By IVES GALARCEP
The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team have a clear task. Win and they have a chance to reach the Round of 16 of the Under-20 World Cup. Lose, and the Americans go home in the group stage.
Standing in the way of yet another American Gold Cup team is Ghana, which will be looking to play the role of spoiler despite having a very slim chance of reaching the Round of 16.
U.S. head coach Tab Ramos is going with his usual first-choice centerback tandem for the first time in the World Cup, with Caleb Stanko and Shane O’Neill partnered in the middle of the American defense.
SBI will be providing live commentary on today’s match so please feel free to join us here for all the action. Feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Today’s commentary is after the jump):
Pathetic. Ramos, this is just poor. You did a terrible job preparing this team.
Hard to play Spanish style soccer when you suck.
this 1000 times over…
The most on target comment altho I would say ‘when you suck trying to play like Spain’
We don’t know how we’d be if we tried to play differently in this tournament
And NO way is it ok to play youth tournaments only to scout players…how can you scout anyone without fielding teams intent on winning? You may not win but please field the squad most likely, not the squad that best plays a style we cannot compete with
Tab Ramos is a foolish, foolish man.
Holy poop-balls, this is so hard to watch
RAMOS WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!?
The yellow card means nothing since we’re out if we don’t win and he’s been one of our best players and the only defender with the speed to keep up.
Great job Ramos, no Cuevas and no Joya.
Joya can’t play. yellow card accumulation
Joya is ineligible.
Poor effort from US all around. Men against boys…
How many great opportunities does Mario Rodgriguez get to choke before he’s pulled? This kid can’t handle the pressure at all. Surely there’s someone on the bench that will be hungry to play.
Not over yet, boys! Still a lot of talent on this roster. Anything can happen.
Okay, NOW it’s over.
What a save by Cropper.
No real other options. He’s certainly been better than Mario. He’s got some nice skills. I think he’s going to be a very nice player. I think a lot of these kids are tired.
Why always Ghana.
They were clearly better
than us
Wow replay shows Ghana player just clearly offside.
Wow, really? never seems we get the benefit from wrong offsides calls. Either it cancels our legitimate goal or our opponent gets a goal that shouldn’t have counted
Yeah they just showed it–he was a good yard offside.
That’s a bad deal for USA, but they are not looking likely to equalize either, at this point of the match. They need to change something.
Villareal has been poor all tournament long. I think his lack of physical tools are starting be found out not only with the U-20’s, but with LA as well. I stated that he should not have been starting this game.
Villarreal has been poor all tournament long, and it’s not surprising with his poor form with LA leading to this tournament.
Trapp has been bad with his passing.
Gil hasn’t asserted himself, and Sorto has no pace.
Te only way this team will muster any offensive bite in the second half is if Yedlin is pushed to winger.
Rodriguez has talent but he needs more development.
Tentative, tired looking outing by most of the squad. Not over yet, but we need to take our chances and be more composed on the ball.
This is sad…. sorry Tab and US Soccer… your reliance on guys who lack size in the attacking 3rd has doomed us to get dominated by stronger players… we look completely clueless when we can’t run by players..
Come on,..how can you say that? Don’t you know that having an all Latino team with an average height of 5’7 would make Paul Gardner very happy?
I think the latino team idea bombed
I don’t know if I can watch the second half. I’m serious.
Does Villareal know there’s a game going on?
If I’m Luis Gil I gather Yedlin and Cropper in the locker room and throw the bird at the rest of these bums. No effort. Selfish play.
Trapp kills another attack. Go forward! You have numbers and open runners!
I can’t stand short corners.
When your team is made up of midgets, they think they can’t get a head on the ball…
Head the ball Luis!!!
Why are you bringing that down? That should be headed on goal or far post. Awful.
We are not defending as a unit. There looks to be minimal organization. It starts with the forwards who just stand there after they lose the ball and watch. The whole launch the long ball forward and surrender possession isn’t a great strategy either. I guess it’s too much to ask 19 year old kids to have patience.
Does Villarreal even play soccer?
We’ll be lucky to not be down by 3 at half
Well there it was.. seemed like a matter of time with the pressure Ghana has been applying.
Mario Rodriguez failed the US team today.
Yup, either one of those and we’d still be in it
Really not impressed with Trapp these three games.
I like Trapp’s distribution and composure on the ball, but as exhibited by Ghana’s goal, he really lacks the defensive bite you’d like to see in a holding midfielder.
From what I’ve seen, he never looks forward and he was just awfful on that goal. Nothing wrong with making the easy pass but if you’re missing chances to start the attack, you’re not doing a good job IMO.
Yes, but From what I’ve seen, he never looks forward and he was just awfful on that goal. Nothing wrong with making the easy pass but if you’re missing chances to start the attack, you’re not doing a good job IMO.
I get that, but what I’ve seen, he never looks forward and he was just awfful on that goal. Nothing wrong with making the easy pass but if you’re missing chances to start the attack, you’re not doing a good job IMO.
I get that, but from what I’ve seen, he never looks forward and he was just awful on that goal. Nothing wrong with making the easy pa$$ but if you’re missing chances to start the attack, you’re not doing a good job IMO.
good at distribution and composure….reminds me of another guy…Tim Ream.
That looks to be it. aint no way this attack can muster up 2 goals in one game much less one half
Not true at all. They generate lots of chances. Just need to finish them.
Hope to be proven wrong 🙂
Not aGhain?!
How long have you been waiting to use that one?
Last time I had to wait 4 years. This time I only had to wait 3.
Haha +1
Finally Lopez with the start, I will never understand why he wasn’t starting from game 1
Never seen anyone run by Yedlin like that. Man, that guy is fast.
Yes! Save it! Clear!
WOW cropper, What a save
Oh geez that was close!!
What a save!
May have 3 goals right now if Mario could finish
This is Micky Mouse officiating.
You can almost always at least see how the ref could have been mistaken but I can’t even imagine what he was thinking on that call.
Yeah. They’re taught to analyze the ball as well as the positioning of the players. Even if you didn’t see the contact–Yedlin clearly got the ball.
Horrible call on Yedlin…typical against us.
Rodriguez should have done much, much, much, much better! This team looks so flat right now, how are they not motivated? They’re jogging around the pitch
Bench Mario Rodriguez. If this guy is the best striker we’re F**(&$#*(@Y $HI#J@$Y#@.
man Villareal (sp?) has been god awful
Man, they look really horrible right now.
Turning the ball over again and again on simple, easy pa$$es.
Need to get lucky and hope Ghana doesn’t take advantage and hope team settles down.
Team just lacks polished finishing. Not surprising at this level. They just don’t play as many high level pro matches as their Euro counterparts. Fantastic ball by Yedlin and just awful, tight header by Mario. Team looks a bit tight overall. Pa$$ing not nearly as slick as the previous two.
Team just lacks Polished finishing. Not surprising at this level. They just don’t play as many high level pro matches as their Euro counterparts. Fantastic ball by Yedlin and just awful, tight header by Mario. Team looks a bit tight overall. Passing not nearly as slick as the previous two.
Awful header. Come on.
Anyone have a stream?
you have access to ESPN3?
Seriously this is ridiculous.
Stay on your d*mn feet Ghana. Pathetic.
They go down very very easily
you would think 25 year old players would be more steady on their feet…
Ghana already with the cheap tackles and flopping.
Baffles me that Cuevas doesn’t start.