The USA moved on to the last eight of the FIFA under-20 World Cup and will play Austria. If you want to see why a team should play to the last seconds o####ame the Americans illustrated it tonight. For although the statistics show that Uruguay enjoyed less possession than the USA, the quality of their possession was much better for large stretches of the game.
When Uruguay took advantage of a ball that slipped from the grasp of stand in keeper Brian Perk to take the lead with only 17 minutes to play this game looked as if it would go down as another disappointment for the US.
But Coach Thomas Rongen threw on Ferrari as an extra forward with around ten minutes left as the US rolled the dice. Seven minutes later the gamble paid off as a Freddy Adu corner from the right found an unmarked Danny Szetela at the back post. Szetela showed great composure before driving a cross #### shot across the Uruguay penalty area.
Andre Akpan – an early second half substitute for what looked to be a badly injured Jozy Altidore – drove to net forcing Mathias Cardaccio into an own goal.
As the game moved into extra time Uruguay began to lose their shape as Edinson Cavani found himself more and more isolated. Dax McCarty had reverted to an auxiliary right back after the equalizer and pushed forward at every opportunity.
The momentum was clearly moving in the USA’s favour and Uruguay coach Gustavo Ferrin must have been regretting the decision to take off goalscorer Luis Suarez with seven minutes of normal time left.
Suarez has been a thorn in the side of the US and once he had been substituted Uruguay lost a key attacking option.
The winner came as the game moved into the last fifteen minutes and another corner for the USA led to the winning goal. This time Michael Bradley was on hand to redirect a shot high into Uruguay’s net.
As Uruguay desperately sought an equalizer there were a few nervous moments left for USA fans. But the USA goal survived intact and the Americans were left to celebrate an epic win.
It’s difficult to single out any one player but my man-of-the match would be Nathan Sturgis. He may not be the fleetest of foot but he can read a game and his positioning is outstanding.
As for Uruguay let's just say that they blew their chance of the Fair Play Trophy.
The sub of Luis Suarez, goes to show just another example of why it doesn't pay to play it conservative. I can't remember which games in the world cup but I remember teams be rewarded and penalized for that critical substitution.
Overall Wallace may have had a good game, but his one mental lapse led to the Uruguay goal. if you see the replay it was his man Suarez who swooped in for the rebound, and about 8 yards back you can see Wallace jogging. That is unacceptable defense, if he had hustled after the cross, he could have easily cleared the rebound.
Not only that but he needs to learn to distribute the ball instead of booting it every second. Obviously sometimes you gotta play it safe, but it doesn't help your team to just kick it out every single chance either.
Last edited by therealrico on July 11th at 7:55 PM.
In other news, Vamos Argentina! Brilliant, comprehensive win, as I said in my blog's comments section.
To put this performance into perspective, Mexico have been one of the best teams of the tournament so far. They didn't just come out to defend, either.
Now the dream final for neutrals, and hopefully revenge.
Has anyone heard how bad Altidore is hurt? We'd be hard pressed to go all the way in this tourney without him! By the replays, it doesn't so much look like he was kicked, but he grabbed his calf, and then played for a couple of minutes and then went down again...I wonder if something snapped or popped, not a good sign, I really hope it was just bad cramp or something but I doubt it
I couldn't tell from the replay what happened; her didn't get kicked, and it didn't look as though he stepped funny. When he came off, he put on that ice pack and was standing by the game's end. So I'm hopeful that it was only a bad cramp or a Charlie horse.
Funny how one can be so proud of an ugly win like this one. But I think it's these types of games that the good ole US has to win for us to reach that next level. Very excited about this stock.
I was impressed with Dax. He showed great poise (I do smirk at the 10 he's wearing...hehe) and he displayed a fine quality. I'm elated for the US especially after such a dismal Copa America. Who can catch me up to speed on Austria?
Argentina were simply on a different class to Mexico that was the difference for me especially in Mid field were Riquelme, Macharano and Veron just dominated. Messi countinues to show moments of brillence his goal was just a top class goal one that only special players score.
Have to admit I didn't think the US deserved to win until they showed the heart to pull that goal back. The ref was a mess. Adu came on towards the end. I thought Szetela's acting job was fair considering the circumstances. Anyone notice it was Cardaccio on the own goal, Cardaccio with the elbow to Szetela and Cardaccio starting the riot after the game? What a ####.
Hopefully, just like the first game vs S. Korea, the US squad just needed to get the jitters under control. Heres hoping we play better in the next game. Nice of Bradley to be at the right place at the right time. Really hope Altidore is OK. I thought Argentina was playing tomorrow and who is this new kid Riquelme? Is he any relation to the "A" Squad player who is in Venezuela AND NOT IN CANADA and has NOTHING TO DO with the SUB-20 TOURNAMENT?
Bobby- Good review of the match although your "light" touch at the end re: "Fair Play" award not going to Uruguay was disappointing. Guess you felt you were a bit hard on Senior Forlan yesterday. eh?
Pull one back for the Uruguay U-20's, did you?
Why a side like theirs with so much talent and ball control would consistantly resort to such dirty tactics is a shame.
By the way, now I know you are a closet Manu fan. Do you think leading La Liga in scoring redeems oneself for a poor turn at Manu? You gotta give Forlan that right?
Thererico tommorow you'll be talking about the Copa especially once you see Messi's goal. Argentina are playing some amazing football too and it's a joy to watch them.
Does anyone know why the defense of the US is allowing so many CLOSE shots on goal? Does the midfield have the class to choke off their counterparts from joining the attack? Why are the US still struggling with getting scoring from their defenders? This team had better reach the next level of competence or they will lose to the Austrians.
I was impressed with Freddy's leadership, and his crosses, after the U.S. went down a goal. I was shocked at the melee after the match and really glad that Bradley was restrained by his team mates and coaches. Any info on whether or not Seitz will be able to play Saturday? Other than spilling the header that led to Uruguay's goal I thought Perk did pretty well. Like other U.S. fans I will keep my fingers crossed that Altidore's injury isn't serious.
Anon - I could not agree with you more. I think this is one of these games that will passed from youth to youth team for years to come. The games that make you better are the tough ones and this one was mentally and physically tough. In the early going the US team was no powder puffs either. I actually thought the referee was very consistent althogh it took me a while to realize that he was not going to issue the number of yellow cards that we have been used to. If he had started off that way we might have finished 8 a side. I would say that he officiated it similar to what we see in the Premiership.
Gongatore - The reason I limited my "discipline" remarks to one was I didn't want to detract from what I thought was an incredibly gutsy performance. A goal down, Altidore off injured and only minutes to play it would have been easy to give in and to start trotting out the excuses.
As for the extent of Altidore's injury and the status of Seitz I can't provide anymore information at vthis time as I opted to get the blog up rather than attending the press conference. I'll try to find out more tomorrow.
So, with Adu and Bradley out v. Austria, the US loses two of the no more than five starters truly comfortable with the ball at their feet. Several players will have to step up big, none more so than McCarty, who will be called upon to fill a Zidane/Keane-like role as centre-mid and (hopefully) earn a bit of respect for his no. 10 (by the way, however trivial, Zidane wore no. 10 and Keano was born on the 10th of August)....Happy to see Akpan's competency up front, but his instincts and timing may have to be a bit more than NCAA-quality to propel the squad forward. Not much to say about Ferrari...and, considering that they're still searching for form, the American defenders, however tentative on the ball, have been solid enough facing, slick, swift attackers....In a match that was essentially a coin-toss, a bullet dodged tonight.
Gongatore - I have just spoken to my pal Kevin and his cousin who are at the Brazil and Spain game in Burnaby. It was the hottest day of the year in Vancouver and was 28degrees at games time. The sun is now going down quickly and its cooling off.
Dax McCarty I think was the man of the match. He seemed to keep the team's composure both in the defence and in the offence. Bradley usually seems to take on this role but Dax seemed allow Bradley more freedom on the offensive end. I think, in a way, he contributed to Bradley's goal.
I think the US is allowing more shots because in this game we were missing one of our great forwards for most of the game. Remember, a great offence leads to a fantastic defence (more runs from the back that create chaos for the other team) I don't think I need to remind anybody about how Donavan, Ching, and others helped to keep the other teams' defenders on their heels.
Thanks again, Bobby for the quick blog!
GO USA, LA GALAXY, AND THE GLASGOW RANGERS!!!!!!
I think some people may have forgotten that the yellows Adu and Bradley got in the group stage were wiped clean for this round. So there yellows tonight don't eliminate them for the match against Austria.
Correct?
A Jozy Altidore injury update. I am in the same hotel as Mitch Peacock who is working for CBC during this tournament. We just spoke and he told me that he spoke to Jozy after the game and Jozy told him that he got kicked on his calf earlier in the tournament and then Caseres got him on the same spot agin. It tightened immediately and he had to go off. He's hopeful that he will be fit for the game against Austria.
My understanding is yellows accumulated in the group stage were scrapped at the conclusion of that stage unless a player took a second yellow in the third group game.
That ref today was horrible. I am watching the brazil/spain match and what a difference. Capelo keeps diving and the ref is letting the game play on. Bodies are tumbling and the ref is letting the game play on. It makes for such a better game.
I agree with your comments on Sturgis. Other than his brain cramp against SK, he's looked as solid as ever - always in the right position and never does anything stupid with the ball. And he's done this against some very talented strikers. Do you see him moving to Europe in this transfer window or January, or later? Also, which leagues do you think would suit him best?
Yeah whatever yellow cards were acquired in the group games dont count for the knockout round though we have picked up five in this game vs Uruguay so we have to be careful.
Bobby do you know anything about this Austrian side? How do we match up to them?
This is the knockout stage, after the group stage all yellow cards were wiped. If they get another card in the Austria game, then they would miss the semifinal game.
I know it wasn't good sportsmanship, but did anyone else get a chuckle out of Bradley's postgame "2-1" for the Uruguyan player? And the Uruguyan players reaction afterwards turning to people around him and almost "telling" on Bradley...that was great stuff....I was waiting for Will Ferrell to appear next to the Uruguyan player...look right at him and in his Ricky Bobby voice shout..."THAT JUST HAPPENED"
Bobby,
Doesn't the ref need to blow the whistle to start play again before the free kick can be taken? (this question is related to Spain's second goal)
Seems a bit unfair to Brazil, since the ref was indicating that the free kick would only be taken upon his blowing the whistle. Wow, brazil was just very fortunate to survive that attempt.
and another attempt too, that's two really excellent chances Spain had in the final few minutes, not capitalizing could come back to haunt them. Hmmmm not finishing...as US soccer fans, we're all too familiar with THAT one huh?
Both Brazil & Spain seem to have raised their game from the group stage. The US will need to have a mistake free effort and some good finishing to get passed both of them.
Sorry about the confusion (stemming from accumulated yellow cards) I initiated regarding Adu's & Bradley's (non)absence from this Saturday's game...nonetheless, is there any reason why the USA no. 10 does not belong in the starting lineup? A fourth confident, poised ball-handler on the pitch couldn't hurt.
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