USA vs. Barbados: Your Running Commentary
The U.S. national team begins World Cup qualifying today against Barbados at Home Depot Center. The Americans are heavily favored, but they also know that any sort of disappointing result will mean having to travel to Barbados to earn a result.
The Americans will field a lineup you would expect, except for Brad Guzan getting the start in goal. Here's the lineup:
Brad Guzan, Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu, Heath Pearce, Steve Cherundolo, Pablo Mastroeni, Michael Bradley, DaMarcus Beasley, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Brian Ching.
If you will be watching today's match, and you know you will be, feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the match.
Ives Galarcep is an American soccer columnist for ESPNsoccernet.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net.
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US Starting Lineup
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USA: 18-Brad Guzan; 6-Steve Cherundolo, 5-Oguchi Onyewu, 3-Carlos Bocanegra, 15-Heath Pearce; 10-Landon Donovan, 12-Michael Bradley, 4-Pablo Mastroeni, 17-DaMarcus Beasley; 11-Brian Ching, 8-Clint Dempsey
Posted by: ManicMessiah | June 15, 2008 at 04:51 PM
I was not aware that Barbados was so good that two defensive midfielders were required to keep them from scoring.
Posted by: Raoul Duke | June 15, 2008 at 04:56 PM
Digging the lineup, now crush Barbados!!
Posted by: DCM | June 15, 2008 at 04:58 PM
when have you known the US centerbacks to be able to operate on their own without help...
better to be safer
Posted by: NOLA soccer fan | June 15, 2008 at 04:59 PM
Between the time the broadcasters said Tim Howard wouldn't be starting and confirming that Guzan was in goal, my heart stopped three or four times in fear that Cervi would see the field.
Posted by: Ted | June 15, 2008 at 05:02 PM
We've been waiting for a goal since March 26th. Give us a nice show.
Posted by: Pat the Red Bulls Fan | June 15, 2008 at 05:02 PM
is there any where on the web that one can get audio for the game?
Posted by: chris in london | June 15, 2008 at 05:05 PM
Belize is hanging strong with Mexico, still scoreless at 30 minute mark. And Belize came to play too, they aren't just sitting in a defensive shell and letting Mexico attack, but they are pushing forward at times.
Posted by: JB | June 15, 2008 at 05:05 PM
C'mon Yanks. Not a lot of surprises today - other than Guzan. Let's get an early lead!
Posted by: Raghu | June 15, 2008 at 05:05 PM
I hope Adu gets some serious time in the second half.
Posted by: KC | June 15, 2008 at 05:06 PM
For the love of... the USA. Sing the anthem boys!
Posted by: Tennessee | June 15, 2008 at 05:07 PM
It would seem like US needs more attacking options and formation to break down the hunkering-down Barbados.
Unless B. Bradley wants this team to jsut get used to this formation, I suppose.
Disappointing, but recently, that's nothing new.
Posted by: Dominghosa | June 15, 2008 at 05:07 PM
Is Mexico or Belize at home?
Posted by: Ryan | June 15, 2008 at 05:07 PM
Mexico-Belize is being played in Houston.
Posted by: Dominghosa | June 15, 2008 at 05:08 PM
The game is in Houston. Belize is the "home" team.
Posted by: JB | June 15, 2008 at 05:08 PM
Technically, Belize is at home but the game is in Houston.
Posted by: Ted | June 15, 2008 at 05:08 PM
Gol. that was nice and quick.
Posted by: Dominghosa | June 15, 2008 at 05:09 PM
On the board!
Posted by: eric | June 15, 2008 at 05:09 PM
Take that Mexico. 58 seconds.
Posted by: JB | June 15, 2008 at 05:09 PM
That didn't take long.
Posted by: KC | June 15, 2008 at 05:09 PM
Goal Dempsey. Long ball from Boca, Barbados misplays it and Dempsey slots it in.
Posted by: Ted | June 15, 2008 at 05:09 PM
Well that didn't take long...
Posted by: Brandon | June 15, 2008 at 05:09 PM
DEUCE!!! That's my boy!
Posted by: Pat the Red Bulls Fan | June 15, 2008 at 05:09 PM
Dempsey scores in the first minute...not a bad start
Posted by: g-loff | June 15, 2008 at 05:10 PM
Perfect chip to Dempsey. Bad D by Barbados. Dempsey with the first minute goal.
Posted by: Dominghosa | June 15, 2008 at 05:10 PM
Dempsey! And the US is already on the scoreboard!
Posted by: ManicMessiah | June 15, 2008 at 05:10 PM
Goal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Raghu | June 15, 2008 at 05:11 PM
Tie over within a minute!
Posted by: Mark | June 15, 2008 at 05:11 PM
Fairly small crowd, not shocking but is disappointing non the less.
Posted by: DCM | June 15, 2008 at 05:12 PM
Concerning the Canada-St Vincent and Grenadines match. Can anyone explain to me why Canada has 1 defender, 6 mids, and 3 forwards? I've never heard of that line-up. Unless its a type-o.
Posted by: WiscFan | June 15, 2008 at 05:15 PM
Great ball in to Heath Pearce, too much nerves in the horrible cross. Left all aone near post and sent one very high and out of the touchline.
Posted by: Dominghosa | June 15, 2008 at 05:15 PM
Good find by M. Bradley, Big Bradley is letting his son push forward.
Posted by: Dominghosa | June 15, 2008 at 05:15 PM
Nice to see MB getting forward early, lets start making a habit of that.
Is Sven in charge of Mex yet? Either way, go Belize - A round of Belikan beer on me if they win!
Posted by: eric | June 15, 2008 at 05:17 PM
Corner kick in, deflects off of Barbados defender right to Ching.
Ching misses open chance, his timing to put a touch on the ball was just off as he skies a chance.
Posted by: Dominghosa | June 15, 2008 at 05:18 PM
Does Michael Bradley have any choice but to go forward? If he didn't, he'd be standing in the midfield doing nothing for the vast majority of the game.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | June 15, 2008 at 05:18 PM
Nice start, but if Brian Ching can't score goals or trap the ball, he doesn't need to be playing for us. We do have other options.
Posted by: Haig | June 15, 2008 at 05:18 PM
Sven was to take over after the Belize series.
Posted by: DCM | June 15, 2008 at 05:19 PM
Eric: I believe Sven offically took over after the Argentina game.
Posted by: WiscFan | June 15, 2008 at 05:19 PM
See what happens when > Bradley is allowed to actually play some offense? Gol. 13th mintue. M. Bradley.
Posted by: Dominghosa | June 15, 2008 at 05:20 PM
Wiscfan, I don't know for sure, but I suspect they're playing a 3-4-3 with fullbacks positioned high enough to be basically midfielders.
Posted by: Haig | June 15, 2008 at 05:20 PM
Thats the type of goals that Michael Bradley will get, being in the right place at the right time.
Posted by: KC | June 15, 2008 at 05:20 PM
#12 scores in the 12th minute! 2-0 US, as Mini-Bradley scores a typically MB goal.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | June 15, 2008 at 05:21 PM
Here's hoping the US just cherundolo's the Barbadians, or whatever the plural of "citizen of Barbados" is...
I, unfortunately, am packing the house for our move next week, so while I'm watching, I won't be able to banter with the gang today.
Posted by: brant | June 15, 2008 at 05:21 PM
It started just past midfield. Donovan backheels to Beasley. Beasley finds Dolo on the right.
Everyone pushes toward the goal. Dolo dribble sup a bit, crosses into the box. Ching finds the ball int he scramble, takes a low shot. Deflects right off GK, a streaking M. Bradley runs onto it and smashes it home.
2-0.
Posted by: Dominghosa | June 15, 2008 at 05:22 PM
I'm a little disappointed in the size of the crowd
Belize and Mexico are tied at the half
Great start by the USA
Posted by: Gerald | June 15, 2008 at 05:22 PM
Halftime. Belize 0, Mexico 0. Puntarenas keeper Shane Orio playing awesome.
Posted by: JB | June 15, 2008 at 05:22 PM
Bradley, doing what he did best all season for Hereenveen. Good to see him with the opportunity to get forward.
Posted by: kswiss | June 15, 2008 at 05:23 PM
Yeah! MB in the box. Kid knows how to clean up.
I know the papers were pleading for Sven to save them after Arg. I'm pumped for the Sombrero'd Swede era regardless.
Posted by: eric | June 15, 2008 at 05:23 PM
M. Bradley will always find a way to score a goal just like that. I'll take that every time.
Posted by: Dominghosa | June 15, 2008 at 05:23 PM
Sorry, I meant Heerenveen.
Posted by: kswiss | June 15, 2008 at 05:23 PM