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Post by usasoccerboy on Aug 1, 2021 12:27:05 GMT -6
Will history repeat or will team USA make a dramatic statement? Out of my 40 plus years of watching American soccer, I have never seen such a pivotal moment in USA soccer history. We are on the precipice of taking a big step up and yet, history is as much of a battle as our opponent. Will we be beaten in our own home stadium again or will we turn the corner? So far, with the lack of attention being paid to this game, the lack of American enthusiasm for team USA , it seems we are facing a tough uphill climb. Historically, we have been embarrassed the most when we get to these types of matches where we meet Mexico in a major final in a location where Mexican fans outnumber American fans in our own stadiums. The Nations League Cup final shows that we can overcome this and to do it again with our mostly MLS and domestic based player would decimate el Tri and send them spiraling downward before World Cup qualification. This next qualification also looks to be tougher than ever now that Canada is showing they can step into the top 3.
I am thinking we will lose today by a disruptive Mexico side that will frustrate us because we will not be able to hold possessions and our passing will be off as it has been in the opening halves of our last two games. I hope this is not the case, because we have yet to play our best game. It would be great if we can get some goal production from our forwards. Now is the time to get hot. In the past, that is how we have beaten Mexico in these finals. Get up and put the pressure on them early. Once Mexico get up on you, they can strangle you by eeking out one goal wins, or decimate you with a barrage of goals .
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Post by usasoccerboy on Aug 1, 2021 12:28:30 GMT -6
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Post by usasoccerboy on Aug 1, 2021 12:55:54 GMT -6
In my nationa league thread below, I mention how the pause at the end of the game for the discrimination chants from the Mexican fans seemed to help el tri get back their mojo after being gassed. The same thing happened in the gold cup semifinal with Canada where again, Mexico are playing on their heels, they get the break, and then the winning goal. Seems Mexico are being rewarded, not punished, for their bad behavior. Mexico gets away with too much and have been doing so for too long. No one wants to hold Mexico accountable for their bad behavior. This also applies outside of soccer too, yet the anti-American sentiment expressed by our own Americans is higher than ever. Can team USA advance in this climate of anti-American Americans? Will Mexico get their just desserts for their bad behavior?
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Post by usasoccerboy on Aug 1, 2021 13:03:52 GMT -6
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Post by usasoccerboy on Aug 1, 2021 18:59:17 GMT -6
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Post by usasoccerboy on Aug 1, 2021 19:53:36 GMT -6
0-0 half
Mexico has more chances and more possession, but USA had the best goal scoring chances. Turner is keep team USA in the game. Ariola is missing good chances just wide. Hoppe came close on a corner header. Ref seems to blow the whistle when the USA touches a Mexico player, but not when Mexico rides on team USA’s back when they are breaking. USA is not bunkering down which is a good thing. USA needs a better first half to get the win, but not too bad so far. At least it is not embarrassing, which we have seen in the past at some of these gold cup finals. Mexico is seeing the depth of Team USA’s roster this summer.
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Post by usasoccerboy on Aug 1, 2021 20:57:49 GMT -6
0-0, end of regular time.
USA played better in that they held Mexico from as many chances as they did in the first half, the USA missed some close chances. Subs enter and did some good, but also allowed Mexico to do their thing. Referee seems to continue his style of whistling USA and forgiving Mexico. I believe this may be the fault of Berhalter bringing up refereeing in the media.
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Post by usasoccerboy on Aug 1, 2021 21:14:21 GMT -6
0-0 end of first half of extra time
USA giving up too much possession and too quick to clear balls instead of trying to head up the field. USA seems to have the better fitness , but little chances in this extra time. Defense is doing well, but too much defending is being required. Up top, we are not getting enough production from our forwards. 15 minutes till shootout.
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Post by usasoccerboy on Aug 1, 2021 21:37:11 GMT -6
USA wins 1-0 goal Robinson from Ariola service on a free kick. USA are kings of CONCACAF. Mexico fans seemed better behaved and only saw one bottle thrown from the fans at USA players celebrating . Another emotional great battle.
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Post by Cooldaddy on Aug 2, 2021 16:06:52 GMT -6
USA wins 1-0 goal Robinson from Ariola service on a free kick. USA are kings of CONCACAF. Mexico fans seemed better behaved and only saw one bottle thrown from the fans at USA players celebrating . Another emotional great battle. I watched the game late (finished around 1am). Proud of those kids! One correction: assist was from Acosta on the free kick. Acosta was MOTM and a few players (e.g. Turner, Acosta, Robinson, Hoppe, Sands) had their stock go up a great deal due to this tourney while others have fallen down a bit (e.g. "Deekay", Lewis). An historic win and I love the fact that some of our A team now has competition to keep them from getting too comfortable. Nothing better for a coach than to have competition from within all over the field! |
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Post by usasoccerboy on Aug 2, 2021 18:32:49 GMT -6
USA wins 1-0 goal Robinson from Ariola service on a free kick. USA are kings of CONCACAF. Mexico fans seemed better behaved and only saw one bottle thrown from the fans at USA players celebrating . Another emotional great battle. I watched the game late (finished around 1am). Proud of those kids! One correction: assist was from Acosta on the free kick. Acosta was MOTM and a few players (e.g. Turner, Acosta, Robinson, Hoppe, Sands) had their stock go up a great deal due to this tourney while others have fallen down a bit (e.g. "Deekay", Lewis). An historic win and I love the fact that some of our A team now has competition to keep them from getting too comfortable. Nothing better for a coach than to have competition from within all over the field! You are correct, Acosta, not ariola was on that cross. I get those names mixed up all the time due to them both starting with the letter A. Pavlov called that a contiguity error. Ariola had two good chances he should have put away. Acosta was outstanding on 50/50 balls. The system of the USA was different than our traditional system and seemed to hold up just as well as our other system. In fact, it seemed better to combat Mexico than we had in the past. What I seemed to notice is that right after we regained possession on a transition change, for us to maintain possession against Mexico’s high press style, we had to adapt and convert long passes to break pressure. From the second half on, we seemed to have gotten better and better with this as the game went on, with maybe the exception of the first extra time half where we seemed to be a little off. The second half and the second extra time seemed to be all ours; whereas, the first half and first extra time seemed to be Mexico’s. |
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Post by Cooldaddy on Aug 2, 2021 21:20:45 GMT -6
Yes. The US was focusing more on making the longer pass than trying to build out of pressure. That's an adjustment on Gregg's part and he's been getting some love for not being so set on build up. We also were high pressing Mexico more this game it seemed which allowed us to win balls in the midfield. I haven't looked yet, but I'm curious as to what Acosta's stats were.
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Post by Tank on Aug 3, 2021 5:54:29 GMT -6
For sure a good showing from the USMNT - great to see them have success
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Post by firebruin on Aug 3, 2021 8:54:32 GMT -6
Imagine that.... a longer ball to break a high press... Dang... that makes sense.  |
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Post by Cooldaddy on Aug 3, 2021 9:05:18 GMT -6
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Post by usasoccerboy on Aug 3, 2021 10:44:14 GMT -6
Good stuff, but my only issue is all the hatred for Lalas that is typical for the younger generation fans to always show. The 94 WC made dramatic improvements from the terrible 90 and 86 teams, mostly due to two players, Lalas and Balboa, when teamed up with GK Tony Meola, made our team tough to score against. I’ll never disparaged him for I am more thankful for those two for turning our program around more than any other player before or after him in the USSF system. Most of the ridicule I see towards him is out of pure jealousy. |
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Post by Tank on Aug 3, 2021 13:11:01 GMT -6
Lalas has his good and bad moments - he can be a great analysis but can also be a grade-A jackwagon. Take him with a grain of salt when he goes off script.
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