By IVES GALARCEP
SEATTLE- The U.S. Men’s National Team is back home for World Cup qualifying tonight at CenturyLink Field as they take on Panama in their second of three CONCACAF HEX qualifiers in June (10:30pm, ESPN).
The U.S. come in riding a three-match qualifying unbeaten streak, and they are currently tied for the most points in the HEX with seven (tied with Costa Rica). A win tonight would help the U.S. hold at least a share of the lead in the standings at the mid-way point of the qualifying round.
Panama has its own aspirations of a top spot in the standings, and an upset win against the U.S. would help the Canaleros catapult past the U.S. in the standings.
More than 40,000 fans are expected to fill CenturyLink Field for tonight’s match, with heavy pro-Seattle Sounders crowd expected to be in full voice as two Sounders (Eddie Johnson and Brad Evans) make starts for the U.S. tonight.
Johnson and Geoff Cameron have been deputized into starting roles tonight in place of Jermaine Jones (concussion) and Graham Zusi (yellow card suspension).
In case you missed it earlier, be sure to read the SBI Preview on tonight’s USA-Panama match.
If you will be watching tonight’s match, please feel free to join us here as SBI chronicles all the action. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Tonight’s SBI Live Match Commentary is after the jump):
Cameron>Gonzalez
Interesting note: Mexico (and Jamaica) have played 6 games, the rest of the Hex five.
Anyone see Honduras or Panama leap-frogging Mexico for third place?
Leo,
El Tri are in trouble.
Mexico has 4 games left.
1. Honduras Home
2. US Away
3. Panama Home
4. Costa Rica Away
They have 7 points. Traditionally the number of points for third place is about 16-17.
I think the US beats them.
Which means they have to run the rest of the table to get 9 points which would give them 16, the bare minimum for third. It looks pretty iffy to me.
You guys were just calling for JK’s head. Just imagine what it must be like for Chepo.
Did you hear the fire chepo chant the last 10 minutes of the match?
Correction Mexico have 8 points
But they are still in deep doo doo
MOTM was Bradley in my opinion. Another top quality performance. But really, attaboys all around. My lowest grade is for Gonzalez, and that’s a 6.5/10.
So was it the quality of the USMNT that made Panama look so poor? I haven’t seen that in ages. Cameron had a great game. Jozy, awesome, fearsome. DMB, also great. MB, so good. GOD, I wish Tim Ream could get some playing time. I’d love to see a brilliant passer out of the back.
Demsey —I don’t get it. He was subpar. I think he’s injured.
Anyway.
That was fun.
So who co we miss on yellow accumulation vs. Honduras?
Jozy Altidore MOM
Good to see Jozy engaged in the whole game. I might vote Deuce MOTM for being Jozy’s coach on the field.
I gotta go with MB followed closely by Jozy/Cameron…then Besler…for the top four.
One bad part I did see is phantom yellow cards tonight against the US.
where is “the imperative voice”?????
Anyone see why Beasley got carded?
Well, next man up: Brad Guzan.
Due to yellow cards, sounds like Howard will miss the Honduras match.
Beasley out too right? someone will need to step up and play the left flank with Fabian
Howard? Weren’t they talking about DMB getting a yellow and having to miss the Honduras game?
Yes. DMB not Timmy. Either Fabian will slide back with EJ manning the left wing and Zusi returning to his customary right wing or Castillo comes in for DMB.
OG with his brain fart for the match
Tejeda split the center backs as a center forward should. Besler needs to communicate with Omar in that situation. And, Omar needs to talk with Besler to make sure who has that man. Thankfully, Timmy came off his line.
Timmy!!!
US bossin the game… keep the clean sheet boys, beautiful stuff all the way round.
Probably the best game the USA has turned in for Klinsmann. Certainly, it is in a game that mattered.
Still, Dempsey’s touch has really let him down. He could have had a hat-trick.
In a game that mattered? Absolutely, Fischy. A complete performance from back to front in a non-friendly. Qualifying is now a formality…it is time to figure out how to reproduce THIS performance against tough opposition. It’s been a joy to watch.
the best performance we’ve seen under Klinnsman…agreed. that 20 minute stretch in the first half was awesome
Great pa$$ by Jozy. DMB sooooclose to finishing.
Dang it. Bea$$$$ly so close. What a great build up sequence.
Subs? Boyd? Castillo? Stu? Corona?
Jozy has really improved his crossing
We are going to be downright terrifying when Donovan returns
If.
Somebody correct me. On that list I just saw on yellow cards, was Jermaine Jones NOT on that list???!!!
d suck,
That’s right. If you look up his card record for Schalke and the US it’s pretty average for a combatative type midfielder. Shocking isn’t it?
Correct!
He’s already had two in qualification and sat out a game as a result.
So has Zusi.
Jozy’s shot is just so freaking hard. He nearly knocked the keeper over from outside the box.
He does boot a heavy ball.
We are playing great! This ref is absolute trash though, no calls for the U.S. at all.
Geoff Cameron is playing out of his mind right now.
Deuce needs to get on the same page…everyone is spraying it around.
My. I didn’t know EJ could still score with his feet.
2 – 0 USA
Stop already!!!
Credit to EJ for improving his game. No way his first touch is good enough to bring that ball down 2 or 3 years ago. Bravo.
indeed! that was a sweet first touch and awesome left footed slot home. Beautiful goal. Cameron!!!
Yeah, well controlled, composed attempt. I’m glad he’s back in the fold.
Leo,
You haven’t been watching Seattle.
Dempsey does not deserve to be captain. He goes down way to easy holds the ball too long and hasnt been involved the past few games.
Yes, he was just awful against Germany, scoring all those goals. So rude.
+1
Please Mr. Darke utter one more vacuous cliché. What a bore.
Your wish granted. ‘What a peach of a pass’ on the Johnson goal.
D’ohh – Ives…I meant pa$$. Really I did. I swears it on the precious.
Nice. I find the need to rea$$ess my a$$umptions about where I should pa$$ my online time making my a$$ine remarks. Preciou$$$
It’s spelled asinine.
Just saying.
wow, my bad. Nice snag.
you mean, precious?
Would you rather have Della Camera!!!!….I certainly hope not!!!
Disagree. Love Ian Darke.
I know a lot of fans like him but I am getting to the point where I don’t like the faux-understatement of the British football announcer.
I actually feel like he brings a lot of passion and excitement to the match.
I actually feel like he brings a lot of pa$$ion and excitement to the match.
He always seems like he’s having fun. To me, that’s very important.
Perhaps because the American accent or voice sucks so bad?
And quite honestly, the latino accent for the USA doesn’t work either…
Haven’t heard many. The thing is that a Latin accent often indicates English is a second language.
for the US games, I mute him. But I like him otherwise
Darke is perfect…as a Brit he is able to call the game without being an obnoxious cheerleader.
+1 He works!
ditto my friend
Even better than the goal is that the defense hs not made any bad mistakes. And panama looks pretty good on the attack…
monica gonzalez is bangin taylor twellman…im just sayin
If true, thats a pretty good pull for t twell
This game is a great display for why we should use Cameron needs to be on the field for us in some capacity. He is doing amazing work in the center of the field.
anyone got a Honduras-Jamaica score?
Honduras 2 – 0 Jamaica
oh, this is gonna be so interesting down the wire 🙂
thanks for the score
The party is virtually over for the Reggae Boys…Shame. They bring color and party to the World Cup!
Yeah…it’s a real shame Trinidad hasn’t been able to concentrate long enough to put something together.
Gotta love the TRUE homefield advantage not afforded by venues out east and most certainly any down south!!!….One of these days Seattle will get a grass pitch or the technology for a temporary one will be better advanced!
Moderate me Ives!!
50 Shades of Ives??
lol
Fabian and Jozy did their jobs, but Bradley’s run made that goal. He is our playmaker. Cameron should stay behind him at all times.
The big negative to JJ is that he prevents MB from getting forward as much as he should bc he has to cover for JJ’s wandering a$$
Yeah. But it is a plus to have two who can create in the attack. That’s one reason I don’t like Jones. He can swing the ball around but he’s not that great at picking his head up on the dribble and finding the right pass. Bradley is, and Holden will be eventually… I hope.
Yeah. But it is a plus to have two who can create in the attack. That’s one reason I don’t like Jones. He can swing the ball around but he’s not that great at picking his head up on the dribble and finding the right p@$$. Bradley is, and Holden will be eventually… I hope.
So true, for whatever reason, Jones isn’t as disciplined as he should be when he plays with MB or theoretically behind MB…. so MB out of necessity has to shade behind him and allow him to meander around. The chemistry between Cameron and MB was unreal.
Cameron is playing his azz off…same for Jozy and MB…. the MB/Cameron pairing looks freakishly solid…1-2 touch passing, covering for each other…. extremely solid stuff.
USA high pressure really causing problems now for Panama
Wow! What a gorgeous one touch sequence between Beas, Jozy, Deuce and MB!