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The United States Thread "Road to World Cup 2006"
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i was at this game last night
Teams meet again in Mexico City
Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- D.C. United's first game on a converted baseball field was a tie, a 1-1 draw against Pumas of Mexico on Wednesday night in a first-leg semifinal in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.
For soccer purposes, the game showed that the U.S. league champion can compete with the Mexican league champion. For logistical purposes, the game was a first test of a unique, complex plan to accommodate two sports at RFK Stadium.
Stands had to be reconfigured, and the infield dirt was replaced with trays of grass during an intense 72-hour changeover following a Washington Nationals exhibition game on Sunday. The sunken pitcher's mound was at the edge of a penalty box, one of the goalkeepers stood along the third-base line to defend his net.
The result was an bouncier-than-normal turf at one end of the field, making every possession a little more adventurous. United defender Mike Petke was the most vocal critic, complaining of a "divot" in front of the net.
"There's probably close to a half-foot drop in front of the goalmouth to the left," Petke said. "There's a hill that runs down. But you can say that until you're blue in the face, the baseball field, this and that. They have to play on it, too. It's just there's so many little things that we've been realizing the last week or two that are changing because the baseball's here. It's almost like we're thrown to second nature."
Christian Gomez scored in the 10th minute for United, and Brazilian midfielder Ailton da Silva's penalty kick tied the game in the 52nd minute before 21,185, an impressive crowd for a non-MLS game. United drew more than 20,000 just three times last season, all in league games.
The second leg of the home-and-home, total goals series is next Wednesday in Mexico City. The winner will play Monterrey of Mexico or Saprissa of Costa Rica in the finals next month, with the champion earning a spot in the world championships in Japan in December.
Teams meet again in Mexico City
Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- D.C. United's first game on a converted baseball field was a tie, a 1-1 draw against Pumas of Mexico on Wednesday night in a first-leg semifinal in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.
For soccer purposes, the game showed that the U.S. league champion can compete with the Mexican league champion. For logistical purposes, the game was a first test of a unique, complex plan to accommodate two sports at RFK Stadium.
Stands had to be reconfigured, and the infield dirt was replaced with trays of grass during an intense 72-hour changeover following a Washington Nationals exhibition game on Sunday. The sunken pitcher's mound was at the edge of a penalty box, one of the goalkeepers stood along the third-base line to defend his net.
The result was an bouncier-than-normal turf at one end of the field, making every possession a little more adventurous. United defender Mike Petke was the most vocal critic, complaining of a "divot" in front of the net.
"There's probably close to a half-foot drop in front of the goalmouth to the left," Petke said. "There's a hill that runs down. But you can say that until you're blue in the face, the baseball field, this and that. They have to play on it, too. It's just there's so many little things that we've been realizing the last week or two that are changing because the baseball's here. It's almost like we're thrown to second nature."
Christian Gomez scored in the 10th minute for United, and Brazilian midfielder Ailton da Silva's penalty kick tied the game in the 52nd minute before 21,185, an impressive crowd for a non-MLS game. United drew more than 20,000 just three times last season, all in league games.
The second leg of the home-and-home, total goals series is next Wednesday in Mexico City. The winner will play Monterrey of Mexico or Saprissa of Costa Rica in the finals next month, with the champion earning a spot in the world championships in Japan in December.
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Dime
Guest
csaunders said:
You're making the US look like a world beating team, but the truth is they still struggled against Panama and Jamaica (and I'm sure its more than that, but those were the ones I watched). True it was an away game, but a world class team should be able to play well away from home.
As for the "Osama chants"? They're professionals, and if they can't concentrate on the game they're playing rather than the crowd, they don't deserve to play professionally. It's not as if the chanting was phsyically taking away from thier ability to play. Chanting is part of the game and it happens in every sport, it should not affect the play of professionals.
I'm not trying to insult the team, because they played well at the 2002 World Cup, but its now 2005 and I haven't seen a single outstanding game from them. It's very fortunate there is such poor competition in CONCACAF, otherwise they would have serious trouble contending.
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- #155
so if chelsea beat norwich 7-1 in a home and away tie, thats a dissapointment?!?!?!?!? i dont get it.... brazil ties bolivia away, england has tied poor teams away, all teams do it, your acting if the world class teams dont, im just stating the facts, we dont lose in concacaf....Dime said:
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smango
Guest
But Saunders you have to agree that CONCAF is the very shithouse qualification group second only to Oceania, which looks set to dissapear as Australia look certain to join the Asian football federation
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USA beat costa rica 3-0, Landon Donavan was immense, so was demarcus, things are looking real good for 2006!!! The starting lineup had me shocked, convey?pope? wolff? Zavagin? but then found out thet ej and joohny o were out as well as gooch and gibbs.
But as always the Bruce pulled thru and we got the 3 points. Keller was top notch, made about 4 world class saves...
But as always the Bruce pulled thru and we got the 3 points. Keller was top notch, made about 4 world class saves...
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Glavisted
Guest
Great, here I don't have any news about United States national team, but with this match they are placed as leaders over Mexico temporarily.csaunders said:
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ghazi
Guest
csaunders said:
Damn, Keller was immense in goal. Some of those saves were the best i have seen since. . . jersy Dudek! lol. I love his confidence in goal. It really made the difference.
Interesting to see the 3-4-3 formation, eh? I actually liked the way it worked. Donovan, who i've been critiical of, played very well. maybe if he's happy in MLS, its all that matters. Beasley had some nice movement> PSV is paying dividends for sure.
After seeing the team play timid v England in the first half last week, it was nice to see some confident attacking footy.
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ghazi
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I cant wait to play Mexico in September. I may have to head down to Ohio for that one.
I guess we'll be watching the Telemundo telecast en espanol until ESPN shows this game at midnight.
Csaw - Fox Soccer Channel is showing the World Youth Cup starting Friday. Adu, Gaven and Szetela are playing and are grouped with defending champs Argentina and Germany. Should be fun to watch some games.
I guess we'll be watching the Telemundo telecast en espanol until ESPN shows this game at midnight.
Csaw - Fox Soccer Channel is showing the World Youth Cup starting Friday. Adu, Gaven and Szetela are playing and are grouped with defending champs Argentina and Germany. Should be fun to watch some games.
Mack
Champions League
What age do you have to be for that? as the under 20 toulon is on at the moment!
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ghazi
Guest
jamie_mack said:
You have to be under 20. Perhaps the Toulon tourney is sort of a UEFA cup for those teams that didnt qualify? I hadnt even heard of it.
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- #166
USA dominates again, landon is the man, scores ANOTHER goal in qualfying, take a look at this gentleman
Donovan continued to sparkle in a U.S. jersey with his goal and assist, which now gives him seven goals and eight assists during the 13 qualifiers his team has played in since embarking on their quest to play in Germany in 2006 over a year ago in Columbus against Grenada.
WOW he is on fire, im telling you all now, USA is going to surprise the world in 2006
we beat panaman 3-0 in panama, we are now almost assured a world cup berth
Donovan continued to sparkle in a U.S. jersey with his goal and assist, which now gives him seven goals and eight assists during the 13 qualifiers his team has played in since embarking on their quest to play in Germany in 2006 over a year ago in Columbus against Grenada.
WOW he is on fire, im telling you all now, USA is going to surprise the world in 2006
we beat panaman 3-0 in panama, we are now almost assured a world cup berth
regaed
Non-League
- 15 December 2004
Well, does anybody knows why "America" doesnt have his franchise in the MLS this year, because they said that they will have it in this season.
And by the way Mexico and USA are going for sure to the WC 2006 (really the level of the teams of this area has to get better)
And why the USA doesnt play anymore the "Copa America". Because I think that in that period the MLS has ended right.
And by the way Mexico and USA are going for sure to the WC 2006 (really the level of the teams of this area has to get better)
And why the USA doesnt play anymore the "Copa America". Because I think that in that period the MLS has ended right.
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ghazi
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csaunders said:
Csaw - i was hatin on LD big time for his lack of fire and fight at leverkusen. . but his form lately has been ridiculous. I dont care how "bad" the teams in CONCACAF are. . his strike and assist rate has been great in very difficult environments. And Bruce seems to be experimenting alot more with more offensive formations, etc, which i like to see before the WC.
We have options, baby, options! lmao. When did we ever have that before? :mrgreen:
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- #170
Mack
Champions League
Read a article today saying mr Arena is not happy and thinks Stuart Pearce has kept
Reyna out of the world cup fixtures, is he still a big part of your team now?
Reyna out of the world cup fixtures, is he still a big part of your team now?
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ghazi
Guest
Jamie, this is question that Yanks are divided on. Some still think of him as the most important member of our team and a necessary starter in order for the US to maintain its focus and discipline on the pitch.
Others, including myself, feel that he really is no longer an automatic starter. Personally, I think that the US's strength is its speed with players like Beasley, Donovan, Wolff, and Eddie Johnson. I like seeing the team using vertical and slashing passing and watching them use their wheels to make problems. The problem is that Reyna is slower in speed, and more importanlty, much more conservative in his distribution. He has this frustrating need to continually pass laterally and backwards, as though the US' talent hasnt changed from when REyna was 21.
The bottom line is that we have the tools to threaten defenses, and Reyna, IMO, fails to utilize those tools as effectively, by making everyone slow down to his pace and style of play.
Still love him for what he's done and think he's definitely a person i want on the team. I just dont think we should let him run or dictate our offense anymore.
Others, including myself, feel that he really is no longer an automatic starter. Personally, I think that the US's strength is its speed with players like Beasley, Donovan, Wolff, and Eddie Johnson. I like seeing the team using vertical and slashing passing and watching them use their wheels to make problems. The problem is that Reyna is slower in speed, and more importanlty, much more conservative in his distribution. He has this frustrating need to continually pass laterally and backwards, as though the US' talent hasnt changed from when REyna was 21.
The bottom line is that we have the tools to threaten defenses, and Reyna, IMO, fails to utilize those tools as effectively, by making everyone slow down to his pace and style of play.
Still love him for what he's done and think he's definitely a person i want on the team. I just dont think we should let him run or dictate our offense anymore.
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Mack
Champions League
Well done USA!:applause: Is it the top four that qualify from your confederation? Good to hear Reyna did well, I hope hes not to tired for Saturday!
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ghazi
Guest
Convey looks to be re-establishing himself. as much as i hate to see players disapper from view when they leave MLS, if they come back more piolished and developed then i am all for it.
too bad he's redcarded for the Mexico battle. THat's gonna be a great game.
I am still worried about our lack of quality finishing. This was another gamne that shoulda been won 3-0, if not more.
I was really hoping Jeff Cunningham would get some time.
too bad he's redcarded for the Mexico battle. THat's gonna be a great game.
I am still worried about our lack of quality finishing. This was another gamne that shoulda been won 3-0, if not more.
I was really hoping Jeff Cunningham would get some time.
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- #177
Mack
Champions League
talking about Convey he was great yesterday for Reading scored a cracking goal solo goal running from his own half and followed it with a nice freekick! How did he end up at Reading?
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ghazi
Guest
jamie_mack said:
tottenham actually tried to sign him but he couldnt get a work permit or visa, or something.
Then Reading cam in for him and they were able to because i believe there is an easier standard if you're not playing for an EPL team, right?
Convey has lotsa of potential, but his crossing and his finishing always worried me. . kinda like Beasley. .. but i have seen a clear improvement in his play since he went overseas. Hope it continues.