#OneNationOneTeam, USA Beat Ghana 2-1

Yesterday was a dramatic day for US Soccer to say the least. I have to dedicate an entire post to the grit, the determination, and the belief that was shown in the United States' game against Ghana to open up their Group G competition. The US exercised their demons against Ghana through a first minute goal by captain Clint Dempsey. Of a clever little pass from Jermaine Jones, Dempsey showed his world class individual talent by driving into the box, cutting past a defender, and finishing with a precision strike to the far post.

As is normal with an early lead, the US fell into a defensive shell for the rest of the first half, and well into the second. Beckerman shut down the midfield while Cameron and Tim Howard stopped Ghana's offense for the majority of the game. In the 82nd minute, Ghana struck. Leveling the game, Ghana broke hearts all around the United States. In the American Outlaw bar of Santa Monica, I let felt deflated along with the hundreds of other Los Angeles US Soccer supporters around me. A tie would at least give the US a point, but in a "group of death," one point is not nearly enough to hang your hopes on.

Then, in the 86th minute, America erupted with a glorious roar. Thousands of people across the country threw up their hands. The hundreds of traveling supporters in the stadium in Natal lost their minds. We had done our part in believing. A young man, twenty-one years of age, did his part in doing. John Brooks, the half time sub who came on for Matt Besler, found the back of the net on a strong header off a corner kick from Graham Zusi. His first international goal for the US, and the ga
me winner to take 3 points from Ghana.

Jurgen Klinsmann had done it. The hard work by our 23 men in red, white, and blue paid off. Although they didn't look pretty and struggled to hold on to the ball, the United States are sitting in good position. In a post game interview the Man of the Match, Clint Dempsey, was proud but cautious, recognizing that his team needs to do better at building out of the back and keeping possession.

The glory of victory came with a cost, as Jozy Altidore looks to have picked up a serious hamstring coming off the field in the first half. Jozy was running down the left side of the pitch, and all of a sudden, he grabbed his left hamstring and pulled up lame, subsequently collapsing to the ground. He was stretchered off the pitch and subbed out for Aron Johannsson.

The United States will need to snatch at least 1 point from Portugal on Sunday. If they do, they will be set up very nicely for an escape from the group stage. Never more have the chants rung true, "We Believe That We Can Win."

USA v. Costa Rica - The Battle in the Snow

Six inches of snow fall. Freezing temperatures. Minimal visibility. These extreme conditions were met by both teams on the road to qualifying for the World Cup when the USA played Costa Rica in front of a sell out crowd (19,374) in Colorado on Friday March 22, 2013. The 1-0 win by the US Men's National Team was gritty, hard-fought, and classic. It was a true testament to the 100 year old federation and their spirit of grinding, die-hard play.

With a new starting 'keeper between the sticks and Clint Dempsey's first game wearing the armband, Jurgen Klinsmann had a mountain of criticism to confront. In the week leading up to the challenge, reports surfaced of discord in the locker room. Anonymous quotes detailing a lack of unity between German-born players and the more stateside players arose. Other quotes announced a lack of faith in the coach's preparation and strategy, coming on the heels of Klinsmann's omission of veteran back and former captain Carlos Bocanegra. Add that to the constant worries of a young, inexperienced back line and the pressure could have turned coal into diamonds. But that just may have been it.

By no means was it a beautiful game, but the snow covered scenes still were pretty at times. Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley did their part in holding up play and stepping on the ball to give the attack a chance to build. Patience and strength gave way to a considerable amount of possession for the US team (60% in the first half), eventually leading to a tap-in goal by Captain Clint. A shot by Altidore at the top of the box deflected off of a Costa Rican defender and Dempsey was left alone in front of an empty net to tuck it in for the game's lone goal in the 16th minute.

For the remainder of the game, the United States showed their gritty side that has lead them to the World Cup time and time again. Omar Gonzalez, Clarence Goodson, Geoff Cameron, and veteran DaMarcus Beasley sured up the defense and locked the Costa Ricans out of the game. It remains to be seen if Beasley is merely a band aid at the outside back position or if he will be the answer, but it reflects well on the coach's decision making to have put such a veteran presence at the back.
Showing amazing calm and tremendous composure in the absurd conditions, the US team gained three points to put them in second place on the Hexagonal table.

Gold Cup 2011 - USA 2 - 0 Canada

The United States opened up Gold Cup group play against their neighbors to the north Canada on Tuesday with a two goal victory. The starting strike force of Agudelo and Altidore proved dangerous, with the two making good runs at the top and getting open for their midfield supporters. Timmy Howard came up huge again to preserve a shutout, something that must have felt good coming off the poor showing against World Cup holders Spain.

Jozy struck first in the fourteenth minute, to the delight of Detroit soccer fans, taking one touch to settle a Donovan pass, and only a second touch to power his shot under keeper Lars Hirschfeld at the near post. Failing to score first has been a major source of frustration for Bob Bradley and his squad over the past year, so it was good to see how the US could hold the advantage.

Thankfully, the second half saw another goal for the red, white, and blue; this one from one of its biggest superstars: Clint Dempsey. Deuce slid home a cross from the Man of the Match, Altidore, to put the Canadians away. Looks like the Texan's stock continues to climb as he is anticipated to draw interest from Champions League level clubs in Europe this offseason.

The only dangerous threats the Canadians mounted were snuffed out by the US' #1 between the posts. An acrobatic save and constant stability in the eighty-fifth minute aided Howard in preserving his clean sheet for the Americans. The United States played a much better game to open the competition and campaign to re-establish their dominance as the power of North American soccer.

Granted, the passing could have been tighter and the bulk of the offense was being facilitated by a few too many long balls instead of short-sided, one-touch passing. The center of the midfield still looks to be evolving with Bradley and Jones dropping deep to ensure the safe passage of possession from the defense to the strike force. The backline will continue to be a carousel of players that will look to solidify their international experience, but they'll have a few more quizzes before a big time exam against Mexico in the later rounds of play.



Photo Credit: Paul Sancya/AP
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USMNT v. Spain/Gold Cup Roster 2011

GK: Tim Howard, Nick Rimando, Marcus Hahnemann

D: Carlos Bocanegra, Jonathan Spector, Oguchi Onyewu, Steve Churundolo, Jonathan Bornstein, Tim Ream, Eric Lichaj, Clarence Goodson

M: Landon Donovan, Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, Maurice Edu, Jermaine Jones, Benny Feilhaber, Sacha Kljestan, Freddy Adu, Robbie Rogers

F: Jozy Altidore, Juan Agudelo, Chris Wondolowski


Our goalkeeping corps is as strong as ever with Timmy leading the way between the posts. Look for this to be Hahnemann's last Gold Cup effort and Rimando to be the number two option when resting Howard. The evolution of the US defense system continues with captain Carlos Bocanegra and veteran Oguchi Onyewu mentoring MLS stand-out Tim Ream. Solidarity at the back continues to be a focus for Bob Bradley, as well as good distribution to the very capable offensive unit.

The midfield proves once again to be the national team bank of stars. Landon Donovan is red hot after scoring 8 in a row with the league leading Los Angeles Galaxy and Clint Dempsey has set a new record for American goal scoring in the English Premier League this season at Craven Cottage. The young Bradley is hungry for playing time after his recent move to the bench of Aston Villa. The surprise pick here is Freddy Adu, who is currently in good form playing in the Turkish 2 Lig, helping to elevate his team into the promotion playoff.

The potential of strike force that the USA has shown in recent friendlies is boiling to a head, all fueled by an 18 year old passionate US Soccer player. Agudelo will be paired once again with Jozy at the top giving a quick one, two combination. But it will be MLS's Mr. Consistant, Chris "Wondo" Wondolowski, who may make some noise for himself at the Gold Cup.

Carlos Bocanegra, Timmy Howard, Landon Donovan, and Clint Dempsey lead the way again for a determined United States on the road to getting the Gold Cup back from rivals "El Tri," Mexico. Javier Hernandez is astounding in England, but will the long championship campaign catch up to Chicharito? And does Rafa Marquez have another Gold Cup left in his aging legs?

The US Men's National Team kick things off with a warm-up against World Cup holders Spain on June 4th in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Gold Cup group play begins against our neighbors to the north, Canada on June 7th in Detroit, Michigan.



"Let's go get our cup back." -US Captain Carlos Bocanegra via Twitter.


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