USMNT vs Costa Rica
Game #2 for the USMNT in Group A.
Time: 8pm ET
Where: Soldier Field
TV: FS1, Univision (Streaming Fox Sports Go & Univision Deportes en vivo)
USMNT Lineup (no changes from Colombia match)
Guzan, Yedlin, Cameron, Brooks, Johnson, Jones, Bradley, Bedoya, Zardes, Dempsey, Wood
Fantastic energy.
skurnie What do you say the difference is in the US game today versus Colombia? CRC is a damned good team, but Dempsey is ripping them a new one. Is it Bradley staying back purely as a fifth back that's helping?
1. Wood is more active and moving into the center of the field where he is more comfortable and Dempsey is dropping back further into midfield (goals 2 and 3)
2. Jermaine Jones is playing at his absolute best (goal 2) both offensively and defensively
3. Overall defense and guys tracking back including Bradley, Bedoya and Zardes. All have made nice plays defensively that have started counter attacks.
The counters remind me of when Donovan was playing. This is a good thing.
CRC came out SUPER aggressive the first 10 minutes, not only playing at an unsustainable effort level, but were sending two of their five backers up and when all the counters started happening they just seemed totally gassed and out of position. It was as if the strategy was to try to get one early and then maybe milk a lead? It did not go well.
Granted I didn't start watching until after the Dempsey goal, which could have changed the entire complexion of the game, but another difference is that CRC weren't collapsing on Bradley the way Colombia was early. Colombia was determined not to let us build through Bradley, and it worked well for them. Of course, many other factors, as skurnie mentioned, were obviously also huge.
Fire Borges!! lol
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I agree - this is the back four we have as the A-team unless a left fullback displaces Fabian (who moves to take Bedoya's spot).
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Beasley and Cherundolo retiring from international play have made me realize how much you can take guys like that for granted
Cherundolo was very solid - great crosser. And DaMarcus was one of my favorites.
Carter-Vickers or Miazga being so good that it forces us to move Cameron would be great but that probably moves Yedlin or Cameron into the midfield rather than Johnson. I don't think Cameron has ever played left back.
Most energy I've seen (and effectively applied) in a long time
Yeesh that was close
How did that not go in?
A brilliant clearance, thank God.
GOL GOL GOL GOL USA USA Zusi
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MoM is Dempsey - simply outstanding today
What an ass-kicking - great work. Huge confidence builder
From the edge of elimination to leading the group.
That's a pretty good night's work.
U-S-A! U-S-A!! U-S-A!!! U-S-A!!!!
Four big goals!!!!
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But real talk, the US hasn't lost at home to CR in a competitive match since 1985.
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Col:
Ospina, Arias, Zapata, Murillo, Diaz;
Pérez, Torres, Cuadrado,James, Cardona; Bacca.
Par:
Villar, Valdez, Gomez, da Silva, Samudio, Da Motta, Ortiz, Romero, Almiron, Benitez, Lezcano
Big news is that James is starting after coming off with a shoulder injury vs the US
Colombia is going to smash Paraguay.
He looks like he should sound like Mr. Boombastic and he sounds like a Swed who's been kicked in the nuts.
2-0.
South American players are so fearless in traffic. They could play in a phone booth. From all those years playing street soccer with 40 kids and 5 stray dogs in an alley.
Fun game.
Kind of reckless, but fun.
Sweet cold-blooded shot. 2-1.
No Romero for Paraguay against USA - silly foul
Looks like a draw against Paraguay puts us through, thanks to the Paraguay-Costa Rica 0-0 draw earlier.
If we draw Paraguay, CRC would need to beat Colombia by, like, 7 goals. I doubt Colombia has even given up 7 goals total in calendar 2016.