By IVES GALARCEP
The U.S. Men’s Under-20 National Team has already booked its place in the quarterfinal round of the CONCACAF Under-20 World Cup qualifying tournament, but today’s match against Costa Rica (6:30pm, Fox Soccer Channel) still has plenty on the line.
The U.S. can secure first place in the group with a win or draw, and as important as that is the desire to put together a strong outing after a somewhat disappointing showing against Haiti in the qualifying opener. Tab Ramos has made four chances to the starting lineup that faced Haiti, with Juan Pablo Ocegueda and Eric Miller stepping in at the full back spots, and former University of North Carolina teammates Mikey Lopez and Daniel Garcia stepping into midfield.
SBI will be providing live commentary on today’s match so please feel free to follow the action here. As always, you are welcome to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Today’s live commentary is after the jump):
Any chance we can see Brooks and Shawn Parker at the World Cup, if the US qualify ?
I would guess it would be likely with Germany not participating in the Finals and both their clubs on summer break. Could really use Brooks size and experience in the back.
Good job winning the match against Costa Rica. As the tournament progresses the U-20’s will need to stay alert, focused, and organized. Mexico has looked solid thus far, and in addition to playing at home they will be confident in taking the CONCACAF title. I want to see this team reach the final and test themselves against that Mexican (who will likely be there) team. The future could be potentially bright for these players participating. At the U-20 World Cup in Turkey, i’d like to see improvement in some of the weaker areas of the Americans gameplay. Those weknesses include: possession of the ball, movement off the ball, and organization on defense, and their on-field communication. Winning is good for confidence, but the overall development of the youth outweighs everything.
Interesting note: Several of the Costa Rican U20’s (Nunez, Garita) play for Herediano, who will face Villareal and the LA Galaxy on March 7th in the Concacaf Champions League Quarter finals. With Donovan out til Late March/April, expect Bruce Arena to give a lot more time to Villareal, who can be paired with Robbie Keane up front, or in a more midfield role.
Good overall game by the U-20’s. Yet again the Refs tried to screw a US team.
They dominated Costa Rica for 90 minutes not some second tier Concacaf team. They looked good.
But this team needs more out of the striker position. Mario Rodriguez was again meh. Maybe it’s time to give Kiesewetter more minutes.
Luis Gil has some serious technical skills. This dude is going to be fun to watch in MLS this year. There’s not many players with his vision and passing ability
Future USMNT with Boyd, Gatt, etc. etc. etc. for sure
Refs in Concacaf…there antics need to be expected and in the back of your mind. Costa Rica acted like adolescent and low class.
Great win against a cheap dirty opponent. Makes the win so much nicer.
Some of these guys look so promising from a technical standpoint.
This Costa Rican team is a bunch of hacks, no class whatsoever. We’re lucky none of our players got hurt.
Omg!
Costa rica player stands 8 feet in front of our free kick and we stand waiting foe him to move and we get carded for time wasting? We get 10 yards!!!!!! And its not time wasting to wait until THY FOLLOW THE RULES.
Protect our players ref! Undercutting on headers isn’t a foul?
What?
Seriously ref? Costa Rican player comes in a full second late and kicks through the back of our guys knees and it isn’t a card? Blatant cheap shot.
Goal!
Ref can’t take that one away Costa rica!
Just ridiculous officiating. How do we possibly have more yellows? I’ve seen 3 different jersey pull downs from behind by Costa rica on fast breaks.
We get cheated even at youth levels. Its time for someone with affluence in us soccer to start investigating officials.
FIFA investigating officials? You have an excellent imagination and irrepressible optimism, sir.
Every time we get e ball in a dangerous spot, the Ticos just drag the player down in blatant fashion. Awful officiating. Ticos should have 4 cards by now.
What if they lose this game?
We play Cuba in the next round.
Really now ? Seems like a game they can win.
Historically yes, but this Cuban team has been very impressive
Costa Rica keeping things tight in final third. U.S. may have to send more diagonal high ball or chip passes into the penalty area from midfield. U.S. needs to get a few more players into the box and make these passes.
So the Costa Rican defender coming through with his leg at face height to clear a ball and making contact is not even a foul, but the US player in the midfield going into a 50/50 and making contact is the Costa Rican player rolling around for a minute and a yellow card to us.
I saw that too…the fans reacted very loudly and the ref felt obligated. Assist to the fans.
Man I love that Costa Rica logo. Every time I see it, I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone, playing soccer on a beach in Costa Rica against a team of Terminators. Oh yeah and I would also be very high.
Thanks, now I have to clean up the beer spray of my monitor.
There’s a few feeds working on rojad irecta. me
Excellent starting lineup! No sub-sahar!
GO YANKS!
Id take Ivory Coast and Ghana over Mexico any given day