We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
I'm settling in to watch the latest edition of "El Super Classico" - the U.S. vs. Mexico in the final of the Gold Cup. You might argue that the U.S. were lucky to get by Canada in the semis and that Mexico have been firing blanks throughout, but this is the final we all wanted to see, right?
posted by gatorbob @ 2:34 PM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
36 Comments:
Here's the U.S. side:
Howard
Bornstein
Onyewu
Bocanegra
Spector
Mastroenni
Dempsey
Feilhaber
Beasley
Ching
Donovan
Obviously, it's a straight swap with Spector in for the suspended Hejduk and Feilhaber in for Bradley, who was red-carded harshly in the Canada match.
Up top is the real gamble, though, with Ching preferred to both Johnson and Twellman. Big mistake there, I reckon.
The big news for Mexico is that their Barca based assassin Rafael Marquez is back after seeing out the end of the Spanish club season.
What is up with Donovan kneeling to the ground and crossing himself before every touch of the ball. He's already at it and they haven't even kicked off!
The U.S. have come out of the blocks quickly in every match, pushing up and trying to outrun their opponents. It'll be interesting to see if they can do that against a more established side.
The Mexican wanker Guardado is already at it, falling down after an innocuous shoulder barge by Spector. Get up, you wally.
Ooh, that was a bit close for comfort, Castillo releasing Guardado on the right and he just hits it a bit high for Borgetti, but Spector is getting skinned down that side.
Mexico are already showing more hunger than they have throughout the Gold Cup.
I'm a bit puzzled as to why the Mexican support in the crowd is MUCH louder than the U.S. support. If this were being played in LA, I'd understand - but this is in bloody Chicago!
It's end to end stuff - really enthralling. I just wish the U.S. fans were making some noise out there. It's ridiculous that all you can hear is "Me-xi-co!"
Oh dear, Bocanegra's picked up a yellow for what looked like a decent tackle. That's a bad sign.
Pardo over a dangerous free kick, but it's knocked out. All the long balls are being aimed at Borgetti, who's looked off the pace throughout the competition.
There is no way that the U.S. is going to be able to play long balls to Ching; Marquez is just going to eat those up all day long.
Better from Dempsey there. It's got to be short balls and speed today.
Bretos has just remarked that it's a predominantly Mexican crowd at Soldier's Field today.
WHY?
Castillo is getting far too much room on the right side. Dempsey's going to have to track back and help out Spector a bit.
Oh nearly there. Donovan does well on the right, dinks in a nice ball to Beasley, who rounds the keeper but neither he nor Ching can finish it off. Desperate defending from the Mexicans. That was the closest yet to a goal.
First booking for Mexico - Medina, who's been struggling to keep up with the pace of Beasley.
On the replay it actually looked as if Ching got in Beasley's way on the goal chance.
I agree with the commentators - the ref's done quite well so far, especially given the electric atmosphere.
Bocanegra, despite the yellow, has been excellent, tracking back and covering the entire backline. He's got to be a candidate for the captaincy.
A couple of quick corners in succession for Mexico but there's nothing doing.
Oh, quite wide from Bornstein. At first it looked like he'd found the goal, but it was into the side netting. The shocking silence in the stadium again shows how dominant the Mexican crowd is. WTF?!
It's not quite working up front for the U.S. I agree with Gooner that Dempsey and Donovan nullify each other regardless of where they're played. And Ching up front alone is useless. They need to strikers and one attacking midfielder tucking in behind.
Another free kick opportunity earned by Castillo....
Should be Pardo hitting it....
And it's deflected out for a corner; the wall did it's job properly.
Howard's been a bit hesitant on a couple of high balls. Wonder what that's about?
Mastroenni now has picked up a yellow, probably for accumulating a number of fouls because there was not really anything in it. Guardado as usual leaping up like a wee frog at the slightest touch.
Nice free kick won by Ching. Should be swung in left footed by Beasley. Bring the big boys up....
Nothing from it.
Borgetti's crocked himself there as Bocanegra sold him a dummy. This would be lovely to see Jared carted off.
And yes, Borgetti seems to be coming off with Omar Bravo to replace him.
Great sequence there for the U.S. Salcido gives it away to Donovan, who slips through, little flick from Dempsey to Donovan who's shot is blocked and then Dempsey has a volley saved by Sanchez.
Close thing there from Castillo, who has definitely been the most dangerous player for Mexico. I'd like to see him get nobbled.
GOAL! 1-0 Mexico. And it's bloody Guardado who finishes at the back post after Bornstein and Gooch was skinned on the left. Shame.
Half-time - 1-0 Mexico. It's been a cracking match so far and could have been 1-0 for either side. I reckon that they've been evenly matched and I like a lot of the work that Donovan, Beasley and Feilhaber have been doing in midfield, but there's a sharper edge up top for Mexico. We'll need some changes there in the second half.
Full-time - 2-1 U.S. Well, that was quite satisfying in the end. A good penalty from Donovan that takes him level on 34 goals with Waldo and a rocket from Benni Feilhaber gave the trophy. And it should have been better, what with the incredible misses from Ching and Beasley. It really should have been 3 or 4-1.
Sorry I missed the blogging, but I did get to see all of the second half and some of the first. It was a game with lots of drama and rated a 10 for entertainment value. Some of the play in the US back four was atrocious, but I guess if we were tighter the E value would've dropped substantially. Full credit to Mexico for taking the match to us for much of the game.
I'm in line with the Gator that the US had plenty of chances to stick this one away so that the Mexicans would have had no hope in the final 20 minutes. But any win over the old rivals is a good win.
Everytime I see that Feilhaber kid, he gets better and better.
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