USA vs. Poland (Running Commentary)
The U.S. national team's friendly vs. Poland is set to kick off shortly and if you are by a computer and want to follow along you can camp out here at SBI.
I will be doing a running commentary on the match and you are more than welcome to share your thoughts and opinions on the match in the comments section below.
Enjoy the match.
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FINAL- USA 3, Poland 0. I know Poland was using several young players but the USA definitelydominated a match they were probably expected to lose. Aside from the forwards, the American squad from top to bottom enjoyed a really good showing. Who would have thought we'd see the day when the USA could beat a European Championship qualifying team on the road by a 3-0 scoreline?
Thanks for following the match here and continue to share your thoughts and opinions on the match below.
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92nd minute- Eddie Johnson with a chance to run in behind the Poland defense and manages to get caught and not even get a shot off.
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91st minute- Dempsey has looked strong? Clint Dempsey?
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86th minute- Clint Dempsey has been basically invisible tonight. The lack of playing time at Fulham is definitely taking its toll.
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85th minute- Benny Feilhaber coming in for Heath Pearce. Let's see what he can do here. Expect plenty of lineup shifting.
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84th minute- Eddie Lewis is playing great here. Who says he's too old?
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79th minute- Jay DeMerit comes close with a header off a Lewis free kick.
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78th minute- The free kick was blocked.
And another thing. Where are the "Why is Bradley calling up Eddie Lewis" people now?
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77th minute- Poland with a dangerous free kick.
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73rd minute-GOAL USA. Eddie Lewis with a BEAUTIFUL free kick goal. Artur Boruc had NO chance. USA 3, Poland 0
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72nd minute- Jonathan Spector coming in for Cherundolo. For those of you keeping track, Spector has gone from Nashville to England to Poland in six days.
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71st minute- I would LOVE to know what Poland fans are chanting right now. Sounds like "Sing when you're winning" but somehow I doubt that's it.
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67th minute- The best part about this match? Playing an opponent that doesn't dive and whine and pretend it wants to fight. It's all business. Makes for a clean match.
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63rd minute- Wolff for Ching, Demerit for Onyewu and Lewis for Donovan.
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61st minute- Here come some USA subs
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57th minute- Eddie Johnson back-pass. DRINK!
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56th minute- Oguchi Onyewu just got owned, luckily the chance went high (was tipped over by Howard).
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55th minute- The Poland fans are in full voice, No "You only sing when you're winning" going on in Krakow.
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53rd minute- Poland made wholesale subs at halftime but its attack still isn't clicking.
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50th minute- Heath Pearce with another good play. He's having a solid game today.
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49th minute- I'll give Donovan credit for creating that chance and showing some explosiveness. Would have been good of him to finish and show he can score on European soil.
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48th minute- Donovan misses a breakaway. WOW. That should have been a goal.
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46th minute- And we're back.
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HALFTIME- The Ching-Johnson combo must do better with the chances it gets, though to be fair there hasn't been a ton of service to them.
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HALFTIME- USA 2, Poland 0. Two set pieces lead to goals as the Americans actually outplayed Poland in the run of play. The U.S. forwards need to do better but it has been a solid effort all the way around otherwise.
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46th minute- Good stuff from Heath Pearce this half.
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44th minute- Eddie Johnson gets a turnover on a platter in the Poland penalty area and can't convert as his shot is blocked.
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38th minute- New drinking game. Every time Christopher Sullivan says "Fantastic" we all drink.
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36th minute- Donovan's corner kick was perfection, placed right in front of goal. Poland's defending on set pieces has been laughable.
And here's another corner kick for DOnovan.
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35th minute- GOAL USA!! OGUCHI ONYEWU heads home a Donovan corner kick. WOW. USA 2, Poland 0
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34th minute- This 4-4-0 formation isn't working too well for the Americans (Um, Ives, it's a 4-4-2). What? There are forwards on the field for the USA?
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32nd minute- Cherundolo with some class defending. He is the best right back in the U.S. pool by a mile.
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31st minute- Great save by Howard after some shaky defending from the USA.
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30th minute- Poland corner kick. Here comes danger.
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26th minute- Nice sequence from the U.S. team, good passes, until Ricardo Clark turns it over.
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25th minute- I'm not saying Brian Ching's crosses have been awful but Frank Hejduk is back home thinking, "Ching's crosses are terrible."
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21st minute-No Max Bretos, Clint Mathis plays at Ergotelis, Zurawski plays at Larissa. Slight difference.
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19th minute- Okay, it's time for the Eddie Johnson back-pass drinking game. I know it's the afternoon, but why not?
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16th minute- The Americans are winning the possession battle early.
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14th minute- Back to the goal, what was that some folks were saying about Landon Donovan's free kicks?
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12th minute- GOAL USA!! And it's Carlos Bocanegra. Take that Roy Hodgson.
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11th minute- Eddie Johnson goes at Poland's defense...then gets stripped. Looks a bit familiar.
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9th minute- Okay, I'll say it. I like the unforms.
There's Heath Pearce getting turned. He's another one with a lot to prove today.
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7th minute- Bradley looks sharp early on. Ching with a nice run but terrible cross.
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5th minute- I'm wondering if the central midfield tandem of Bradley and Clark will be able to control possession today. The young duo is coming off a shaky game against Mexico but Poland's central midfield isn't as strong as Mexico's.
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3rd minute- I wonder if Ivan Putzki is at this match (For those of you younger than 30, he was an old WWF wrestler from Krakow, Poland).
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PRE-GAME- These uniforms look like club team unis.
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PRE-GAME- Not sure about these American uniforms.
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PRE-GAME- The crowd in Krakow is rocking. This is going to be a great environment and great test for the Americans.
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PRE-GAME- Here is the USA lineup:
---------------Ching----------Johnson-------------
Donovan-----Clark---------Bradley---------Dempsey
Pearce------Bocanegra------Onyewu-------Cherundolo
----------------------Howard-------------------------
With all the issues on the left flank it is interesting to see Donovan as an option there.
The Ching-Johnson tandem will be an interesting one to watch. Also, the Clark-Bradley tandem didn't play too well against Mexico so we will see how it does today.
Ives Galarcep is an American soccer columnist for ESPNsoccernet.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net.
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Three Fulham players starting this one.
Posted by: Jeffrey | March 26, 2008 at 03:19 PM
I'm so tempted to follow along. But I'm Tivoing this badboy. Must...not...come back...to SBI.
Posted by: kpugs | March 26, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Thanks in advance for the commentary. I'm at work so I can't watch live. I have to say, I like the starting lineup, with Donovan/Dempsey as the wingers and Ching/Johnson up top. It will be good to see how Dempsey does on the wing after having played up top so much recently. I would have preferred Benny over Clark to pair up with Bradley, but I understand why he's not starting. Hopefully Bob will give him some good playing time.
Posted by: kswiss | March 26, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Is Landon really playing on the left? That's interesting...
Posted by: Chris | March 26, 2008 at 03:21 PM
I know the game is on FSC but does anyone have a link where I can watch it online?
Thanks!
Posted by: Jonny | March 26, 2008 at 03:21 PM
----------------------Howard-----------------------
Cherundolo----Onyewu----Bocanegra (c)-------Pearce
Dempsey-----Clark---------Bradley---------Donovan
---------------Ching----------Johnson-------------
Posted by: john | March 26, 2008 at 03:22 PM
Love the lineup. Love Deuce and Donavon on the wings.
----------------------Howard-----------------------
Cherundolo----Onyewu----Bocanegra (c)-------Pearce
Dempsey-----Clark---------Bradley---------Donovan
---------------Ching----------Johnson-------------
Posted by: PanchoMiguelMoralesdeConejo | March 26, 2008 at 03:22 PM
Jonny, Go here: http://www.tvunetworks.com/
Select the channel labeled "soccer" (FSC)
Posted by: Jeffrey | March 26, 2008 at 03:23 PM
Thanks Jeffrey!
That's an amazing site that actually gives great quality! Go USA! Bradley is on a scoring rampage, he better net one in!
Posted by: Jonny | March 26, 2008 at 03:31 PM
Anywhere to watch on the internet? I don't see it on ESPN360!
Posted by: Justin | March 26, 2008 at 03:32 PM
Hopefully Dempsey has a good game on the wing, and Roy Hodgson happens to catch this match.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | March 26, 2008 at 03:32 PM
Donovan is very unselfish when it comes to his USMNT duty. He'll play whenever and wherever he's asked to. If he can provide some cover on the left in an emergency situation, it'd be good to find that out from a friendly.
Posted by: Jim Steverson | March 26, 2008 at 03:33 PM
Crazy - has LD ever played on the left wing? Still, I'd rather see if that's an option for emergency purposes than plugging in Lewis.
I'm very psyched to see what I think now is our best choices at LB & RB
Wow! Polish crowd is belting out their anthem!
Posted by: eric | March 26, 2008 at 03:33 PM
Did anyone just see that wink by the Polish player?
Posted by: Seisco | March 26, 2008 at 03:34 PM
does it lag a lot? because i'm watching it on sopcast and wondering if i should try that out.
Posted by: Marlon | March 26, 2008 at 03:34 PM
Anyone that is watching, how do the new jerseys look?
Posted by: Justin | March 26, 2008 at 03:34 PM
I predict the first sub for the US will be Feilhaber in for Clark. I don't expect the Bradley-Clark will work well prompting the change around half.
Posted by: Jim | March 26, 2008 at 03:35 PM
The jerseys look evil! I like 'em!
Posted by: Tom B. | March 26, 2008 at 03:37 PM
never seen those uniforms before. they kinda look like goalie shirts
Posted by: Marlon | March 26, 2008 at 03:37 PM
Kinda wanted Spector to start. The away jerseys are nice, but shouldn't they represent the colors of our country. Just a thought to the genuises that make them.
Posted by: Spencer | March 26, 2008 at 03:38 PM
Love LD and Demps on the wings, was hoping to see Benny for Clark, but otherwise am pleased. I personally think the kits look pretty badass, if a tad dull. Let's rock and roll!
Posted by: Joamiq | March 26, 2008 at 03:38 PM
I hear ya, kpugs. I'm actualyl working right now. This would be my lone contribution for a few hours until I catch the match on my DVR tonight. Have fun, fellas...
Posted by: Dominghosa | March 26, 2008 at 03:38 PM
Jerseys don't look bad...wish they were more blue than gray though. I like the that the jersey matches the shorts...looks sharp.
Posted by: Ernie | March 26, 2008 at 03:38 PM
I'm onboard with the jerseys, and as a bonus, the GAM's golden shoes actually work well too.
Very, very curious to see if Gooch picks up a card today, word is his cards are way down in Belgium?
Posted by: eric | March 26, 2008 at 03:40 PM
In all the leaked pictures of the jerseys, they looked very blue-black. All the grey makes them look a bit washed out.
Posted by: RHdigitalYS | March 26, 2008 at 03:40 PM
Any chance this lineup ends up playing more like a box midfield than a flat four?
Posted by: ManicMessiah | March 26, 2008 at 03:40 PM
Why do we always play Poland? Thank God we are playing England and Spain pretty soon.
Posted by: Andolini | March 26, 2008 at 03:40 PM
and there the ad pops up to buy 'em!
Posted by: eric | March 26, 2008 at 03:41 PM
IVAN PUTSKI! THE POLISH HAMMER!
Damn Ives, good throw back!
Posted by: David Martinez | March 26, 2008 at 03:42 PM
I want to see some overlapping runs by young Bradley!
Posted by: eric | March 26, 2008 at 03:42 PM
Chingy with the take on the dribble!
Posted by: eric | March 26, 2008 at 03:44 PM
I have a good feeling about this one. We look good early.
Posted by: Spencer | March 26, 2008 at 03:44 PM
Pearce is running around like a chicken with its head cut off
Posted by: Spencer | March 26, 2008 at 03:45 PM
Jerseys look like Darth Vader gear. I love it.
Posted by: David Martinez | March 26, 2008 at 03:46 PM
Thanks for the commentary, Ives! I'm interested to see how the Ching/EJ tandem works out.
Posted by: Collin | March 26, 2008 at 03:46 PM
Pearce has looked a bit jumpy so far. Is this the first time he's started for the US?
Posted by: RHdigitalYS | March 26, 2008 at 03:47 PM
The new Uniforms are horrible. The color is killing me. I prefer the black shirt from MAN-U or Roma.
Posted by: NYRB | March 26, 2008 at 03:47 PM
WOW PEARCE GOT KNOCKED! OOOOOF!
Posted by: Dave Martinez | March 26, 2008 at 03:47 PM
I want to see Eddie Johnson treat Poland like his bitch. He may have the speed, but he lacks the killer instinct.
Posted by: Daniel | March 26, 2008 at 03:48 PM
YES YES YESYES YES YESYES YES YESYES YES YESYES YES YESYES YES YESYES YES YESYES YES YESYES YES YES!
Posted by: Dave Martinez | March 26, 2008 at 03:48 PM
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!
BOCANEGRA!!!! 12TH MINUTE ON THE FREE KICK!
Posted by: Daniel | March 26, 2008 at 03:48 PM
O Captain my Captain!
Posted by: Jeffrey | March 26, 2008 at 03:48 PM
Goal Boca..............negra from the Bambino Landon!
Posted by: Furniture Music | March 26, 2008 at 03:49 PM
So it's gray top on gray shorts?
What color are the socks with this new kit?
Posted by: SkiFast! | March 26, 2008 at 03:49 PM
GOAL!
Posted by: RHdigitalYS | March 26, 2008 at 03:49 PM
Yeah!!
Posted by: Tom B. | March 26, 2008 at 03:49 PM
GOAALLL!
Posted by: YankatOxford | March 26, 2008 at 03:50 PM
Great free kick by Donovan & Bocanegra somehow, got his header to squeeze inside the far post and in the net. Great job by the USA early in the 1st half.
Posted by: Daniel | March 26, 2008 at 03:50 PM
Perfect finish by Boca, but more stunning - a good delivery from LD!
Posted by: Joamiq | March 26, 2008 at 03:50 PM
I actually like these uniforms much more than the Blue pin stripe jobs...
Posted by: Furniture Music | March 26, 2008 at 03:50 PM