photo by John Dorton/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
TAMPA, Fla. — The U.S. men's national team did not need a reminder as to how difficult World Cup qualifying can be, but they got one anyway.
The United States began its qualifying campaign for Brazil 2014 with a 3-1 victory over Antigua and Barbuda at a rainy Raymond James Stadium on Friday night in a match that proved more difficult than many would have expected.
Carlos Bocanegra scored early off a rebound and Clint Dempsey doubled the lead just before halftime on a penalty kick in front of the 23,971 fans that braved the wet conditions. But it took a Herculez Gomez goal in the second half to give the Americans some real breathing room after Peter Byers had temporarily trimmed the deficit for the visitors, who threw numbers back in order to negate the American attack.
"We discussed that prior to the game, that it would be a tricky game (and) that it would be difficult to break them down," said U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. "Antigua did a very good job defending. They made it very tight, they made it very difficult for us to create more chances."
The U.S. team had their chances, especially in the second half. The Americans outshot Antigua and Barbuda, 19-7, in the match, but goalkeeper Molvin James made eight saves to keep the visitors from getting routed.
The United States also hurt itself, with the players opting to pass or dribble instead of shoot when they had space to try and hit one on frame. That was particularly the case in the first half despite the Americans leading, 2-0, at the intermission.
"I mentioned it at halftime," said Klinsmann. "I said, 'Guys, you've got to shoot more often. Once you have a little bit of an open space, pull the trigger.'"
Just as they did in the first half, the U.S. team struggled to break down an Antigua and Barbuda side content to clog the center of the field in the opening minutes of the second half. That allowed for the visitors to score in the 65th minute off a counter, as Byers got by Oguchi Onyewu and raced in goal before hitting a shot past Tim Howard from close range.
Onyewu had entered the game just eight minutes prior in place of Jose Torres, who made a surprise start at left back and was injured in the second half when he dove to clear a ball on the left flank.
"Jose is now getting an X-ray," said Klinsmann. "We'll see tonight how his situation is. It's not looking very good right now."
The Americans' ability to protect their lead also did not look good following Byers' goal, but Gomez gave the United States a two-goal advantage again when he scored in the 72nd minute. Landon Donovan helped create chaos in the penalty area and after a pair of shots were blocked by defenders, Gomez slotted his shot into the back of the net from inside the six-yard box.
Gomez's strike was the insurance goal the United States needed after a first half that was unconvincing despite the U.S. team's 2-0 lead.
"It's tough here, because if you do win like we did tonight but you don't do it in a better manner than what we did, we still get a little bit of slack," said Dempsey. "The only way we could have won tonight is if we would have won 5-0. Having a 3-1, is kind of like, 'It's okay. It's bittersweet because we didn't get the cleansheet.' No matter what it's going to be tough, no matter who you play, big or small, that's just the way it goes."
Dempsey scored for the United States a minute before halftime when he slotted a penalty kick down the middle after Donovan was fouled in the penalty area. That came after Bocanegra's eighth-minute finish, a finish that gave the centerback 13 international goals.
Those two goals also helped pave the way for the United States to pick up three points, even if it did so in a sloppy manner.
"At the end of the day, the three points is the starting point that we wanted to have, we have that," said Klinsmann. "We know obviously after an evening like that that we have to step it up a lot going into Guatemala, which we will do."
The Americans visit Guatemala for its second World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday.
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What do you think of the U.S. team's 3-1 win over Antigua and Barbuda? Who impressed/disappointed you? Wondering who will play left back versus Guatemala?
Share your thoughts below.
I think all this talk of players not being motivated is just silly.
I do think that nearly everyone in front and in the midfield should have shot sooner.
I do not think Adu is really tactically aware enough to play with this group, but I am pretty sure he would have taken some of those shots.
Like everyone knew before qualifying started, our back line is old and not very fast, except the LB, whoever that may be, except when it is Boca.
Except Herc is 30 and Jozy is 22. So Jozy will match Herc’s work rate and speed by just waiting!
Where they play matters little, it’s actually better if they all play in the same league/team of a lesser quality as it builds cohesion a 10 day training camp can’t replicate. So I don’t ever look at where they play. Look at Slovenia, egypt, Japan, Columbia, etc. lots of those national teams are comprised of domestic players off the top teams in their own league.
Agreed
We have basically 1 and 1/2 persons who can handle the ball and dribble and attack in the final 1/3. Clint Dempsey and sometimes Michael Bradley. However, we have a kid- Freddy Adu- who has weaknesses, but is certainly a baller when it comes to ball control, taking people on, and attacking and moving in tight spaces. Yet we get Boyd (who I like and appreciate) who is powerful but has even less of a chance than Altidore to handle the ball in a tight 18 area.
finally a comment that makes sense
When Howard plays for the national team it is steep drop off in talent vs. what he has at Everton.
So… based on that I think your point has some possible validity. He is angry because he is forced to try to plug holes that do not exist on his club side.
As for Guzan- well…he needs to play regularly and then we can delve into this subject with something to base it on.
In other words you may be on to something but you can’t make a change without a performance track to base it on and I too feel Howard is overrated by the national side fans but not with his level at Everton.
Get my drift????????????????
Interesting idea….but does Adu have the maturity & work ethic to actually play international level defense? Or to maintain such fitness?
Admittedly, I have not seen him pay lately, but — if he had these traits — his career might look ALOT different right now.
I think I would rather take a chance with Feilhaber’s abilties and inconsistent defensive ability over Adu.
Any response — from anyone?
The other awful thing in this game was the way the Antigue players were allowed to chop down our players with very little consequence.
Gooch needs to earn his way back into the squad. He’s the 4th CB at best, and I might even put Jones and Edu ahead of him in a pinch and bring in an extra midfielder.
Everyone is crying for Adu. He’s good. But what about Benny Feilhaber? I think he deserves a shot again.
Was not happy with the US effort (At least we did get the win). The US looked too laidback. They needed to take more shots from distance and not try and walk the ball into the goal (especially Donovan). Take a shot, maybe you get a rebound. Gooch – ouch. JK should have brough Lichaj, now we are seriously low on left back. At least Mexico did not do much better.
Watford could not afford DeMerit’s wages because they were in financial ruin so he played out his contract and looked elsewhere for a good fit. Sorry to ruin your day. Had nothing to do with performance and he most certainly was NOT cut. Goodson is steady at best but has yet to REALLY go against top teams. Gooch has no business being there, on the bench, etc… so who are you left with? Benny I feel would be a good fit with Dempsey because they are both skillful and go forward. I’d be willing to try it because its obvious that Dempsey and Donovan have ZERO chemistry. Hopefully Stu H returns to the caliber he once was whenever he comes back. But in the mean time, why not leave the defense as is… the one that beat Spain, and almost Brazil, and tied England… seems like its just a mess back there . I’m adamant about this because DeMerit has yet to be even called in by JK, and there are obvious issues. But I guess if you aren;t called in, you can’t screw up..right?
Poor Gooch. Physically and mentally he just looks out of it. With the ball at his feet, he looks like a disaster waiting to happen. His mistake on the goal last night was just the most egregious recent example of his poor positioning and decisions. He is definitely not well suited to Klinsmann’s up-tempo, high-pressure tactics, which tends to leave back four a bit more exposed than before.
Edu: quit taking 15 touches and turning the ball over in our half.
Have you ever watched Wayne Rooney???
hahahaha! Dozy. That’s so clever! Did you come up with that?
What senior level tournament has he ever came up big in? If he wasn’t heralded as a youngster, you never would be asking for him to play in the MNT.