USMNT at Costa Rica WCQ open thread
US vs. Costa Rica in San Jose, 10 pm EDT.
TV: Bein Sport
Lineups:
US: Howard, Beasley, Johnson, Orozco, Besler, Gonzalez, Jones, BradleyCameron, Zusi, Dempsey, Donovan
Costa Rica: Navas, Umana, Oviedo, Gamboa, Gonzalez, Acosta, Borges, Bolanos, Tejeda, Ruiz, Campbell
Also tonight: Honduras at Mexico, Jamaica at Panama
CONCACAF Qualifying standings through 6 matches (of 10):
- USA 13 +4
- Costa Rica 11 +4
- Mexico 8 +1
- Honduras 7 -1
- Panama 6 -2
- Jamaica 2 -6
Top three teams qualify for 2014 WC, fourth place team must win a 2-leg playoff against New Zealand to get in.
Ed: Last minute lineup change. Bradley scratched with ankle sprain sufered in warmup.
September 6th, 2013 at 9:27 PM ^
on ESPN News. Kickoff at 9:30 EDT.
Mexico has drawn five of six matches in this round; four were scoreless. If they don't get a win tonight they could be in real trouble, incredibly. They still have to go to Costa Rica and the US, and they've already played their two matches with the doormat, Jamaica.
Honduras is only one point behind them, and after tonight they have two home matches and one match at Jamaica. If they can even manage a draw tonight there's a real chance they could make up the point and snatch that last half-spot.
September 6th, 2013 at 9:27 PM ^
September 6th, 2013 at 9:32 PM ^
Fuck you ESPN. You televise the Mexican qualifier but not the American qualifier? Fuck you you fucking commies.
September 6th, 2013 at 9:36 PM ^
September 6th, 2013 at 9:37 PM ^
Maybe sit this one out.
September 6th, 2013 at 9:48 PM ^
I was mostly joking.
It's ironic that ESPN does the most American thing - goes for the cheap ratings and money - by carrying the Mexico qualifier and not the American qualifier.
September 6th, 2013 at 9:38 PM ^
bein sports paid some incredible amount for the rights to the non-Mexico Concacaf nations to get the US away qualifiers. The US federation has no control over the TV package and I'm sure Costa Rica, et al, were not concerned about making it difficult for Americans to see the away quals.
Does suck, though. firstrow, etc.
September 6th, 2013 at 9:40 PM ^
Yeah, al-Jazeera has the rights to the US away WCQ games this cycle. Al-Jazeera's network/channel/whatever BeIN Sports is showing it.
September 6th, 2013 at 9:40 PM ^
Rights have to be bargained with the hosting confederation, or whichever broadcaster they decided to assign the rights to.
It's hard to believe they couldn't outbid BeIn, but I'm sure it was easier to to buy the whole Mexico-at-home package than to bargain with five different outfits for one-offs.
I'm glad the US is on TV at all (and even happier that we just got BeIn added to Time Warner a couple of weeks ago).
September 6th, 2013 at 9:34 PM ^
Not sure I'm confident in Orozco. I believe Brad Evans is hurt, but I'm wondering about Parkhurst, maybe, or... I don't know. Also interesting that Jozy is a sub - probably because of the hamstring.
On another note, I've been in San Jose during a WCQ match for the Ticos. I wasn't in the stadium or even near it, but yeah, the atmosphere is unreal. You can barely walk down the street without people dancing into you. There are giant Costa Rica flags everywhere, often held spread out overhead on the sidewalks by people on either side so that you are basically walking through a tunnel of fans and flags. Crazy.
September 6th, 2013 at 9:37 PM ^
September 6th, 2013 at 9:35 PM ^
For those looking for beIN Sport.
September 6th, 2013 at 9:36 PM ^
damn you comcast and espn
September 6th, 2013 at 9:40 PM ^
cockblocked by an inferior Mexican squad... Thanks Comcast.
FA!L
September 6th, 2013 at 9:44 PM ^
6' Peralta
September 6th, 2013 at 9:48 PM ^
Wow maybe Mexico is going to start turning things around. I wouldn't mind them winning tonight so they're not quite as desperate when they come up here next week. On the other hand, we can clinch tonight if Mexico draws and Jamaica wins or draws.
September 6th, 2013 at 9:54 PM ^
September 6th, 2013 at 9:56 PM ^
Bradley turns ankle in warmups, Cameron replaces him.
September 6th, 2013 at 10:02 PM ^
Huge blow. Lot is going to ride on Jones now. Cameron's good sitting in front of the back 4, but he's certainly not going to go box to box.
September 6th, 2013 at 10:01 PM ^
That sucks. Mostly I just hope his ankle is ok. He is our MVP. We are seriously degraded without him going forward. Really hope this is just a short-term thing.
September 6th, 2013 at 10:06 PM ^
Well that sucked. Nice finish though.
September 6th, 2013 at 10:07 PM ^
2' Acosta
Header off corner glances off head of Beasley, who was guarding the near post, and into the net.
September 6th, 2013 at 10:09 PM ^
US getting overwhelmed right now.
September 6th, 2013 at 10:09 PM ^
Orozco's getting torn apart on the right flank.
September 6th, 2013 at 10:12 PM ^
Dammit. 2-0 them.
September 6th, 2013 at 10:13 PM ^
Wow. 3 CR players lined up for a free header. 2=0 CR.
September 6th, 2013 at 10:14 PM ^
10' Borges
Header off gorgeous cross from Bolanos
September 6th, 2013 at 10:14 PM ^
I don't suppose it'll start snowing any time soon.
September 6th, 2013 at 10:27 PM ^
Orozco needs to come out asap.
September 6th, 2013 at 10:28 PM ^
September 6th, 2013 at 10:28 PM ^
Orozco looks pitiful tonight
September 6th, 2013 at 10:31 PM ^
Holy shit! What a save! He robbed us.
September 6th, 2013 at 10:34 PM ^
How about a card for that dive?
September 6th, 2013 at 10:36 PM ^
I think that was a dive, but if the ref gives it, it would have to be red with orozco being sent off.
September 6th, 2013 at 10:38 PM ^
How do you give up a 1 v 1 on a throw in?
terrible
September 6th, 2013 at 10:40 PM ^
September 6th, 2013 at 10:46 PM ^
Dempsey on the PK! 2-1 now.
September 6th, 2013 at 10:46 PM ^
43' Dempsey (pen)
Navas brings Johnson down in the box, Dempsey converts penalty.
September 6th, 2013 at 10:47 PM ^
Wow. Dempsey.
The ref is going to need a security team if US wins.
September 6th, 2013 at 10:50 PM ^
Eh, he could have sent the keeper off.
September 6th, 2013 at 11:02 PM ^
No ref is going to call a red on that play.
September 6th, 2013 at 10:47 PM ^
Penalty!!!
Great quick free kick by Zusi.
I guess the ref said that Johnson didn't have control of the ball when the keeper fouled him, b/c otherwise that's a straight red.
Dempsey shakily converts after a lot of persnickity ref stuff.
September 6th, 2013 at 10:52 PM ^
September 6th, 2013 at 11:02 PM ^
Hondo ties Mexico at the Azteca.
September 6th, 2013 at 11:03 PM ^
64' Bengtson
September 6th, 2013 at 11:06 PM ^
66' Costly
I can't keep up.
But I'm sure glad ESPN picked up this game--the last few minutes have been enjoyable.
September 6th, 2013 at 11:17 PM ^
ARGH! POST!
September 6th, 2013 at 11:17 PM ^
Duece off the post!
September 6th, 2013 at 11:30 PM ^
D'oh! Nice play, but Dempsey heads it right to the goalie.