Canada has shown that they are a legitimate challenger for one of the CONCACAF spots on offer at the 2010 World Cup. However, at this moment that is probably of little consequence given the nature of their controversial loss to the USA in the Gold Cup semi-final.
With only seconds left and Canada pushing for an equalizer a ball was lofted forward towards the US penalty box. Onyewu stretched for the header and finished up heading the ball to the feet of Atiba Hutchinson who calmly side footed it past Keller in the US goal.
From the limited TV replays we received in Canada – apparently the Toronto thingies were playing a game of rounders – Hutchinson was not in an offside position when the initial ball was played forward and although he was in an offside position when he benefited from Onyewu’s wayward header the only way it could have been judged offside was if the ball had deflected of the big US defender.
It would require an active imagination to construe Onyewu’s header as a deflection. But an active imagination apparently is exactly what the assistant referee has as he immediately flagged and the referee accepted his call. If there are any referees out there who might shed some light on this decision I know a good number of Canadian fans would love to hear from you.
The first thirty minutes of the match consisted of the USA trying to play a bit too quickly while Canada could have done with a bit more pace to their game. Although the US may have had the better of the play Canada had a couple of set piece opportunities that might have turned profitable.
But it was the USA that opened the scoring through full back Frankie Hejduk. Hejduk may have trouble with his distribution at times but you have to admire the enthusiasm and energy that he brings to every game. And you have to admire the way he struck the ball from just outside the box to put the US into the lead.
The second goal came from the penalty spot after Beasley was tripped by Canadian keeper Pat Onstad. Beasley was played in by the simplest of passes inside full back Paul Stalteri. Donovan drilled his penalty down the middle.
The two goals the USA scored in the last ten minutes or so of the first half served to change the shape of the game in the second half. The play spread out and as Canada tried to push forward there were acres of space for the US midfielders and forwards to run at the Canadian defence. As the second half progrressed the US’s bad habit of spurning chances reemerged and it proved costly, although thanks to the officiating, it was not fatal.
The emergence of Ian Hume was a turning point for Canada as the wee man starting hustling the US defence and running at the them at every opportunity. Suddenly Canada’s attacks became more intense and threatening and when Hume equalized with a quarter of an hour left we knew we were in for a barnstorming finish.
Ratings Canada Onstad (6) – Had no chance with either of the two US goals. Otherwise rarely tested.
Stalteri (4) – Was guilty of a sloppy back pass in the second half. Was unable to get forward into attacking positions.
Hastings (6) – Handled Dempsey and Johnston well.
Hainault (6) – Ditto.
Jazic (7) – A very competent performance.
Bernier (6) – Pace of the game was a bit too quick for him but he made few mistakes.
Hutchinson (7) – Never imposed himself on the game but he showed again that he is type of player who can turn a game in an instant.
Nash (4) - When given time he sprayed a couple of great passes but in close quarters he was ineffective.
De Guzman (7) – Victim of a brutal challenge in the first half but De Guzman was Canada's most consitent performer over 90 minutes.
De Rosario (5) – Looked like he was going to pull off something special in first half but faded in the second.
Gerba (6) – A thankless task being the lone striker with little support for long stretches of the match. Fought valiantly.
Subs. Hume (8) – A terrific performance off the bench only reinforced the unanswered question as to why he was used so sparingly in this competition.
Nakajima-Farran – no rating
USA Keller (6) – Handled what he came his way.
Hejduk (8) – Scored a call and was here, there and everywhere…although you may not want to see that in your right back.
Onyewu (3) – He might be a fan favourite but too often he is an accident waiting to happen.
Bocanegra (4) – Was lucky to be on the park after a spectacularly late challenge on De Guzman in the first half.
Bornstein (5) – Showed great promise and energy in the first half but suffered in the second half as much of the US attacks avoided the left side.
Dovovan (6) – The upside his Donovan continued to look for the ball even though he struggled most of the evening. He will want to remember his set up for the first goal and his well-struck penalty. He will want to forget his wiff with an open goal in front of him. That was in the 50th minute and would have killed the game as a contest.
Bradley (4) – Was prominent in the early stages of the first half but his performance dropped off alarmingly as the game progressed. Rightfully shown a straight red card for a challenge that was late, high, from behind and designed to stop a player breaking away from him – the referee got that one spot on!
Mastroeni (7) – Patrolled his area well with a minimum of fuss as a good holding midfield should do.
Beasley (6) – Everytime I watch Beasley I am left with the feeling that he could have contributed so much more.
Johnson (4) – Poorly timed runs and failed to link well with Dempsey and the midfield.
Dempsey (5) – Absolutely starved of the ball but failed to go and get as well.
Things look to be hotting up with Dempsey and Onyewu on the verge of joining Fulham.
There is a page within the FSC site for "completed" transfers although I would question the listing of Figo to Al Ittihad and I think that Tavano to Roma from Valencia is a loan deal.
Here's your chance to comment on deals as they are done.
Twenty minutes left and the Czech's have this one in hand. Eddie Johnson shows some life with a shot that goes wide.
A flowing move from the USA at last. They move the ball quickly and Convey puts in a cross that Cech gathers. Josh Wolff on but not before Rosicky gets his second and the Czech's third. At least Arsenal fans will be happy. McBride leaves the game - he has received no support whatsoever.
Johnson with another effort - he's playing his way into the starting line-up against Italy.
There as a huge gulf between the Czech Republic and the USA today.
Man of the match - Tomas Rosicky.
Player ratings
Keller – No chance with any of the three goals. 6
Cherundolo (sub 45) –A tactical substitution but the full back rarely got forward in the first half to support the attack. 4
Onyewu – He took an earlier booking and was guilty of a poor clearance that dropped to Rosicky for the second goal. 4
Pope – He did not look to smart on the first goal but it was wicked cross to deal and Koller added a little nudge. Pope adapted well to a back three in the second half. 5
Lewis – For a defender to be caught so badly out of position five minutes into a game is a cardinal sin. Lewis never looked comfortable all game. 2
Beasley – Was he playing? It was a bad day to try out the Harry Potter invisibility cloak. How he stayed on the field, I do not know. 1
Reyna – The captain battled away but his promptings did not receive much support. 6
Mastroeni (sub 45) – He was a victim of the half time situation and found himself sacrificed for a more creative player. 5
Donovan – He flitted in and out of the game. 3
Convey – He did not hide but he did not contribute much either. When he found himself in good wide positions, he failed to deliver quality crosses. 3
McBride (sub 77) – He should be able to sue for lack of support. Big Brian was isolated all game although his first touch was poor. 4
Substitutes;
Johnson (on 46) – When he came on he added a drive to the US game that had not existed previously. He has surely played his way onto the starting line-up against Italy on Saturday. 6
O’Brien (on 46) – He looked badly short of match practice and never made a telling contribution. 3
Brian McBride isn't in this game. When the ball is played up to him his first touch has been poor and that means he is unable to bring the other US players into the game.
A killer goal from Rosicky a poor clearing header from Onyewu drops to him. Reyna can't close him down quickly enough and the Arsenal player scores an absolute cracker. Apart from the two defnsive mistakes the US isn't playing bad football - just very ineffective football.
Nice and pretty but very predictable. Koller goes down holding his hamstring and he will be out of the game. This could have reprecussions in game 2, 3 and possibly later. A big blow to the Czech's WC hopes. Czech team size drops 2 inches as 6' 5" Vratislav Lovenc (Salzburg) replaces him.
Half time - USA needs to provide Brian McBride with some support and the team needs to be balanced. There is no natural width on the right hand side and with Nedved playing inside there is no reason why the USA can't make inroads down that side.
It looks as if both sides have opted for a 4-5-1. Bruce Arena has made sure he has got some real pace in the line up with Convey, Donovan, and Beasley.
Key match-ups; Onyewu vs. Koller; McBride vs. Ujfalusi; Nedved vs. Mastroeni; Reyna vs. Rosicky; Convey or Beasley vs. Grygera
We are off. Beasley lines up on the right side which puts him up against a very left footed Jankulovski. A showing a few nerves by conceding a number of early free kicks. They need to settle down asap.
Onyewu - yellow card, a card as early as this will be a problem. Koller scores. Lewis caught out of position that frees up Grygera and he plays in a fantastic cross that Koller can't fail to score from. A bad and costly mistake.
My esteemed colleague Nick Webster Nick Webster reports of a possible move to the Riverside for Oguchi Onyewu . Further reports have Reading possibly joining the race for his signature.
I am the soccer analyst for the Fox Soccer Report and appear twice a week - every Monday and Friday at 10:00 EST. I have also been a regular contributor to the Fox Soccer Channel website since the summer of 2004. Over the last twenty years I have contributed to various radio and television programs throughout North America as well writing about the game for newspapers, magazines and websites.
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