The U.S. Men's National Team can take control of their World Cup Qualifying group tonight with a win in the hostile environment in Guatemala City as the Americans take on Guatemala at Estadio Nacional Mateo Flores.
The Americans come in off a 3-1 qualifying win against Antigua & Barbuda, a sloppy victory, but a win that put the team closer to qualification. Guatemala enters the match in must-win mode after losing their opening match to Jamaica, 2-1, in Kingston.
Fabian Johnson is back in the lineup for the USA, a huge relieve for Jurgen Klinsmann, who will field a full-strength defense tonight. The key for that defense will be containing Carlos Ruiz, the tricky striker is a handful and will lead the Guatemala attack.
SBI will be providing live commentary on tonight's match so 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 (tonight's commentary is after the jump):
There was the yellow for Bradley for not instantly restarting.
What?? Yellow for Bradley??? And not for the guy standing 2 feet away on the kick?
some of these give aways by the US are astonishing.
Also the way he rolled around clutching his head, only pop up the INSTANT the whistle was blown was veeeerrrrrry Guatemalan.
No penalties against the US or US players sent off yet. I’m impressed. Still early though. Wait for it.
Being awesome, that’s what it is about.
There was a chorus of boos in response.
If I wasn’t a seasoned USMNT fan, I’d complain about the dirty guatemalans.
I finally shelled out the 30 bucks through Directv, couldnt miss the game. Its the usual central american team flopping everytime they get into the box. Calls seem to be going towards Guatemala but not as bad as I have seen in the past. US still doesnt seem to be clicking together, like the game against A&B. Dempsey’s goal was great, in traffic he schooled them hard. Guatemala has been playing them hard, so the game is closer than I was hoping.
Yes. Like at the start of the match.
Landon has been sh!t this whole game.
I think the USA needs to get behind the defense and cross the ball so Gomez, Dempsey, etc can get on the end of some crosses.
But Jones is like the worst bad guy in just about every culture: American, German, black, tattooed, super muscular, mean-looking…he’ll never get the benefit of the doubt.
Anyone else think that gomez needs to be paired up with altidore to be more effective?
Why are they playing with an overinflated volleyball, I wonder?
MB — not having a good night. All negative passes. But to be fair, nobody looks really very good. (Torres injured, yes?) I blame the overinflated volleyball. And the crappy pitch.
Question to all: why can we never spring a winger when there’s all that congestion at the top of the 18? Been watching so much Euro play lately, and every time there’s a scrum in the middle, a long ball goes to the flank and there’s an Arshavin or somebody to pick it up and whip a cross back in. Who should be waiting on the right wing?
I was thinking the same thing. Although I think the guy that fouled Jones after he nutmegged him should have got a yellow…
We are playing pretty well, considering that Guatemala’s main tactic is obviously to foul like crazy to prevent the US from getting any rhythm to their game.
I thought that was a pretty decent away half for the US. I was thinking that I would come on here at halftime and complain that we weren’t going to score with only one striker, but Dempsey nullified that complaint. The field looks bumpy, but Edu and Cherundolo in particular seem to have horrid touches tonight.
There is a lot of creativity between Bradley, Jones, and Edu.
El Salvador scores!!!! 1-1 v Mexico
We are missing a creative offensive player. Wish Donovan could be that guy but he seems content to play on the wing. Instead of Jones or Edu I’d love to see Adu step up in the next year and take that spot Klinsmann wants to put Torres in. Wishful thinking…
Anyone listening to the stream with the awesome Guatamalan music
This is the fairest reffed concacaf match i’ve ever seen. Also, hoping Altidore comes in soon. Would like some good hold up play up there.
Aside from that, Edu has been very solid defensively
Dempsey with a sleek sidestepping glide to get the goal for the USA!!!! 1-0 Halftime.
ha!
Great call. Thanks
What am I looking at right now? An ESPN logo! WTF!!!
Why don’t any USA players go outside and try to get around and behind the defense? Seems like we are always passing it back from the wings. Maybe I miss Brek Shea.
Edu with a total shambolic whiff allowing Ruiz to almost score.
oh Herc. What was that?
We still look awful, but with Fabian and Deuce, we are dangerous. Great touch by Deuce. LD is having one of those nights where he looks lost out there. He just missed a wide open overlapping Fabian.
Fabian Johnson is filth……
Duueecceeeeeee
DEUUUUCE!!!
That’s what I’m talking about Fabian Johnson and Clint FTW!
Fabian Johnson…Goodness Gracious!
K that was anything but awful. Sick.
DUECE!!!!!!!!!!
now, that’s more like it!! Clint.
Good to see Dempsey bringing his club form to the Nats.
set up by Johnson
this has been awful.
Thank you.
When your LB is your best playmaker, you know you have too many CDM’s.
Ever
2 forward alignment ASAP please. Sorry, I know 4-3-3 is in vogue, but we suck at it. It has worked exactly once for us.
tonight is one of those Donovan nights.
Guatemalans predictably diving all over the place like the pitch is covered in land mines.
Watching Carlos Ruiz dive is maddening. He is trying to give Luganis a run for his money.
Oye man, this is not the 1st time they have experience showing a world cup qualifer, so they are incompentent. Picture was fixed after 15 mins into the game. You would think people test the signal etc. Before a live broadcast.
Anyways, US running way too much like it’s Scottish soccer, 200mph. Need to settle down. Jones looking good and showing them Chapines he don’t take chit from them. Giving them a taste of their own medicine. Overall US heeded the advice from Klinsi abt being nice, lol.