By IVES GALARCEP
BALTIMORE- The U.S. Men’s National Team is considered the clearcut favorite to win the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, but that label won’t matter much if the Americans stumble today in their first step through the knockout rounds.
Waiting to knock off the favorites today is El Salvador, which will play the role of underdog today in a sold-out M & T Bank Stadium expected to be packed with Salvadoran fans.
El Salvador features star striker Rodolfo Zelaya, the team’s leading scorer in the Gold Cup, and speedy wingers Andres Flores and Osael Romero, who are sure to test the American fullbacks today.
The U.S. will be led by Landon Donovan in the attack, and Matt Besler in central defense, where the Sporting KC defender is expected to bolster a U.S. defense that allowed two goals in the group stage.
SBI will be providing live commentary on today’s match, so please free to follow all the action before, during and after the match. As always, you are welcome to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Today’s commentary is after the jump):
Sub of the year
LLOL!
Klinnsman the puppet master…wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
haha lolololololololo genius!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How’s that for a hello? Can’t get a better first touch than that.
Ej!!!!!!
Here comes Gyasi Zardes’s newfound daddy.Gam dog Eddie Johnson.
This ref is not helping us at all, that’s for sure.
Mix needs to come off
Diskerud having a poor game.
Beckerman definitely has come on over the course of the match…
Zelaya is having his way down the wing atm.
Hate to say it but he’s making mince pie out of Besler when he gets the ball. Would have liked to see Orozco at Rb. Parkurst looks shaky.
Orozco should go in for Goodson.
he’s been beating all in front of him…guy is a talent and I want him on my Galaxy baby!
I first noticed Zelaya when he played I the gold cup in 2009? I always thought he was pretty good.Hes played in Mexico and the Russian premier.Now he is back playing in El Salvador so going to MLS is a good shout.Hes only 25 so could get a lot out of him.
he’s a fun player. saw him play at Rio Tinto in the 2009 quali, his talent stood out then. didn’t know where he’d been but enjoyed watching him in this tournament. to me he showed he’s a dangerous player in many different areas on the field, pops up effectively all over the place
cheers man
Burgos the energizer bunny…they attack defensively perhaps with this lineup?
First half exciting stuff and the USMNT B-Team looking good. Almost everyone playing well, with the weakest links, IMO, Parkhurst and Beasley, who is playing out of position. I think this team would be competitive against the USMNT A-Team. If USMNT cannot score a third goal this game could turn into a nail-biter.
Good game.
Best part of Fox’s coverage today is Heather Mitts…..
Gus Johnson crushed it in the first half
About 35 minutes of great soccer, poor last 10 minutes. Defense fell asleep and offense couldn’t finish to put it away.
Burgos the energizer bunny…they attack defensively perhaps with this lineup?
excuse me, didn’t mean to post this here
S’ok. Not every match can be 6-0.
It can be 5-1 though hahah
U.S. should get more goals.
Usually a good idea
Ridiculous call.
If anything it was obstruction which is an indirect kick.
When Donovan had his chance on goal, he should have ripped instead to flicking it.
This is why US qualifiers should never be played on the East Coast.
Meant to be a reply of another post.
That is never a penalty. Horrible call.
Nah, that was the right call. Definitely a foul. Not a bad one, but can’t do that in the box.
whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! blasphemy
With better finishing, it’d be 6-0 right now
For which side?
The U.S. I hope you just aren’t watching, because if you are asking that and you are watching…
hahaha
No, I’m watching.. Question was only partly tongue-in-cheek, considering Zalaya’s kick over the goal, the remarkable double save by Rimando, the fact that they did score a goal, of course… Did you see any of those while watching?
And there goes SantamarÃa, as if to underscore the point.
And then Zalaya again.
Are you serious? The U.S had much better chances in the first half. One could argue 6-3, but to think that the U.S. hasn’t had enough chances to score 6 is either biased or ignorant.
Insult away if that’s what you want but if you’re not going to read what I just said and consider all the examples, not much point in continuing the discussion. (shrug)
I hope it was more than partly tongue in cheek. There’s not really any question which team created more clear chances in the first half.
Did someone question that?
You literally asked which team could be up 6-0. That kind of implies that you questioned what team had more chances…smh.
Yeah, and then noted the question was partly tongue-in-cheek. (Don’t know if you bothered to read that.) Then noted SLV’s numerous finishing issues. (Which I know you don’t read.) Then there is te fact that the originally comment you apparently have no problem with makes the same exaggeration the other way…smh.
A lot of time left, of course, but jusy so nice to see the US come out strong rather than sluggish in the first half…
Parkhurst has been working that right sideline
Landon should have better there.
Corona is a player man. He can ball. Really excited to see him the rest of the tournament and this next year to see what he can do.
+1
He’s one of the most exciting prospects in a long time. Probably because he plays an exciting position.
Hope Klinsi keeps giving him chances!
ill have a 6 pack of CORONA
Corona is on the wing, Wondo as lone forward is never a speedster, no Gomez… I suspect we’ll see EJ at some later point.
Jurgen and Landon teaming up there, Coach calling his number with faith and LD delivering
sweet
Oh Landon Sonovan
wynalda is just there to party! laughing and carrying on…how may coronas do you reckon?
Uh… that was the most brilliant corner kick play I think I’ve ever seen from this team.
Loved it!
Someone have a working link?
You can watch it on Univision’s website
Gracias
Goodson looks like he never got past that awkward phase.You know when you have a growth spurt in your teens and then grow into your body.
Looked well composed on the goal though eh?
A gawky teenager who hasn’t grown into his body could’ve fin…oh wait.
Corona has done a terrific job on the right wing so far in this tournament. I think he’s making a strong case for being our first choice right winger. Makes good decisions, technically adept, good speed, solid workrate. Kind of a revelation for me, as I hadn’t seen him play a whole lot before.
I still rather have Zusi there.Both Corona and Zusi don’t have the pace or trickery that true wingers have.Their both naturally cmids.At least with Zusi you know your getting excellent crosses and set pieces though.
Corona’s crossing is better than Zusi’s. Zusi puts in some good ones, but also mis-hits about half of them. Corona has been near flawless.
I disagree that Corona is a better crosser.
A fair amount of Zusi’s crosses are off target. Corona provides near perfect deliveries almost every time. He’s just much more skilled IMO. And again, I generally like Zusi and am glad Klinsi worked him into the team at a time when we were seriously lacking on the wings. He was vital for us for a spell. But I think Corona is better.
Lets not be so quick to dislodge our starting rm for most of wcq because Joe Benny has 2 good games in this tourney.
He’s been good in every game he’s played. Two have stood out more than others since he’s scored, but he’s been consistently generating good attacks up the right.
Zusi is now 3rd choice. Landycakes and Corona have taken his job. May Iadd Corona is doing work!
Yeah that’s why Zusi has started on the wing for most of wcq’s and Joe Benny has been on the roster and not started.We will have to wait and see when the A squad gets called in.
Beckerman with a great diagonal switch to play through Parkhurst who whips it in. And Mixx scuffs it. Great sequence and chance.
Well kudos to Goodson for staying composed to not let the El Salvador attacker beat him or send in a cross.
We got very lucky there.
Think the Beckerman giveaway count is already at 2 just 6-7 mins in…
Are there any US fans there?…all I see is blue
Between Salvadoreans and Hondurans who both wear blue they filled the 71k stadium.
There are 200 US fans.
If anyone thinks el salvador is gonna park the bus this game, you dont know anything about soccer and havent been watching the games
Still think that?
Well yeah cause they aren’t parking the bus?
Look at the possesion stats.
Yeah so?
Ha are you just looking at the stats and not watching the actual game?
I sick of that bald headed reporter
Who?
Grant “Don’t quit your day job” Wahl
I think I’m the only one who thought Johnson and Holden would be on the bench.
No. You are not the only one.
Anyone know where the game can be heard on the radio??
It is very hot I think Jurgen will save Eddie,s speed if needed when they are tired
Exactly.
El Salvador’s soccer seal should be a hand holding up a yellow card.
LOL!!!!!!!!!
Joe Corona is my surprise (Demarcus Beasley in 2002) pick to make the World Cup squad for Brazil ? How about yours Ives.
Why would that be a surprise? He’s been with the WCQ side for a while. Klinsmann clearly likes him.
It certainly would not be a surprise at this point. He’s like Zusi, except better at just about everything (and I am not a Zusi hater)
yeah uh what do you mean he’s like zusi? one plays on the wing, the other in the middle of of the field