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USMNT not looking past trip to St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Photo by Scott Kane/USA TODAY Sports
Photo by Scott Kane/USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to World Cup qualifying, each and every match presents a unique set of challenges. On paper, St. Vincent & The Grenadines may not be a team that can challenge the U.S. Men’s National Team with the talent that makes up their roster, but Friday’s must-win clash provides difficulties all the same.

Heading into Friday’s penultimate clash ahead of the Hexagonal round, the USMNT holds its fate in its own hands. Currently second in the group, two wins would seal a spot in the next stage, while anything less would open the door for a shock elimination. A USMNT win could be just enough if Trinidad & Tobago can earn all three points against Guatemala.

Still, the USMNT is not looking past a St. Vincent & the Grenadines team currently ranked 156th in the world. Friday’s clash will be held at Arnos Vale Stadium in Kingstown, a venue better known for hosting cricket than international soccer. USMNT midfielder Alejandro Bedoya says he has never been to a cricket stadium, let alone played on one, while admitting that the USMNT must battle the weather, field conditions and the opposition of they are to return home with a successful haul of three points.

“It’s always tougher than it is on paper,” Bedoya said. “The conditions aren’t favorable. It’s a lot hotter down there. I think we can’t play under lights there because of the situation with the stadium. For various reasons, it’s always tough, not easy, to go down there and play the way to play. We’re doing everything we can. We have everything to play for and we need nothing but a good result to keep us going.”

Venue and conditions nonwithstanding, the USMNT knows full well that St. Vincent & The Grenadines can go out and get a goal, because it already happened this qualifying cycle.

When the two sides met last November early in the qualifying round, Seattle Sounders forward Oalex Anderson stunned the St. Louis crowd by firing his side ahead in the fifth minute. The lead lasted just five minutes before the USMNT onslaught began, but even in a 6-1 loss, the small Caribbean nation showed they can be a threat against the best the U.S. has to offer.

Of the five different goalscorers from that match, only Gyasi Zardes will be unavailble on Friday as the LA Galaxy star recovers from a reported broken foot. The man charged with captaining the U.S., Jozy Altidore, bagged a brace on that November night, while Bobby Wood, Fabian Johnson and Geoff Cameron all provided goals in what turned out to be a lopsided win featuring an early scare.

“You have to get off to a good start,” Bedoya said. “They were able to score first and everyone was like ‘Oh my God, panic’, but it’s important for us to get out on the field and, from the first minute, compose ourselves and not take anything for granted. It’s important for us to be mentally and physically prepared and to be up for the challenge and to get a result.”

If the USMNT can get that result, next Tuesday’s clash with T&T will be a big one no matter what’s at stake. If Honduras toppled T&T to set the USMNT up with a must-win game, Jurgen Klinsmann’s side will need to be on their toes against one of CONCACAF’s most athletic and physically imposing teams. If the group is wrapped up, the U.S. will have the chance to throw youngsters like Rubio Rubin, Caleb Stanko and Paul Arriola into big-game action against a legitimate international opponent.

But before they can get to the bigger fish in CONCACAF play, they must first prove they can handle the minnow that is St. Vincent & the Grenadines.

“We have everything to play for. We’re extremely focused,” Matt Besler said. “We’re not taking anyone or anything lightly. It’s a group that’s very determined. We’re going to get to work here for a couple days and fly down and hopefully get the job done. Then, we can come home and hopefully prepare for the next one.

“We know that the Hex is the next step, but you can’t look forward. We have two games left in this qualification stage and we have everything to play for.”

Comments

  1. St. Vincent is a prime example of a Bunker & Counter CONCACAF team. So long as we keep our shape without getting sucked up-field we’ll be able to ware them down/out and achieve the result we need. The field conditions will likely force us to modify our play a little, but so long as we’re not playing in the midst of a major storm we should be able to adapt and prevail.
    Considering we’ll be without Brooks, Bradley, Jones, & Dempsey will put a lot of pressure on some of the less experienced players. Jozy & Wood should be able to provide enough attack while Besler should be able to step into the CB spot without much difficulty. The challenge is going to be in the midfield replacing Jones & Bradley, which is why I was disappointed that Kitchen & Williams were not brought into the camp.

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  2. I am assuming the pitch will be atrocious with the ball skipping all over the place. Passing out of the back might be heart attack inducing.

    Expect a sloppy affair. I hope we are working on set pieces. CONCACAF lives and dies by the set piece.

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    • Pitch will be as narrow as possible, and they will keep 11 behind the ball. All we will need is one good bounce in front of goal to force them out and then the rout will be on.

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  3. I’m curious how many USMNT fans have beinsport to watch the match. Not that I’m complaining, but I guess I’m headed to the bar to watch this one.

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  4. Any word on the current state of the pitch there? I know it’s generally a crapshoot, but I was curious if any media or analysts have seen and commented on it recently.

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  5. Oalex Anderson is a force. When he improves some aspects of his game, he brings qualities, like speed, that are very hard. almost impossible, to deal with. Ask West Ham United guys, who decided to red-card hack him down after being completely embarrassed.

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  6. Quick correction. Honduras is in Group A, Guatemala plays T&T on Friday.

    A win for both the US and T&T on Friday puts both teams through. Anything else and things start to get murky, especially with Guatemala getting St. Vin at home for the last game.

    Git ‘er duuun!!!!!

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  7. Get a couple of goals early. Don’t leave it too late. Never forget that trip to Antigua.

    Shooting for 3-0. Pitch will be too lousy for much more. No injuries. Hope GUA doesn’t get three points in T&T, so you’re not needing a result in that last game.

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