Saturday, July 14, 2007

A Saturday of Disappointment: Austria stuns the USA,

Austria 2, United States 1

Many - after we got by Uruguay 2-1 in a rather ugly fashion - were relieved to see Austria the next team in our way. The truth is, though, Erwin "Jimmy" Hoffer and Mr. Okotie decided to spoil our show. Actually - the loss of this game was for the most part to ourselves. The first 20 minutes showed a reinvigorated American team with fluid passing all centering around Michael Bradley and moving outside to Zizzo or Rogers, back inside to Adu, with one more subsequent touch and then an opportunity. After the goal from Jozy in the 15th minute, he disappeared and right there, the lack of a striker (and let's be honest he is not one to come back for the ball) for the following 70 minutes was crucial. We were a man down from 20 minutes in. We also didn't start putting passes together again until there was about 5 minutes to go in regulation. Overall, a frustrating game even more so because our two most effective players were getting punished for it - Bradley would have had to miss the next game due to yellow card accumulation and Anthony Wallace was the red card casualty. Nathan Sturgis was not there to play today and our wingbacks were wingbacks. No attack. No nothing.

I know I jumped around - but that's what it felt like. Still a decent tournament for a group of kids that deserved a lot more than that. Well the day saw TWO significant upsets and a big day for Central/Eastern Europe as Czech Republic upset Spain (1-1 in regulation, 4-3 on PKs) as well. Ugh - don't even want to watch the final now.

What were the pluses and minuses for you?

Match Report from ESPN SOCCERNET


Match Report from Top Drawer Soccer


MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER SATURDAY (July 14, 2007)

D.C. United 3, FC Dallas 3

RFK Stadium

A shootout that saw D.C. go up 3-0 early on 2 Emilio goals, but the Hoops fought back thanks to a brace from Juan Carlos Toja - everybody's new favorite MLS player. Even more impressive for the Hoops that they came back playing at RFK Stadium.

Match Report from Top Drawer Soccer

DCU: Emilio 2 (10), Fred
FCD: Ruiz (3), Toja 2 (6)

New England 1, Red Bull New York 0
Giants Stadium

The complete opposite of the DCU-FCD clash. Andy Dorman broke the deadlock with a wicked shot 20 yards out, while Angel responded late in the game - not with a goal but instead - his first ejection in a Red Bull uniform. It was due to an apparently "intentional" elbow to Shalrie Joseph's during a mid-air tussle.

NER: Dorman (7)
RBNY: NONE

my Match Report from Top Drawer Soccer

Kansas City 1, Real Salt Lake 0
Arrowhead Stadium

The Wizards extend Real Salt Lake's demise while stopping the beginning of their own, all thanks to Eddie Johnson who immediately finds his touch once he returns from international duty.

Match Report from MLSNet.com


KCW: E. Johnson (10)
RSL: NONE

Chivas USA 2, Columbus 1
Home Depot Center

Ante Razov rediscovered his scoring touch as the Goats picked apart the Crew. A somewhat on point Schelloto couldn't even help the unraveling (despite adding his 7th assist).

Match Report from Top Drawer Soccer (coming Sunday morning)

CHV: Razov (5), Own Goal (Gaven),
CMB: Miglioranzi (2)

Copa America Consolation Match


Mexico 3, Uruguay 1

The Tricolores closed out a formidable showing in Venezuela with Blanco, Bravo, and young'un (new Deportivo recruit) Andres Guardado all getting on the board. Good stuff Mexico - at least it makes the Americans look better (in that, we beat those guys in Gold Cup that have now done really well in Copa America whereas our team stunk and went home after three games). Even more impressive, Uruguay struck first through Abreu and Mexico responded with three unanswered goals.

Match Report from CopaAmerica.com

MEX: Blanco (pen 26), Bravo (68), Guardado (76)
URU: Abreu (22)

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