The Beautiful Game Thread 10/11

[Naples39]

Jozy with a rocket last night. May as well enjoy some highlights before the US crashes out of the gold cup;

[RobVarak]

There have to be two wide, solid posts in this country more capable of playing effective Center Back than the garbage they've run out in this tournament.

[10spro]

Before both SEA and VAN entered the MLS league, there was an intense rivalry already between the Whitecaps and Sounders. Their latest game was no different. A beauty by Hassli tying the game 2-2.

[RobVarak]

Really nice job by Freddy Adu in the Gold Cup semi-final tonight. Great ball to spring Donovan for his assist on the goal, and some nice play down the stretch of the game. Good to see.

[Naples39]

Really nice job by Freddy Adu in the Gold Cup semi-final tonight. Great ball to spring Donovan for his assist on the goal, and some nice play down the stretch of the game. Good to see.

It was nice to see. Every time he got the ball you felt something might happen.

I was watching online and the eurosport announcers were very impressed too wondering aloud why no big club has taken a chance on him after seeing him tonight.

[pk500]

Fans invaded the pitch tonight as River Plate looks to be relegated after a 2-0 loss in Argentina. Los Millionaires are chump change now.

[fsquid]

River relegated? Wow

[10spro]

River relegated? Wow

Just about. They've never been in this position in their long history as as their eternal rival and fan of Boca Juniors it's kind of sad to see too. If they don't beat Belgrano this coming weekend by at least 2 goals, they'll be playing in the B division. A lot of tension these days in this historic club to say the least and to make matters worse they'll be missing some key players too due to their maxed out yellow cards.

[10spro]

And still with SA soccer, Santos win their 3rd Copa Libertadores against Penarol, but it was a shameful ending as players from both teams started disrespecting each other.

[dougb]

Check out this action from the Under 17 World Cup - England used to be the birthplace of great goal keepers but good lord things have gone downhill. Canadian keeper scores to earn a 2-2 draw on one of the most bizarre plays ever seen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmQqdWUbWfg&NR=1

Best wishes,

Doug

[RobVarak]

but it was a shameful ending as players from both teams started disrespecting each other.

Yes, a brawl and riot is some serious "disrespect" to say the least... LOL

[fsquid]

And still with SA soccer, Santos win their 3rd Copa Libertadores against Penarol, but it was a shameful ending as players from both teams started disrespecting each other.

typical for that part of the world though.

[Naples39]

It never ceases to amaze me in these soccer brawls how often players will come in with a flying blindside karate kick then sprint away with incredible speed. Talk about gutless.

[fsquid]

It never ceases to amaze me in these soccer brawls how often players will come in with a flying blindside karate kick then sprint away with incredible speed. Talk about gutless.

I call it doing the Melo

[pk500]

It never ceases to amaze me in these soccer brawls how often players will come in with a flying blindside karate kick then sprint away with incredible speed. Talk about gutless.

I love footie, but I don't think I saw a single punch thrown. Just karate kicks. Pathetic.

These cats need some work on the heavy bag, double-ended reflex bag and mitts.

[Naples39]

I think there was some slapping in there, and it was looking like a street dance battle was going to break out at the 1:48 mark.

[pk500]

I think there was some slapping in there, and it was looking like a street dance battle was going to break out at the 1:48 mark.

FLASH MOB!

[fsquid]

by the way, what does everyone think of the 4-5-1 that the US has trotted out there? I hate the formation, but it is working well it looks like.

[Naples39]

by the way, what does everyone think of the 4-5-1 that the US has trotted out there? I hate the formation, but it is working well it looks like.

I generally hate 4-5-1s, but Dempsey has been pretty aggressive which lessens my disdain slightly. Truthfully the US has pretty lousy options up front, so if they want to get the best players on the field they have to do 5 in the midfield.

What we really need is more Adu.

[RobVarak]

Their problem this tourney has been the talent, not the system. Their passing has been awful, particularly in the two Panama games, and when they've created chances they haven't taken them (Guadalupe).

Mexicans are clearly in better form right now, and the Rose Bowl is going to be a decidedly friendly place for El Tri.

[fsquid]

Holden would be great in this formation.

[10spro]

Under 17 match up between Canada- England. Roberts ties the game with 4 minutes left.

[miget33]

That was just a lovely goal by Gio.

[RobVarak]

There have to be two wide, solid posts in this country more capable of playing effective Center Back than the garbage they've run out in this tournament.

Quoting myself for truth. That was a pathetic defensive performance. I know Cherundolo's injury was a factor, but they were just f***in awful all night. Poor organization, terrible decision-making, lack of athleticism, it was a perfect storm of awful.

[RobVarak]

The always astute Jonathon Wilson hits it on the head:

http://cnnsi.printthis.clickability.com ... index.html

Breathless, frenetic, utterly absorbing: Mexico was a 4-2 winner in the Gold Cup final, a score line that didn't seem quite to reflect its superiority, yet so open was the game that the U.S. had enough chances to have itself won the game by a two-goal margin. This was thrillingly end-to-end, a game in which midfields barely existed, settled by the porousness of the USA's back four. In the end, it simply presented too many chances to Mexico.

Jonathan Bornstein will probably take much of the blame and he certainly had a game to forget. Given he last saw action on May 4, though, he is perhaps due some sympathy, and the problem after Steve Cherundolo's 11th-minute injury was at least as much what it did to the back four as a unit as individual errors. Questions must be asked as well about the role of the midfield in not offering more support and at least stemming the tide of Mexican attacks

For all the inspired technical play -- and Dos Santos, Torrardo and Barrera were all excellent -- however impressive Mexico's pressing early on, the game was decided because Mexico's inability to defend set-plays mattered less -- or at least was tested less -- than the U.S.' inability to hold a defensive line.