and at best, are inconsistent. Calling them "bad", "clueless", "unskilled", "horrible" etc. is going a bit too far. I mean yea they are playing soccer but they are just kids barely past puberty. You'll have your good days and your bad days and its completly unfair to judge them. Why not just limit it to saying, so and so had a bad day.
Defenders So far, Ellinger failed to produce one good defenders with three teams. Onyewu hasn't prove himself yet. Spector could be a potential. Beside those two, thera are no much talk about it.