The Biggest Rivalry in the Region World Cup Qualifying
It's the U.S. vs Mexico from Cincinnati with kickoff at 9 PM. As expected these are the top two teams in the qualifying group and both will probably qualify for next year's World Cup.If Mexico wins then they have a commanding lead in the group . If the U.S. wins then they will be joint top in the group with the group being more competitive. Add in that this is one of the fiercest rivalries in football. A great way to start the weekend with kickoff at 9 PM on the deuce.
posted by manunitedrules @ 7:22 PM
164 Comments:
Evening, David - thanks for getting us started. It's quite a big day of international football, isn't it?
The US starting XI:
Steffen, Yedlin, Zimmerman, Adams, Antonee Robinson, Musah, McKennie, Pepi, Aaronson, Miles Robinson, Weah.
The oft-injured Christian Pulisic will not start.
Sergiño Dest, the Barcelona left back who keys the attack while occasionally remembering to play defense, is not with the team due to his own injury concerns.
But Tim Weah is healthy and ready to go.
Good evening, Bob. Glad to help. Yes it has been quite a day
It appears that we will have to watch the first few minutes on plus as there is a college football game in progress.
In CONCACAF, Honduras is one up vs Panama at the half. That's good news for the U.S. as Panama , in fourth place is losing, while Honduras movers off the foot of the table ahead if Jamaica and El Salvador, who play each other this evening
There has just been an update that kickoff in the big match is at 9:10.
Pleased to see the deuce televising the big match and moving the college football game to ESPNNEWS as it should be.
They're off from Cincinnati.
COME ON U.S.
Dialing up the Plus as we speak
Good evening, Steve. The match is on the Deuce.
Go it in time to see Weah give Pepe a big chance. Anyone left watching the Deuce? I'll probably switch at the half.
Timmy Weah with a long range shot comfortably saved by Ochoa after Ricky Pepe won a tackle in midfield
Weah tries an early shot with little backlift on the break. Probably had better options there.
Antonee Robinson wins a free kick midway between the box and the touchline
Free kick headed well wide by Aaronson, but it was a really difficult angle.
Weston is visiting Cruella de Ville's salon it seems.
Zak Steffen turns a round a shot from Thomas Edson Alvarez after ping pong in the U.S. box
LOL, Steve. I thought he had been stuck in a light socket
TT doesn't like the challenge from Yeltsin but it was fair. Why would he be in danger of getting booked for that?
Honduras goes two up vs Panama . That's good news for the U.S.
Timmy Weah wins a U.S. corner off a pass from Moussa
Westie wins a U.S. free kick
Aaronson straight to Ochoa after a cross was headed out then ping pong in the Mexico box
Steffen comes up clutch with a save from Lozano. That cannot hurt.
OH Chalky Lozano forces a great save from Zak Steffen off a nice thorough ball from Thomas Edison alvarez that was really electric
In this rivalry neither team has won three times in this rivalry in a calendar since Mexico in 1937. It would be great to see the U.S. emulate that feat
That would be good alright. But Mexico's movement is pretty scary at the moment.
OH! Superb long diagonal pass from Lozano and Jesus Corona volleyed wide with just Steffen to beat. The U.S. gifted possession in midfield
Oooh, thank you Corona for absolutely screwing that chance up.
Timmy Weah with a cross deflected on to the top of the net for a corner
Again and again, our midfield has to chase ghosts because no one can hold onto the ball for even a moment. Cute chance there from Weah however.
I second that Steve. Give him a crown
YIKES! Panama have scored twice in four minutes as they have come from two down to make it Desmond in Honduras
The other three matches in CONCACAF are still 0-0 , so it's as you were prior to kickoff.
Long range shot from Moussa high and wide off a spell of U.S. pressure
If Musah hits that one in when he's training, ok. But I bet he never has and should be a lot more careful and look for someone who is closer than 35 yards from goal.
OH! Nice cross from the right headed wide by Antonee Robinson
Robinson! Should have done much much better with that header.
Antoinee Robinson with a stupid foul on Lozano in a dangerous area
Panama has come from two down to lead 2-3 in Honduras late in the match
Panama still fourth, behind Canada on goal difference and only a point behind the U.S. We could really use a win vs Mexico
A minute of stoppage time
I hate being in the position to need something from a game against Mexico.
Luis Romo booked for a foul from behind on Westie on a U.S. break
Me too. It's not the safest of positions for the U.S.
Phew. That went quick. Halftime at 0-0. Let's see what Beerholder can inspire to get us over the line in the second half.
It's 0-0 at the half as is Canada vs Costa Rica and El Salvador vs Jamaica
Talking about Beerholder, I can use another beer,.
I'm back at half-time, as Kate's headed for her evening shower. Is a draw a decent result tonight?
It's over in Honduras and bad news for the U.S. as Panama cam from tow down to win 2-3 in Honduras . Panama still in fourth place, but behind Canada on goal difference and a point behind the U.S. Honduras rock bottom .
Good evening, Bob. A draw is a decent result, but a U.S. win is better after the win by Panama
Kasey Keller hits the Nocito hotpoints about the quality of crossing and the unlikely success if you drive it into their first man.
Definitely a must win for the U.S. in Jamaica on Tuesday.
Very tight at the top of Concacaf qualifying.
I wish this was earlier but I cannot risk another beer at 10pm lest I have to wake up twice during the night.
Agreed. Only Mexico on top has some breathing room and they're only three points ahead off the U.S. and four ahead of Canada and Panama.
That's never an easy one for the U.S. And we've still got the Azteca to come. I reckon we're good for at least a play-off spot, but I'm not certain that we can finish in the top three.
I understand Steve. This is my last one for the same reason. At least the match on Tuesday is at 5 PM. Bob will you be teaching at that time?
Jamaica might be a safer time to reintroduce Pulisic into play. But there he is warming up at the half.
I think we'll finish in the top three due to our home form, but only for that reason. If not then definitely at least a playoff spot, but anything can happen in a playoff. What if it's against a South American team?
Another tough away match is in Canada,. We definitely need to win our home matches even though a draw tonight is a decent result. It looks like qualifying is going down to the last matches in January,
Monday's my late night this semester - I should be around on Tuesday. I'll miss much of the England match, though.
IS there a power outage in Cincinnati?
Sorry you won't be around for the England match, but at least you can watch the highlights on Plus which is a plus
Blimey - how long has Ochoa been around in the Mexico goal?
The second half is underway from Cincinnati
We Beerholder has to have a clearer picture of who and how he wants us to play. I don't know how many players we're used in these qualifiers this time but I'd be willing to bet more than the teams we've played. He may not be mentally tough enough to exclude some of them as unfit to purpose.
I should catch part of the first half at least. Hopefully we'll be 8-0 up before I have to head down to the classroom.
Ochoa has been around since at least 2002. Perhaps not quite that long but for a while
Nice stadium in Cincinnati. Who plays there usually?
Agreed, Steve . He needs to know his best team. The U.S. needs continuity and they won't have that if he's constantly switching the lineups. He should have known his best 22 by now,.
And to be fair to Coach B, it sure would be nice to have fit a Reyna, Pulisic, et.
I think FC In Cincinnati, which is an MLS expansion team
So 2022 would be a fifth WC for him? That's got to be a record, no?
Oh - McKennie should have stuck that away.
OH! Westie with a shot palmed over by Ochoa. it was right at him to be honest
A new MLS outfit, Cincinnati FC.
A cheap shot there from Raul. No excuse for that.
Impressive facility for them - definitely looks like soccer-only.
Correct, Bob. It would be a fifth WC for him, which ties a record set by four other players.Raffa Marquez played in five as did a Mexican keeper from 1950 to 1966. The tow others were Gigi Buffoon and Luther Matheus
Ricky Pepi with a shot over after a shot from Timmy Weah that was blocked broke to him
Oh - decent chance for Pepi now! Shanked it over.
If you're right, Ochoa will join his thuggish mate Rafa Marquez, and elder statesman Carbajal on 5 different WC tournaments. He'd be the third Mexican with 5 bids.
Oh and Lothar Mateaus.
Timothy Weah looks like the danger man to me here.
More bad news for the U.S. Canada has taken the lead vs Costa Rica and are now second , a point ahead of the U.S. and only two points behind Mexico
David's also right about Gigi. Even more than Dino Zoff.
Not good at all - it puts the U.S. in third with Panama breathing down our necks. A win tonight seems a must.
Also Buffoon , who I respect the most out of the group on the list. I don't know anything about Carbajal as he was before our time even though he ended his career being schooled by Bobby Charlton.
It makes sense that goalkeepers would have that longevity.
A draw is a decent result but we need to defeat Jamaica for sure.
Miles Robinson booked for being late by more than a country mile.
We're looking decent here, creating some chances. If only we had a proper striker. Can you imagine this young side with an Erling Haaland type up front. We'd actually have a chance of doing something exciting.
The Mexicans don't seem to have any ambition tonight; I reckon that they may be happy with a point.
Many have auditioned for that part. None have stuck.
I also forgot that our mate, Leo Messi will probably be playing in his fifth WC as will CR.
I think Mexico wants to win. They have had the better chances and were the better side in the first half.
The Mexicans can sacrifice Corona who hasn't been lucky and bring on that lanky git, Funes Mori who has scored against us before.
To be fair, Ochoa looks fit enough that he could make 6.
Not sure why the Cincy crowd has it in for Ochoa.
It's possible. He'll be 41 in 2026 so it could very well happen.
Ochoa made some deragatory remarks about the U.S. being a joke of team to the press and it didn't go over well with the U.S. supporters
Handbags again now. It's really boiling over now.
Tyler Adams down. Will Var check that. Westie and Zak Steffen booked for their part in the melee.
Hernadez grabbed Aaronson in the eye. Booked for that. Why wasn't he sent off.
Pulisic on for Aaronson
Zach Steffen has sprinted 60 yards out of his goal and gets a yellow card for his trouble. Silly.
The ref totally missed that hand in the eye.
Now then - Pulisic on with twenty minutes to conjure something up.
Rodriguez the one that should have been sent off , not Hernandez.
Okay, who asked Mark Clattenburg to this party?
But VAR caught it. Why is Rodriguez still on the pitch?
No VAR tonight, I see.
Jamaica takes the lead in El Salvador and is now three points behind fourth placed Panama
The Hammers Antonio with the goal. No surprises there
I reckon Clats has a very active agent. He was notably rubbish in his day and yet he's leaned into an elder statesman role.
Anyone e Robinson fouls Corona just outside the box. I hate players gesturing theatrically to get other players booked. That needs to be eliminated from the game
Ahhh. I'm sure the Mexicans knew that and have been swinging because of it.
The match has swung back in El Tri's favor again - we'll have to be very careful here.
Antonio had come on as a sub for Kemar Roofe. Bob may remember him.
Michail Antonio has put Jamaica ahead in El Salvador.
WAY HAY! PULISIC HAS GIOVEN THE U.S. THE LEAD MINUTES AFTER COMING ON AS A SUB
Yes! Pulisic comes up trumps for the Yanks! 1-0!
CHRISTIAN PULISIC, CHRISTIAN PULISIC, CRISTIAN PULISICCCCCCCCCCC!
That's a real striker's goal from Pulisic. Just what we needed.
The goal came out of the blue . After some exchanges of possession the U.S. won the ball in midfield and after some one touch passing Pulisic headed in a cross from Timmy Weah from a few yards out
Absolutely crucial goal there - it puts us on top of the group.
OK, hang on USA!
The U.S. level on top with Mexico on points , goal difference, and goals scored,. I think the U.S. would be top on the head to head tie breaker,. IS that correct
Mexico will have to throw caution to the wind now - a loss is a real blow for them tonight.
I'd sub McKennie off right now. He's always good for sticking his beak in.
Really tight at the top as the U.S. is only a point ahead of Canada and three ahead of fourth place Panama despite being top.
El Salvador ties it vs Jamaica late on
It loose like the top four are pretty close to being decided . It's a matter of which goes to a playoff and which three go through
Pepi off - that makes sense. He looked gassed.
That's what it looks like to me, David. the top four pulling away from the bottom four.
Ferrera for Pepi and Kellen Acosta for for Musah
I'm fine with Funes-Mori coming on. He looks clueless at the international level
El Salvador vs Jamaica has finished 1-1, which really is kind of meaningless
WAY HAY WESTIE PUTS TYHE U.S. TWO UP WITH A GREAT FINISH. Now top on goal difference
Wahay! 2-0 up through McKennie!
DOS A CERO! And that's why the Gooner isn't the national team coach. I thought McKennie's hothead would see him get a second yellow. Instead he gets a goal of great quality.
Nice run and pass by Timmy Weah then Westie with a nice one two before the great finish
Really poor defending there from El Tri. Fortunate bounce to McKennie and he made the most of it.
Yeah - Weah has been the standout for me.
Herrera with a foul on Pulisic . Should have been booked
Not happy to see that lunge on Pulisic. We can scarcely afford to lose him again.
Funes Mori is a big bod wrecking ball that we've failed to handle before. I'd like him back on the bench or sunning himself on the beach in Monterrey.
Beerholder about to bring on two defenders, Chris Richard and Reggie Cannon
Oh dear - Miles Robinson dives in and gets himself sent off. So add him to Weston as players out for the next match.
Miles Robinson sent off for a second yellow after bringing down Lozano. A booking but less severe than the ones unpunished against the Mexicans
Into stoppage time
A barber Shop Quartet of stoppage time minutes. That's about what I was expecting
Blow up, ref - I've seen enough.
Chris Richards for Timmy Weah .
OH! Off the bar from Ferrera after a fantastic run and pass from Antonee Robinson.
Agreed, Bob. It's time to end this match
Oh - nearly a third goal as Antonee Robinson ran the length of the pitch and stuck a ball on Herrera's toe. Put it wide.
Canada has defeated Costa rica 1-0, making this win that much moire vital
That's it - a really vital win.
YES! It's over and the U.S. now top of the group on goal difference after defeating Mexico 2-0 . The first time any of these two has won there times in a calendar year in this rivalry since 1937
The fans singing Dos a Cero . Great to hear
Fantastic. I like that Mexico are getting used to getting hosed here. But they've inflicted a blow with McKennie's suspension against Jamaica this coming week.
Both Westie and Miles Robinson suspended against Jamaica. We'll have our hand full with Mickey Antonio, Kemar Roofe, and Co. I still feel confident that the U.S. will win
That's going to be a tricky one.
Well, that's it for me tonight, boys. Nice chatting with you. Enjoy your weekend!
Great chatting on a day of great results. Enjoy the weekend and look forward to chatting on Monday.
CHEERS!
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