SBI

SBI on Facebook

Sponsor

Sponsors

Site Meter

..

« Red Bulls update: Hello Charleston | Main | Red Bulls match vs. Charleston postponed »

March 15, 2008

Olympic Qualifying: USA vs. Honduras (Running Commentary)

Good evening folks. Tonight is the night we find out where the U.S. Under-23 national team finishes in the Group A standings. Panama's 4-1 win against Cuba earlier today means the Americans have qualified for the qualifying tournament semifinals. What remains to be seen is whether the Americans will finish first or second in Group A.

A win tonight against Honduras and the United States finishes atop Group A. A draw or loss and Honduras wins the group. Just what that means remains to be seen because Group B is completely upside down. If the Americans finish in second place it will face Guatemala in the semifinals with an Olympic berth on the line. If the Americans finish in first place in the group it could face Mexico, Haiti or even Canada.

You can follow the action here as I will be providing a running commentary of the match. Please share your own thoughts and opinions on the match in the comments section.

Let's get started:

------------------------

FINAL- That's all for tonight folks. Thanks for following along on SBI and please share your post-match thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

------------------------

FINAL- And the USA wins the match, 1-0, and finish in first place in Group A. This means the Americans will face either Haiti, Mexico or Canada in the decisive semifinal on Thursday. Charlie Davies comes in as a sub and draws two penalties, missing the first and letting Gaven convert the second.

It was an ugly match but the Americans were never in much trouble against a Honduran team resting its best players.

------------------------

95th minute- GOAL USA!!!!!. Gaven converts the PK

------------------------

95th minute- Eddie Gaven to take the PK

------------------------

94th minute- USA PENALTY. WOW

------------------------

90th minute- This game is almost over and the USA looks like it will avoid Mexico in the semifinals.

------------------------

87th minute- Findley with a nice run into the area. He's been the best of the Findley-Barrett-Davies trio tonight.

------------------------

86th minute- Davies with another dive. I'm starting to think he's part Honduran.

------------------------

85th minute- Nunez fires one off the left post and the Americans dodge a bullet.

------------------------

84th minute- Yes folks, that was Chad Barrett with a purposeful pass that wasn't a turnover. So what if he turned it over once he got it back.

------------------------

83rd minute- McCarty with a foul on former Dallas teammate Ramon Nunez. I can imagine the stories they could tell about each other.

------------------------

81st minute- A heel flick that leads to nothing is called wonderful. DRINK!!

------------------------

78th minute- A female streaker halts the game and, yes folks, she wasn't bad at all. Gotta love FSC showing replays of her streak job, can't say I blame them.

------------------------

74th minute- The United States comes close but Chad Barrett's wide-open header goes wide.

------------------------

68th minute- MLS washout Ramon Nunez is set to come into the match for Honduras.

------------------------

67th minute- Some very good stuff from Eddie Gaven tonight. I think you can argue that he deserves to start in the semifinals.

------------------------

65th minute- I'm starting to think we should have made a drinking game out of Honduran players faking injuries. We would all be drunk by now.

------------------------

62nd minute- DAVIES MISSES!!!! Charlie Davies wanted the PK and he promptly sailed it wide right by a few inches.

------------------------

61st minute- USA PENALTY. Davies brought down in the area and Davies has a PK to take now.

------------------------

60th minute- Charlie Davies and Dax McCarty coming in for Sal Zizzo and Sacha Kljestan.

------------------------

51st minute- Kljestan with an ugly tackle that earns him a yellow.

------------------------

46th minute- We're under way and Honduras gets a good shot on goal just seconds into the match. Cervi with a decent save.

------------------------

HALFTIME- We're scoreless at the half. Honduras isn't really doing much and the Americans have had the better of the play, though they haven't been stellar either. Nowak has to think about putting Charlie Davies in for Barrett. If he doesn't bench Barrett I'm afraid some SBI readers might wind up with alcohol poisoning.

------------------------

46th minute- I'm starting to think the Americans want a tie here. If Barrett stays in the game in the second half then I definitely think that's the case.

------------------------

45th minute- Wow, Honduran midfielder Irvin Reyna with a TOUGH tackle on Zizzo.

------------------------

44th minute- Barrett with ANOTHER turnover. DRINK!

------------------------

43rd minute- Here's an honest, CONCACAF-inspired question. What is more annoying, when a player dives badly or when a player lobbies hard for an opponent to get a card? It's a tough call but I think I'll go with the card lobbying.

------------------------

41st minute- Barrett with a horrid turnover. DRINK!

------------------------

39th minute- Kljestan with a bad turnover that leads to a Honduras break. Has anybody's stock dropped more from the end of Game two to now than Kljestan?

------------------------

38th minute- Honduras doesn't really look that interested in attacking soccer, though it may just be a product of its second team not being that good.

------------------------

33rd minute- Barrett with a shot on goal, okay so it rolled to the goalkeeper, but at least he kept it on the field.

------------------------

32nd minute- Sorry Mr. Miles, a keeper punching a ball right to an opposing player 20 yards from goal is NOT punching the ball to safety. Everybody DRINK!

------------------------

30th minute- Random question: When did the Jheri curl become the national hairstyle of Honduras?

------------------------

29th minute- Free roam, I believe that's a cell phone plan, but I digress. Cervi gets a save, even if it was an easy one. For those who forget, Cervi was easily the best goalkeeper at the MLS Combine and has a bright future somewhere. Yes, I said somewhere, he hasn't signed with the Chicago Fire just yet.

------------------------

25th minute- Just so you folks don't think I'm a complete hater I do think Brian Dunseth has done a great job as a color analyst. Though if he says Cruyff one more time I might break my TV. Actually, that's a drinking game. Anytime Dunseth says Cruyff everybody drinks.

------------------------

24th minute- Someone should tell the Honduran goalkeeper that Memo Ochoa called, he wants his look back.

------------------------

22nd minute- Great sequence with Zizzo finding Findley and Findley with a beautiful move in the area. Would have been a goal if not for the Honduran goalkeeper.

------------------------

19th minute- Okay, I've got the second drinking game. Any time Christian Miles praises a play and the play winds up being a turnover or terrible shot you must drink. He does it far too often. Hope you folks have a lot of alcohol available.

------------------------

18th minute- I don't know who the Honduras coach is but he's the best dressed coach you'll ever see in a U-23 game.

------------------------

17th minute- For those of you wondering, that awful Chad Barrett cross counts as a turnover, so DRINK.

------------------------

14th minute- Honduran Daniel Alvarez pretends like Stuart Holden just shot him, but the ref doesn't bite. I wonder if Alvarez is related to Amado Guevara with that acting.

------------------------

13th minute- Okay, the first drinking game involves Chad Barrett. Any time Barrett shanks a shot or commits a turnover you must drink. Yes, it's St. Patty's weekend, so we're bringing the heat with the drinking games.

------------------------

12nd minute- The Americans are passing very well tonight, at least in part because Honduras doesn't seem too interested in applying heavy defensive pressure.

------------------------

10th minute- I wonder if Red Bulls fans are involuntarily complaining at the sound of "Reyna" being repeated over and over.

------------------------

9th minute- Wow. Dom Cervi coming out like a maniac off his line. He got a tad lucky to get an offside call.

------------------------

8th minute- Since it's Saturday night and St. Patty's Day weekend, we must have some drinking games for this match. I'll have a few shortly.

------------------------

7th minute- Maybe it's just me but it's tough to accept that Eddie Gaven is now a married guy with a beard. Where do the years go?

------------------------

5th minute- Interesting game tonight for the Americans. They know a tie or loss gets them Guatemala. Do you settle for that or do you still try to win the group and potentially face Mexico?

------------------------

4th minute- Here's a question. This game is being broadcast in English. Do we really need Michael Orozco's name pronounced with the heavy Spanish accenting?

And yes, Mr. Miles is still calling Freddy Adu Freddy Ay-doo.

------------------------

3rd minute- Good stuff from the Americans early on. Nice passing.

------------------------

2nd minute- And we're under way.

------------------------

PRE-GAME- Here is the US lineup:

----------Barrett------------

------Gaven----Findley-----

Holden----Kljestan-----Zizzo

Freeman-----------------Hill

----------Orozco---Ianni------

------------Cervi--------------

PRE-GAME- Are we really getting anything from these cliche-filled pre-game interviews?

------------------------

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00e54ef2975b883300e5513aea768834

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Olympic Qualifying: USA vs. Honduras (Running Commentary):

Comments

I imagine this will be a match with neither team trying too hard for the win. Hope it isn't tedious.

I expect an ugly match with U.S. just trying to get a result.
I'll be in and out, gots to get ready for the Pacquiao-Marquez fight.
GO PACMAN!

I hope Christian Miles read my email, I'm gonna explode if he keeps saying Freddy AY-doo and Sal Zisso.

DAMMIT, HE IS STILL SAYING IT WRONG. I can't listen to this guy.

Let's hope no one gets injured. Especially Zizzo, Kjestan, and Orozco.

Will we score a goal without Adu and Altidore?

Nice feed from Barrett.

I'm not able to watch it on my computer so any information from the game at all is appreciated :)

Looks like they need to communicate better....

Chase...not only are Adu and Altidore missing but Chad freaking Barrett is the lone striker. Your question is extremely on point.

If Honduras scores a goal we'll need an offensive sub.

Extremely lucky there, awful defending.

Wow that guy rolled over a ton of times, I hate fakers more than anything else.

Ives, great idea. I just set up a booze IV directly into my veins. It's way better than having to constantly tilt my head back.

Seriously, for the US being a "athletic" team, our forwards seem to be lazy about pressuring the ball. That's why Honduras is able to launch long balls at easy behind our centerbacks.

Also not sure if Freeman is always tentative playing balls in the air or not, but he's had one or two so far I thought he could have played better.

Dano there's only one forward out there for us tonight, and he sucks, so it should be expected at this point.

speaking of Amado, I hear he's coming back to MLS

Good god Chad Barrett is so terrible.

I just don't get Nowak fascination with a lone striker up top. Playing with one forward and wanting to rest other players, pretty much forces you to play someone out of position, i.e. Findley on the wing. At least tonight we have one true winger in Zizzo.

Chad Barrett got called up why?

Ives,
Do you yellow and red cars carry over to the next round?

Ives if you want to ring in St. Patty's, you could throw in a new rule. Any time Christian Miles mispronounces a name or non-English word, drink.

Chad Barrett is worthless, just thought I'd add that...

Will what be allowed? Miles literally thought they just scored. What a frigging tool.

"great play by Robby Findley, but will it count!?"
-Christian Miles

Uh...will what count? The save? It didn't go in, dude.

Christian Miles is almost as pathetic as Chad Barrett.

Finally, a few good shots/passes from Kamani Hill.

On a positive note, I'm really liking the play of Orozco, Holden, and Zizzo...

Ok...is it me or is the strategy against the us to pack it in? Both Cuba and Panama did it too.

BTW...I like Holden....by far one of the most lively players on the team.

I love how you're not allowed to go for the ball anymore, you're supposed to just let the keeper catch it.

Great acting job too.

How in the world was that a foul on Findley?? He has a right to attack the ball, oh and why is every set piece we take, incredibly slow, looping, and hit 50 feet in the air, terrible...

Magic Spray!

This ref is biting every single dive.

kpugs...my thoughts exactly...in the EPL, that would not have been a call. Findley had a position and the goalie ran into him.

BS Call and bs acting. You know...it would be great if fans showed up with the gymnastics/figure skating cards and raised them when these guys roll around like that...

Dude, what is u with concacaf teams and the mini-mullet????

If Barrett scores, I'm going to chug my whoel beer.

I know most of you want Barrett gone and I agree. But we also need Klejstan gone. That guy is worthless and does not know how to pass. He is playing midfield, if you can't pass get off the team. I for one have never been impressed by Klejstan.

A thunderous drive from Barrett...

Kljestan is not looking good at all, another turn over. Orozco looks solid

Does that horrible shot count as a turnover? Is Chad Barrett a striker?

Steve, he's a striker...in theory. Hehehe.

Barrett isn't even trying to get involved. He's out in the middle of nowhere ball-watching. He might as well be in the stands.

I really liked Holden's shot, not much windup, good velocity and low. Makes the keeper stay awake when players can do that, and we don't shoot from outside enough.

To add to the criticism of Barrett, if he holds the ball up and plays the ball out wide, and then immediately stops and walks rather than moving into space, a coach needs to chew his as...oh wait, is that what nowak was yelling about?

Who is better for this team at RB, Hill or Wynne?

pffftt!
What a girl! Are there Seria A scouts in the crowd or something?

That foul was about a 5. Good job Zizzo

Robbie Findley witha blazing header, what an amazing save the keeper had to make there.

Chase...good question. Hill seems to be okay, but I could have sworn that anywhere outside the U-23 team he plays as a striker.

Hill

Magic Spray #2!

I like the play out of the back from the US, they come out touching the ball well.

Good grief, Honduras dives and rolls around on the ground more than Panama, and I thought that was just about impossible to do. At least this ref has been better than the ones in the USA's first two games, and isn't falling for it as much.

Does anybodu know if Orozco Speaks english as a second language or first?

That was a turnover.

Kljestan is barely noticeable on the field and that is a good thing because I think he sucks. But its bad because he is a center mid, and if you don't know your center mid is out there then you team will have a lack of opportunities.

kljestan is atrocious. bring on edu in the second half.

Ok, Chad. That's enough. Go back to telling people about the great cell phone plans available through alltel. Or go back to the Graham Rooney look/playalike contest. Just get off the pitch.

The diving from Team Jheri is ridiculous. It is the type of play that makes you pissed at the game. VERY frustrating, our friends from the south...

Barrett with a tricky move letting it roll thru his legs out of bounds there.

I would have to say Hill for now. Nothing great, at least with what we have available right now. Smart player, like what i see so far, and its only his 2nd game ever at that position.

Findley and Barrett don't move enough.

THIS IS NOT KEEP AWAY OR DODGEBALL, CHAD. THIS IS SOCCER.

So let me make sure I have this straight Peter Nowak....Feilhaber and Alvarez were worse than the product you have out on the field right now?

This is the fist time I've ever noticed a US crowd getting on a player. They are actually booing Barrett

Diving is the worst for me, by far. Getting stretchered off and then sprinting to midfield and screaming at the ref to waive you back on flat out enranges me.

My god is there a worst player in the world than Iani??? Barrett is garbage as well. Zizzo has skills, but he is playing alone, these guys are all playing at a lower level than what we are used to from US players. Findley should never wear US Nat'l shirt again. What has happen to Kljestan???? Talk about loosing confidence, he is loosing way to many balls.

Wow, Reyna should have been sent off, studs up and two footed, WTF??

Yeah the products are pretty sad, I could compete for a starting spot and probably get it with the squad we have out there.

Barrett has been terrible, but he might not be the worst American out there. Oh wait, he probably is.

What happened to this guy? He was expected to be a good prospect and his stock has dropped.

LUIS, Orozco speaks prefect english. Check out ussoccer.com and see the studio 90 panama post game video report. He's interviewed there.

I think Jozy may only get one half of rest. Even Peter has to has his limit with how much bad play from Barrett he can stand.

Can FSC get some new commercials? I can't wait for Giuseppe Franco!!!

I have one thing to say bout this first half......DRINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kpugs:

Christian Miles has Freddy's name right. (As unlikely as that seems) You have it wrong. I'm not sure where you got your information on that one. Ay-doo is how Freddy says it.

If I don't see TT and his absurdly tight shirt, I'll be severely disappointed.

well i guess, everyone here agrees. Barrett is terrible. holy m*********** !!

So Bob Bradley needs to call Nowak and tell him to take out Barret and Kljestan now. If not he can start looking for another job.

Does anyone else get those weird phone like beeps while watching FSC?

I just want to know if all of us on this blog are middle aged and balding? Doesn't look like Ives is...but then again a lot of the Indy Star guys have no hair, but their newspaper pictures have them with hair.

If Barrett comes out for the second half, I'm definitely switching to beer for the drinking game.

Wow, is this some kind of torture to show Prem and Serie A highlights after being subject to the crap we were in the 1st half...

BAD:
1) Kljestan has lost the ball five times now.
2) Barret looks bad up there, cant seem to control the ball
GOOD:
1) Hill look like he can attack and play defense at the same time
2) Orozco looks strong in the back

We def. need a diff. type of formation, this christmas tree s**t aint working.

Ives,
Can we have a new drinking game?

1. When FSC shows the Giuseppe Franco commercial... CHUG!

2. When FSC shows the EPL DVD commercial... Drink!

3. When Christian Miles says anything with an accent...Drink!

Yea...I have been watching FSC all day...great games, but there hasn't been one Giuseppe Franco sighting yet...Definitely get the weird phone beeps...

About the game? Chad Barrett is horrible today, and I don't think that he could step onto the field for my 5-year old cousin's game right now...

Kljestan (?) really needs to find his team with his passes if he wants to remain on the field...

paul Lorinczi, I am 23 I am definately not middle aged or balding.

well..actually..with all these drinking games and the amount of booze i've taken in just from Barrett alone, I might be losing my hair soon.

Hope you guys are enjoying your alcohol...like an idiot, I didn't pay attention to the calendar and I gave up alcohol for Lent.....that is going to be a rough day Monday...

I'm 21, and won't lose any hair anytime soon. Maybe I should play for our U-23s, because they need some help. I'll take Kljestans place.

Paul I'm 24 and haven't gone bald yet, except when I've shaved my head.

Ives- your barrett bashing is getting old... regardless of how many shots sore high, or how many balls he turns over, it'll still be behind Jozy's numbers...

yes, jozy is a better player, but he had two weak games... yes he had some flashes and yes he is a bigger prospect, but lets spread the bashing around shall we??

23 and balding....anyone watch the Roma/Milan game earlier? Those announcers...with their over-pronunciation of Italian names...may be worse than Christian Miles. In fact, I may prefer Miles to those guys...(whoever they are)

im not defending barrett's play by any means, i just want to see the bashing spread across the team failures

I seriously think the old couple in the handy switch and whisper commercials are the same.


Disappointing game, again lacks structure, this build up from the back is not working, no midfield, no forward runs. Needs a serious rethink at half time. Several players on this showing are not up to this level, and we are playing Honduras. What is worse is the commentary.

i wondered if anyone else got the weird phone beeps too. good to know i'm not alone.

I am lucky...I am 44 and still have hair, so I am not really a potential customer for Procede, the whatever system, and it uses your own hair.

I want a handy switch.
Also, if any other Honduras players start rolling on the ground Im really gonna get pissed.

Do we always have to look at the empty side of the stadium? That looks so pathetic.

Why didn't anyone think to sell tickets for the spectators on the side that was broadcast on TV?

Brett, is Jozy Altidore playing in this game? NO, so what is your point exactly? When Barrett stops making terrible mistakes I will stop pointing them out.

Maybe Nowak wants to play Kjestan because he's going with Dax and Edu in the semis.

TFC-SJ is on a weather delay, so you'll able to watch at least a half hour of this game before switching over.

Zisso has some pace...its nice to see on the right wing.

Zizzo*

The comments to this entry are closed.

.

About SBI

  • Ives Galarcep Ives Galarcep is an American soccer columnist for ESPNsoccernet.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net. Have a tip, story idea or suggestion? Send it to:

SBI Updates

    follow me on Twitter

    SBI Mafia Shirts


    Designated Players

    • Winger Dunord Culture OffsideRules

    SBI Sponsors

    Web Search

    • Google

    BallHype

    Google Analytics

    July 2009

    Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
          1 2 3 4
    5 6 7 8 9 10 11
    12 13 14 15 16 17 18
    19 20 21 22 23 24 25
    26 27 28 29 30 31  

    SoccerByIves.net