It all comes down to Friday night.
The biggest match in a long time.
It all comes down to Friday night.
The biggest match in a long time.
Yep, huge! It's do or die time. Put up or shut up. (can't think of anymore cliches')
Balls to the wall?
''Don't be a bad dagh..."
USA 4 Panama 0
The US delivered tonite!!!
And, it all started with the USA team standing, hand on hearts, singing the National Anthem. I know what sport I support. Eff the NFL.
Nagbe didn't have a good game, and the entire midfield was out-played by Panama. Bradley often found himself alone trying to defend the middle against 2 or 3 attacking Panama midfielders. It was surprising that they came out, and stayed, in a 4-4-2 pushing forward so much. Like Costa Rica, Panama's success has come from playing a bunker defense and only counter-attacking. Their style tonite opened them up to US counter-attacks and man! did we make them pay the price.
Now, we have to get a result at T & T.
Costa Rica scored the tying goal in added time, final CR 1 Honduras 1. If Honduras had lost the USA would have locked up at least 4th place. Had Honduras won, we would have needed a win at T&T to assure at least a 4th place finish. As it is, the US, Panama, and Honduras remain mathematically alive for the 3rd and 4th spots, and one of the three will get left out.
We have 12 pts, Panama and Honduras each have 10. If they win (Pan home to CR, and Hon home to Mex) and we lose at T&T, we are out. If they win and we draw, then Honduras is out due to GD (unless Hon smokes Mexico by 10+ goals!). CR and Mex have qualified for Russia. Their remaining game means nothing to them. I fully expect both to "phone it in" and would love nothing more than to help knock the US out. We need a result at T&T. A win would be great, then we are in. But, we need at least a draw. This is another "do or die," "put up or shut up," "balls to the walls," situation.
Wouldn't hurt my feelings if either, or both, Pan and Hon lose or settle for draw.
Oh, the 4th place CONCACAF rep gets Syria in the play-in series. Syria is playing its home games in Malaysia since it is not safe in Syria just now.
We are playing at T&T and only need a draw with the huge Goal Differential.
I expect a very heavy defensive effort with only occasional safe pushes forward. T&T doesn't have the best-attacking front, so this is not a match I am worried about.
There is no back-up plan if we blow this now. All it takes is one goof-up, one unlucky bounce. Our back line has shown a tendency to lose track of what they're suppose to be doing. I'll worry about it right up to the final whistle.
Nope, down 2-0 now. And Hon has tied Mexico 1-1
US is Teching it up.
That's what happens when you go for the draw instead of the win, Holtz! I mean Arena