3 points: USA defeats Jamaica

Photo credit: Reuters

It may seem that it would be written in the stars for the United States: playing at home in a qualifier on the 11th anniversary of 9/11. So much pride, spirit and desire. And the men in stripes did not disappoint. Team USA got their win and vengeance over Jamaica after a shock loss in Kingston last Friday, and they are now in better position to qualify for the next round of World Cup Qualifying.

It was, however, a tale of two halves. Not necessarily the temporal halves, but the before and after the goal was scored. Before the goal, the US held 79% of the possession, hit the post three times and was denied, miraculously by Dwayne Miller twice. Most of all, the US looked great throughout the first half with Zusi, Cherundolo and Danny Williams looking especially impressive. 

After the goal, the Americans looked disinterested and, at times vulnerable. Marking became sloppy and Dempsey could not get forward with clarity. It could have been so much more if they had kept the same tempo going. It may have been a perfect match altogether.

If the Americans had had Michael Bradley or Donovan on this night, the score could easily have been much more emphatic. Even so, however, nothing in the first 55 minutes made us feel that those two legionnaires were absolutely necessary to win; the score might have been 4-0 by the end of the night. 

The forwards did their job tonight. Dempsey held the ball, looked dangerous and demanded respect. This gave Herculez Gomez more room to roam, strike, open spaces and ultimately stand up to take the free kick that gave the US the victory. Altidore's insertion late in the game gave the front line more stability and a way to hold up the play.

The midfield clicked tonight. Even Jose Torres, long-heralded the playmaker by Juergen Klinsmann, looked clear and precise in his passes and his shots. Danny Williams excelled at defensive midfielder and outshone recent efforts by Edu, Jones and Beckermann. Graham Zusi has made a case for himself as a good option on the wing with great passing ability and a superb shot. We will see more of him in the future. Jones was probably the weakest link tonight but he held the Jamaicans back and took a few knocks in the process.

The defense was rather stout with Cherundolo and Bocanegra back in their respective positions. There is no arguing that, for the moment, there is no replacement for Bocanegra, only approximations, and we need Boca for matches like these. Cherundolo has also made a clear point that he is still the man to beat at right back unless Timmy Chandler joins the team or Eric Lichaj improves further.

The ball is now clearly in the US' half for qualifying. A trip to lowly, feisty, and eliminated Antigua and Barbuda and a home match versus Guatemala. Win both and the US advances. Jamaica and Guatemala will face each other next in Central America in a match that could decide their fate in this group. No team can take anything for granted anymore. This is where it ends and it begins.

Player ratings:

Howard.............6

Cherundolo.......7.5

Bocanegra.........7.5

F. Johnson.........6

Cameron............7

Zusi...................7.5

Torres................6

Jones................5.5

Williams...........8

Dempsey...........6

Gomez..............7.5

Subs: Edu (6.5), Shea (6), Altidore (5.5)

First step: US vs Antigua and Barbuda

 Photo credit: Getty Images

We had wished for at least 3 goals in favor. And we got it. Today, the US Men's soccer national team had an underwhelming performance against the national team from the Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda. It was a 3-1 win, yes, but it could and should have been much more. Instead, after Herculez Gomez sealer, team USA was left scrambling and overly cautious of a side made up of mainly USL (3rd tier) players.

What was unsettling today was mostly the sloppy plays by Maurice Edu, Steve Cherundolo and Oguchi Onyewu. Edu is surprisingly nowhere near his level with the Glasgow Rangers. Meanwhile, Cherundolo was being overlapped and outrun in another glaring display of talent misrepresentation. This is because Steve has been a de facto right back for the United States for many years and has done so stunningly, at points, and thankfully unnoticed at others. Tonight, his diminished pace was clear and his passes were intercepted more than once.

For Onyewu things are different. "Gooch" is nowhere near the dominant center back that signed with AC Milan in 2009. A patella tendon tear in the final 2010 World Cup qualifier derailed his progress as a player and he never quite recovered for the international level. This has been the scenario starting with the World Cup in games against England and Slovenia, and most recently against Brazil and tonight's match. His athleticism and desire are unquestionably there and he remains successful at the European club level in Portugal, but his place as a starter for the United States is no longer a lock.

Aside from some of the negatives, there were a lot of positives: Donovan and Dempsey hooked up and created chances, even if they did not come to fruition, Gomez continued his scoring ways, there was good possession and Bradley and Jones continued to forge their box-to-box roles. We have to hand it to the AB defense and the goalkeeper because there was more than one goal-line clearance and over a dozen corner kicks.

The main questions remain: Who starts at left back versus Guatemala if Johnson is not available? Does Edu and/or Onyewu continue as starter? Will the attack produce goals in a 4-4-2 formation? This next game is perhaps the most important because it lets us know just how well the team can do away from home and earn points to advance to the next phase of the qualifiers. They won at Panama and Italy under Klinsmann, can they repeat the feat in a meaningful match?

Player ratings:

Howard.............6

Cherundolo.......4

Bocanegra.........7

Goodson...........6

Torres................4

Donovan...........6.5

Dempsey...........7

Bradley..............7

Edu....................3

Jones.................5.5

Gomez..............7.5

Subs: Onyewu (3), Boyd (N/A), Altidore (N/A)

Surviving Klinsmann's Generational Shift

Photo credit: AP

Much has been made of Klinsmann's new roster preferences for the US national team. From choosing individuals from Latin-American backgrounds (Torres, Castillo, Orozco Fiscal) to calling on other youngsters like Robbie Rogers and Brek Shea. When Klinsmann's Germany team took the stage at the 2006 World Cup the team was largely based on players under 23. Joachim Loew's squad in 2010 was also quite young. Will the same happen when USA takes the field in 2014?

There are pitfalls and promises when choosing younger players. But it's also true that generational shifts are nearly always positive. The 2002 and 2010 USA teams included a good mix of players in their prime, young stars and a few experienced stalwarts. For 2010 there was Donovan and Dempsey in the prime late 20s, a younger attacking contingent (Altidore, Findley), and some experienced defenders (Bocanegra, Cherundolo, DeMerrit). Other individuals like Torres, Bradley, Edu and Holden were in their mid-20s.

We need look no further than the 1998 and 2006 USA teams to realize how detrimental it is to have mostly older players in a squad. Same was true for Italy, France and Australia in 2010. Also noteworthy is the fact that new head coaches tend to bring in different individuals with new material to work with. Brek Shea is an explosive midfielder with exceptional talent. Agudelo is an up-and-coming striker. Timmy Chandler (assuming he remains a US player) is the future of the right back position for Team USA.

But who would survive a generational shift under Klinsmann? The German head coach is no stranger to upsetting the establishment and shaking up rosters. Would Bocanegra and Clarence Goodson be sacrificed? Are Hercules Gomez and Edson Buddle out of the national team for good? As far as deserved survivors, I think we have to count on Donovan and Dempsey remaining with the squad. They have too much talent to be left behind. The back line, however, is a different picture. Cherundolo could be the only survivor. Then again, Bocanegra, Mr Captain America, could well remain in central defense. Aside from these four players and Tim Howard, anyone else is probably, likely, to be out.

Klinsmann's 2010 holdovers are also likely to include Holden, Edu, Altidore and Bradley as players in their prime. From there the shake-up will possibly bring 15 new players, if not more, in 2014. Plenty to look forward to as qualifiers get underway in June 2011.

Reset: US loses to Mexico in Gold Cup final

Photo credit: CONCACAF

USA lost to Mexico by the score of 4-2. With it went the ticket to the Confederations Cup and a bit of pride. But now is not the time to put our heads down. Now we can press the reset button and start anew.

We press the reset button because the US can no longer subject itself to giving away early goals. In today's case it was in the second half when Barrera scored the go-ahead goal.

We reset because we can't give up promising players to club intentions. This is about Timmy Chandler, arguably the best prospect in the young US defense. Bradley had the chance to bring him in but decided to waive the idea when the club and player requested extra resting time. How important would he have been when Cherundolo got hurt early in the game?

Reset the defense more. Bornstein has had spotty playing time in Mexico and hardly ever at left back. Why not players like Loyd or Pearce that are actually playing every game with their clubs.

Reset because some players need to be considered higher in the pecking order even if they are nursing injuries. Charlie Davies is having a great comeback season with DC United but Bradley chose Wondolowski over him but still called up Onyewu (also nursing an injury coming into the Gold Cup). Davies was back on the pitch the weekend the Gold Cup restarted. Again, judgement call but one with considerable weight behind it.

Reset the location. Why does CONCACAF continue to play the Gold Cup only in the USA? Further, why does US Soccer go ahead with this? It's better for the players if they play in other countries. But somehow the final is set for the Rose Bowl. Chicago was a more neutral location four years ago. I'm scratching my head with this one still.

Reset for the fans. We know this country has great athletes. We know they are playing more soccer these days. Having Thomas Rongen miss a chance with the most talented U-20 in a decade only thwarted development further. That team never made it to the U-20 World Cup and players like Agudelo, Salgado, Kitchen won't be exposed to the elements. Rongen was let go. Should Bob Bradley?

Howard....................5
Cherundolo.............N/A
Bocanegra................4
Goodson...................5
Lichaj.......................4
Adu...........................8
Jones........................5
Bradley.....................6
Donovan...................6
Dempsey..................5.5
Bedoya......................4

Subs: Agudelo (4), Bornstein (3), Kljestan (N/A)

Rekindled: US defeats Jamaica in Gold Cup Quarterfinal

Photo credit: US Presswire

Bob Bradley may have saved his job a little while longer. The US dominated and defeated Jamaica by the score of 2-0 in a match that served as a preview of what the team can do without Donovan or Altidore. Donovan was left on the bench for two thirds of the match and Altidore (2 goals in the Gold Cup) had to be subbed off early in the game due to a hamstring strain. But team USA responded with smart plays by Kljestan and Bedoya and great teamwork in the defense.

This game was also Dempsey's game. He was severely criticized by media and fans alike (myself included) after the game against Guadeloupe. Indeed, the "Deuce" missed three or four chances in that match that could have increased the scoreline to a more appropriate difference between two squads with considerable spacing in quality and experience. But today Dempsey responded with constant attacks, shots on goal and a superb strike to put the Americans up 2-0.

When Altidore went down injured at the start of the game, Americans nationwide held their breath. Might he miss the rest of the tournament? Would the US still be able to get past Jamaica? But Agudelo picked up where Jozy left off. He provided an additional spark and passes that gave way to the goals scored. His center provided the assist for Clint Dempsey's strike. The youngster proved why he belongs with the team and why he is a player to watch for the future.

Another hero tonight was Jermaine Jones. Always controversial and full of pride, Jones received a yellow for an unnecessary foul but was involved in the attack much more than in previous games. He had his share of chances and his strike from outside the area proved to be the difference-maker in this game.

The back line also had a solid game today. Goodson and Bocanegra held the middle of the field with great poise, although they were outrun on a couple of occasions by the speedster Dane Richards. Cherundolo and Lichaj were great at countering the wings and also by providing great crosses for the US attack. Lichaj, in particular, impressed with his poise and positioning. Hopefully this means more playing time in the Premier League or wherever he ends up next.

Up next is Panama, who just defeated El Salvador on penalty kicks. This could be both good and bad since the players will be full of pride after defeating the Cuscatlecos but also tired from the 120 minutes on the pitch. Team USA will have to undo the damage done by Panama in the group stage loss to the Canaleros. A tough task indeed, but if they play like today then the outcome is likely to be positive.

Player ratings:
Howard.................7.5
Lichaj.....................7.5
Bocanegra..............6
Goodson.................6
Cherundolo............7.5
Dempsey................8.5
Jones......................7
Bedoya....................7
Bradley..................7
Kljestan....................7
Altidore....................(N/A)

Subs: Agudelo (7), Donovan (6), Edu (6.5)

Jozy strikes back: US vs Canada

Photo credit: AP

The United States started the 2011 Concacaf Gold Cup with the right result today: a 2-0 win over Canada. The 0-4 deficit versus Spain four days ago was quickly forgotten thanks to savvy play by Donovan, Bradley and Dempsey, outstanding central defense, lateral penetration thanks to Cherundolo, scintillating goalkeeping by Howard, and great offensive plays by Altidore.

The match started fast for the Stars and Stripes, Michael Bradley showed why he's such a gifted box-to-box player and he combined well with Jermaine Jones. Dempsey played a slightly withdrawn forward role in a 4-3-1-2 formation at times. It worked. Donovan's penetrating runs and crosses fed Agudelo and Altidore on several occasions and could have added another pair of goals.

The defense was stout in the middle with a Goodson-Ream tandem that just might be clicking the way Onyewu and Bocanegra once were. Bocanegra's new position at left back looked vulnerable, at times, due to his lack of speed, which in turn meant he restrained from going forward too much. Cherundolo was solid for the most part. Then there's Tim Howard. This game and his various saves en route to a shutout are the reason why he's one of the top goalkeepers in the world. One sequence after a corner, in particular, required feline instincts and reaction.

And then there's Altidore. Redemption from constant attacks from media and fans alike. Why isn't he scoring? How can we rely on him as our top striker? He gave us the reasons today. Protecting the ball by using his strength and size and centering his strike with enough force to slip past Hirschfeld. And Dempsey's masterful sliding goal came from a pinpoint Altidore center. And this is what people forget--Altidore provided two of the most important assists at last year;s World Cup. One was a cradling header to set up Michael Bradley's tying goal versus Slovenia. The second was the center he provided for Donovan's goal versus Algeria. This is how important Altidore is to the future of the US national team.

Let's not forget that a likely rival in a possible final is Mexico. Chicharito and company are a whole new level above what Canada has to offer. However, Canada is a team with similar characteristics to the US. This is important to gauge similar weaknesses and strengths that can be exploited by other squads like Mexico or Costa Rica.

Well done, team USA. Great way to start a tournament.

Howard......................9
Cherundolo...............7.5
Ream..........................6
Goodson.....................6.5
Bocanegra..................5
Dempsey....................7.5
Bradley......................8
Donovan....................7
Jones...........................6
Agudelo......................5.5
Altidore......................8

Subs: Kljestan (5.5), Edu (6), Wondolowski (N/A)

The B side: US loses to Spain

Photo Credit: AP

The United States lost by the score of 4-0 today against Spain without some of its key starters. Is a game worth playing when you know you know you're not putting in 100%? Bob Bradley and US Soccer sure think so. Yes, it's Spain and it's the cash from playing against the world champions. Yes, it's a "tune-up" match before a big tournament. Really?

Today was a sad day for US soccer fans and the players themselves. They went out there to try to not get injured, to stay away from tackling too hard, to not outrun your own pace. How is this a warm-up? And no big stars from the start of the game? Donovan (illness), Bornstein (injury), Bocanegra (resting). Yes, we get it. But no Bradley, Cherundolo or Dempsey? That's 5 top players and not much cohesion in the midfield or defense.

This game would have been better played against a more modest team like New Zealand. Mexico had the right idea. They played earlier in the week and versus a smaller team. You can't go against the best team in the world with only your bench players or new guys. It's just math.

Who was at fault here? Everyone and no one. It's not Bob Bradley's fault that they were playing against the best in the world in a meaningless friendly three days before the start of a major tournament. Why would you risk losing the tournament only for a single game? And if we want to blame US Soccer then we have to realize that the revenue from this game alone plus the exposure is important for the growth of the federation. And the players? Howard can't do it all himself and the rest are trying to stay healthy for the tournament while at the same time trying to impress the coach enough to get picked as starters in the Gold Cup.

Only Spain won today. Not the fans nor the team nor the federation. The USA still lacks the depth required to play high-level matches without the main starters. This is true for games like today's and for tournaments like the Copa America or the second Gold Cup (which excludes passage to the Confederations Cup). Aside from trying to understand the logic behind the 2-year Gold Cup cycle, which is more due to Concacaf, is the sobering reality that our second and third-tier players are still a few years away from top competition. Also, in the end, your "B" team isn't going to win against most "A" teams. If you need further proof then just look at Argentina's recent multi-goal loss to Nigeria.

No ratings today for the sake of brevity.