by GIANFRANCO PANIZO
The image of Michael Orozco walking off the field after being red carded in the U.S. Olympic team's decisive loss to eventual silver-medalists Nigeria last summer is one American soccer fans won't soon forget. Now San Luis fans have their own Orozco red card to remember, only the feelings about this one are much, much different.
Trailing Cruz Azul, 2-1, Orozco's club, San Luis, looked desperately for an equalizing goal. In the waning moments of the match, San Luis pushed most of its players forward and it appeared to backfire in the 91st minute as Luis Angel Landin looked to put the game away as he made a run on goal.
Orozco, the last defender, sacrificed himself and fouled Landin to stop him from breaking free. The U.S. national team defender was immediately shown a red card, but his foul had given San Luis slim hopes of finding the late equalizer.
Those slim hopes turned into reality as San Luis went on to draw level two minutes later with a spectacular goal from Victor Lojero. Lojero's goal helped San Luis salvage a precious point in the standings, something that never would have happened had Orozco not made the game-saving foul.
What do you think of Orozco's red card? Smart move? Still not forgiving him for the red card in the Olympics? Wondering when Orozco will get his chance with the U.S. national team?
Share your thoughts below.
James,
We should be proud of his actual accomplishments. Not for a ONE red card in the Olympics.
He is an American. Be proud.
The red card in the Olympics was undeserved. Regardless, you people need to give the kid a break and get over it. I hope he gets some more caps for the Nats. It’s good to see some of our boys playing in the Mexican League too….
Anyone who is already condemning Orozco (for one mistake) is an idiot. No other word for it. Seriously, stop watching soccer. He’s a kid. He’s one of our best defensive prospects, and he’ll be helping the MNT for years to come.
OK, I defended Orozco in my first post but some folks are going overboard in calling for him to start for the US full national team. He’s a central defender primarily NOT a left back. He played that position in Beijing because we were desperately shorthanded at that position.
As a central defender he may not be in the top 10 in the overall US depth charts. Onyewu, Bocanegra, Spector, Demerit, Parkhurst, Califf, Boswell, Goodson, Ihemelu…
Orozco currently belongs somewhere towards the tail end of that list. But he’s still young and there’s no reason he can’t keep improving and eventually make the full Nat team. Just not now.
At left back the situation is less crowded but Orozco would still be behind more useful players but since he doesn’t play much at left back it’s unlikely Bob Bradley would call him in ahead of Pearce, Bornstein, or maybe some uncapped MLS left backs like Harrington or players not surnamed Burciaga.
Felix, do you mean Orozco in that second part there?
It was a stupid foul by Orozco in the Olympics but he’s a young player that was played out of position (thanks to Nowak not bringing ONE natural LB). Hopefully he learned from it.
Onyewu is part of our next young and rising CB stars playing abroad and we need him to develop and turn into a strong CB. I can totally envision him being one of the starting CBs in 2014 Brazil.
Waking up at 5 in the morning while on vacation in the OBX: free
Cup of coffee: $1
Finding out the USA all ready down a man in the 4th minute because of a red card: Priceless
Won’t forget it unless he cures our left back illness at the Senior MNT.
Posted by: DC Josh | February 19, 2009 at 03:08 PM
DC Josh, your story is too eerily similar to mine. Except for the coffee. But I was in the Outer Banks for that game as well.
This thinking is an infection we need to kill immediately. Red cards are never acceptable. A red card is a disgrace, upon the player, the team, and the game.
We have to be a little philosophical about results. Some days the better team will not win. There are elements of luck, perhaps. To play soccer is to play with the utmost respect for the game, the beautiful game, and accept the results. To purposefully foul is to disgrace the game itself and a reflection of a lack of skill and athleticism.
Cynicism has no place in this game of beauty and passion. Real fans admire the game not from a score sheet alone, but by the beauty of the team’s play.
Look everyone, Orozco made a youthful boneheaded mistake in Beijing….This time he had to prevent a breakaway goal, so he had no choice….Where was everyone when Corey Gibbs did the same thing against Brazil in the Conferations Cup?
I feel very strongly that Orozco has learned the hard way in Beijing that Americans are going to be refereed a lot more strictly….and he is showing signs that he has been absorbing this lesson.
Give Mike a chance!
Watch the video of that foul in the Olympics. Should not have been a red card. Yellow? Sure. But not red. And hopefully he learned a valuable lesson and won’t let that happen again, ’cause even a yellow 5 minutes in leaves you in a tough position.
he is still learning. he will be fine. im slowly becoming a fan.
Personally I don’t forgive Orozco because I don’t feel like that was red card offense. It’s the 5th minute of what was essentially an elimination game and the referee should have handled it differently. Give Orozco a yellow and tell him the next time he touches a player in a negative manner he is gone with his second yellow. The referee handled the situation in the worst way and we would have never seen a straight red in any other major tournament around the world. I’ve seen worse offenses in EPL games go unpunished. Horrible refereeing.
Didn’t he start the qualifier against Guatemala last October? With all the games the US plays this year I assume he will continue to get well-deserved opportunities to play for the US.
Orozco is quality and if you dimwits believe we could have beat the silver medalist with or without well shows how much soccer you know.
“the guy is playing abroad making more money than most MLS defenders and red cards are all we think of?”
What does his $ have to do with anything?
needs to get called up
I think Orozco should be starting for the senior team, period. I am baffled as to why he hasn’t been tried at left or right back more frequently. He has excellent touch and vision for a defender, and is a great passer.
Hands down, he is better than Hejduk, Pearce, Bornstein, and possibly, Cherundolo.
It was definitely a stupid red card againsts Nigeria? Even great player got stupid red card (i.e. Beckham and Zidane).
The fact remains: Orozco is a good, young prospect for the US at CB. I personally think he and Spector are the future CBs.
He made the right thing last night. One-on-one with the goalie is not a sure goal, but I’d say the odd is against the goalie.
San Luis’ record in previous 2 games (without Orozco): 0-2.
I won’t soon forget that red card by Orozco, nor will I forget Drew Moor’s pitiful marking against Mexico where he allowed 2 easy goals. Those guys stink and don;t deserve a spot for the top squad
I never held a grudge against Orozco. It was a bullshit call by a ref who wanted us to lose, and I will firmly believe that until the day I die.
Wow, some pretty harsh comments. The kid made a mistake. Get over it. He will, and will become a very useful player for us.
It’s good to know there are so many people here who have yet to take their first false step.
Racists! Ok seriously, the guy is playing abroad making more money than most MLS defenders and red cards are all we think of?
He is still young and show more promise than other young American defenders. He’s already played against some excellent South American talent.
Give the the guy a break!
Excluding the savviness that can only come from experience, and looking at talent alone- I can’t understand why Orozco isn’t already starting for the full USMNT at one of the fullback spots. I realize he is a true CB, but he can play fullback better than anyone else in the pool except Dolo, Simek, and Spector- but the big caveat with those three is that they are never healthy. Additionally, he should be our back-up CB instead of Dan Califf.
Orozco’s red card against Nigeria was stupid but it wasn’t the only reason the US team was eliminated. The late game meltdown against Holland in the previous game was at least as important.
Sounds like Orozco did the right thing in sacrificing himself for his team last night.
I don’t think it was a smart move.
A 1v1 situation with a keeper isn’t a guaranteed goal.
Being down a man for the remaining minutes is clearly a disadvantage, and if he is a player that the team needs to perform at the top of their ability, then his suspension will have a much higher probability of hurting the team than the very small probability of the 10 man San Luis scoring a goal to gain 1 point in the last 3 minutes.
Just because things worked out doesn’t make it a smart play.
If this were playoff game, like win or go home, then I would say smart play, but otherwise, dumb dumb dumb.
Forget you, Cheeky. It was a mistake and he could just as easily could have made it playing for Mexico. Also, I enjoy the sarcasm Tony.
Yup, sure folks. At his age there is no hope for receovery and learning….got to write him off now…
I thought his red card in China was very harsh, although he shouldn’t have put his elbow into the guys chest… He’s a good player, and should be included into at least the short list for 2010, including Demerit and Califf as the other possible center back’s on the bench
Well, it sounds like this card was a SMART play, whereas, the red card in the Olympics was DUMB. I’m still on the fence with him, but he’s young
I was more pissed a Balboa’s stupidity during the broadcast of the Olympics than Orozco. Also, I was pissed at the wall jumping, but I let it go 1-2 days later.
I hold no beef against Michael Orozco. His card in the Olympics was just a mistake. He’s just a kid learning his craft and some other valuable lessons (like temprament) along with it. I was over that red card in a few days…we move on. People need to let that go.
A huge plus for Orozco and Torres is that they picked our program. They chose to wear our shirt when it would have been much easier for them to go a different path. I respect them for that – a huge plus in my liking these guys.
Maybe it won the game, but I think it hurts the game of soccer when players foul someone to prevent a goal. It shows a win at all cost mentality and it does not make the “beautifull game” beautifull. I have often wondered, how would Pele do in today’s soccer game? Would he just be chopped down and not allowed to handle the ball the way he did.
Yes it was ALL Orozcos fault we didn’t do well in the olympics. Didn’t matter that Adu and Bradley couldn’t play in the game due to yellow cards. OR that Sacha K. had to jump in the wall, which in my opinion was a dumber move than Orozco.
Is it just me or is that Lou Diamond Phillips ow what?
I forgive Orozco.
The Olympics, while still a major tournament, are still a YOUTH national team event and as such are more about learning and player development than winning.
Orozco made a big mistake but kids screw up and as long as he learns from it, I’m cool with letting it go. (Unlike, say, Mike Burns in the 98 WC.)
As for the play last night, it was smart and necessary and he deserves credit for doing what he had to do.
BTW, was Landin the dude from Mexico’s U23 team that wasted a couple of golden chances against Haiti that came back to bite them in the ass when they didn’t have a big enough margain of victory?
The kid’s career is just getting started… I can forgive him. I can’t forgive Mastroeni, Reyna and Bocanegra for their ridiculous gaffs in the 2006 World Cup.
Orozco is the future of our defense. get used to it.
Waking up at 5 in the morning while on vacation in the OBX: free
Cup of coffee: $1
Finding out the USA all ready down a man in the 4th minute because of a red card: Priceless
Won’t forget it unless he cures our left back illness at the Senior MNT.
Orozco is still young guys. He showed quality at the Olympics and for such a young age he’s got a very good tackle( yes I understand that sounds weird after this article). He’s definitely a full back/center back to watch for the future.
The only reason the red card in the olympics would still bother me at this point is if he doesn’t learn from it. If he does, it’s all part of growing pains in the game and I don’t mind it any more.
Defenders have to do what they have to do to help the team and if it meant Michael receiving his marching orders for San Luis to prevail, more power to him. Take some degree of balls. It’s a calculated risk and in this case it worked.
As for Michael’s red card in the Olympics I was initially pissed and it so stupid and costly. But at the end of the day if we had done what we needed to in the previous games we wouldn’t have been in a situation where a red card was so costly. Advancement should have already be secured. It wasn’t. It takes a team to fail. It doesn’t take one individual or even play to determine an outcome. Say what you like about his red in the Olympics, it was stupid, but too many people used it was a scapegoat to direct blame on a very inconsistent, disappointing tournament from our team.
Give it up people. The Olympics red card was a little harsh and young kids make mistakes. We need to forgive. After the Gooch and Boca pairing ages and moves on, there is a good chance Orozco will be one of our starting CBs.
I meant to say, it’s not something one forgets…
Michael Orozco had already earned himself a yellow card in the first half. When Landin beat Orozco he had no choice but to foul. He knew he either way he was going to get thrown out, but I don’t think he saw the straight red card coming. Lady luck was on his and San Luis’ side yesterday.
The red card in the Olympics doesn’t hurt as much because of time, but its definitely one of those things one forgets…
Get over it Cheeky, it was 6 months ago, its time to move on…
I got up at 5 a.m. to watch that game. Then I saw Orozco get carded in the 8th minute and cried myself back to sleep.
Drew a red card in a similar situation but preserved the 1-0 win for us. I immediately apologized to the attacker and we became good friends afterward.
He knew I didn’t mean him harm so it though i still wish there was a way i could have avoided it.
Sometimes you have to do what you have to do…
I haven’t held the red card in China against him like some have. Yeah, it was stupid, but he’s a kid who made a mistake. It doesn’t change my thoughts on him. I’ve seen him in Mexico and he’s a good player, red card in China or not.
Orozco can go to hell. To be ejected in the first five minutes of an elimination game (which is what that basically was) at a big international tournament for a moment of unprovoked stupidity is unforgivable. It’s one thing to make a reckless tackle that just goes wrong, but what Orozco did in that match is something he should never be able to live down. **** him.
Oh Michael “I am a walking red card” Orozco; if only your red card in China resulted in a draw for the red white and blue, maybe, just maybe we would have moved on in Beijing.