OT: Soccer - USMNT vs El Salvador Gold Cup Quarterfinal Open Thread
The USMNT takes on El Salvador, second place team from Group B, in Baltimore.
Game time is listed as 4PM ET, but coverage starts at 3:30.
TV: Fox, Univision
Four changes to the roster: Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez, Alan Gordon and Eddie Johnson. Gonzalez has not yet reported, will be available if the US advances to the semis. Onyewu is out, due to concerns about an ankle injury suffered against Belize; Gomez is out due to a knee issue. Corey Ashe and Jack McInerney are also out.
Sure looks like it's in El Salvador
and El Salvador's economy.
Or that there's a large Saladorean population in the area.
there would not be so many Saladoreans living in the land of the Yanquis.
It is pathetic that a tiny Latin American country would greatly outnumber Americans in a stadium in the US.
Or the country could have had a decades long civil war in which millions of Salvadorans fled to the US to escape death squads.
I don't think it says all that much about US support for soccer. Small Latin American countries routinely outnumber US fans at the World Baseball Classic as well and nobody would ever make the claim that the US doesn't support baseball. Fact is, the Gold Cup, like the WBC, is looked at as a minor league event in the US.
The US doesn't organize the Gold Cup. CONCACAF does. They got just what they wanted, an enthusiastic sell out crowd of over 70,000.
The downside of the national team becoming genuinely dangerous is that every team we play now is putting all 10 players behind the ball. It's really annoying, but I suppose it is giving the team a lot of practice connecting on passes in the final third.
We have had a few opportunities so far, but can't connect on that last cross. El Salvador has actually had two great chances on counters already. This looks a lot like the Cuba game so far.
Goodson! 1-0 USA!
Couple great saves by Rimando.
El Salvador has really turned up the pressure since the goal. Rimando has been huge so far, but we have to get it out of our own end.
GOOOOOAAAAALL!!!! Corona!
Corona! 2-0 USA!!
Donovan is making stuff happen.
And as I type GOAAAAAALLLLLL by corona.
so fast, so far. But they look very, very strong. I am excited about US men's soccer.
You could tell what Donovan was trying to do there, but I was hoping to just see him crush one low with the left foot and force the keeper to make a reaction save. He has been sharp so far, though.
US, led by Donovan, putting on an absolute clinic here.
Dang, robbed by Portillo.
Maybe, just maybe, the US will have a team that can capture the interest of Americans.
US has completely dominated and only up a goal now.
Shit, PK for them.
I know that CONCACAF is pretty much BIG TENNNN when it comes to international soccer, but it is still incredibly encouraging to see the national team going on a tear like this. They are taking the Salvadorans behind the woodshed so far and only the superhuman play of their keeper has kept it close.
Of course, now Beasley does something dumb and El Salvador gets within a goal. All that work for naught.
US looks great around the area, but there have been a couple of head-scratching defensive lapses.
Beasley can't seem to get out of his own way today.
I'm a little torn on the first half. We have the lead, but 2-1 does not reflect how that half went. Both keepers have been fantastic, but we could/should have finished at least one more of our chances. With the way the crowd is there, this one could still turn really quickly.
Color me confused.
Wasn't the same - the guy put a shoulder into Beasley.
Johnson! 3-1 USA!!!
3--1 USA.
cheeks??? I'm confused.
hahaha, I was watching the game off DVR this morning.. and I got right to that particular crowd shot before I had to head to work and as I paused it I was thinking the exact same thing. Decent effort, but it is literally another country's flag.
Great header by Johnson. And even better Demolition Man referrence by Gus.
I hope that was the MurderDeathKill goal for El Salvador's chances.
And I have to say, GUS Johnson acquits himself damned well up in the box.
Too many critical of noted Detroit broadcaster Gus Johnson. He does a fine job.
They may say he messes up names, but he's making a concerted effort to learn. Give him a chance.
Love the "HA HA"
DONOVAN
I loved Gus' call on that El Salvador free kick. "Wow, that was bad." Soccer announcers always strike me as being more willing to call them like they see them than other American sports. I like it.
Donovan. Fin.
Donovan!! 4-1 USA!!!!
He was due.