The US Wrap up the WC Qualifiers
posted by The Blue Devil @ 8:43 PM
Lakenheath Old Boys
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!
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Lakenheath Old Boys
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!
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147 Comments:
Greg Berhalter is certainly not taking anything for granted tonight with this line-up:
Goalkeeper: Zack Steffen (Manchester City)
Defenders: DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United), Antonee Robinson (Fulham)
Midfielders: Kellyn Acosta (LAFC), Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig), Yunus Musah (Valencia)
Forwards: Ricardo Pepi (Augsburg), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Tim Weah (Lille)
Good evening, Bob. Thanks for getting us started. Here to join you for the conclusion of CONCACAF qualifying. How was your day today?
Evening, David - it looked like it was another day in paradise for you. Well done!
The Kiwis defeated the Solomon Islands 5-0 earlier today in the Oceana final. It's almost certain that the Ticos will face the Kiwis in a playoff in June
The situation in CONCACAF qualifying going into this one:
1. Canada - 28 points (GD +17)
2. USA - 25 pts (GD +13)
3. Mexico - 25 pts (GD +7)
4. Costa Rica - 22 pts (GD +3)
Thanks, Bob. really enjoying it here. We had unusually lovely weather today and took Trooper on a field trip
After South American qualifying last night Peru defeated Paraguay 2-0, so they will face the Aussies or the UAE in a playoff in June.,
I'm looking forward to spring coming on. It's been a long, long winter. We had a dusting of snow this morning.
I can imagine that a Peru v. Aussies match will be a right old tussle.
In Africa Senegal, Ghana , Tunisia , Morocco , and Cameroon qualified. Cameroon won 1-2 in Algeria to go through on the away goals. The Cameroon winner came in the fourth minute of second half stoppage time in ET.
Agreed. I think both playoffs will be tight and perhaps too close to call. I think all the playoffs are one offs in Qatar
We've had a few cold days in March but thankfully the only dieting was back on the 12th. Will be delighted for you when Spring comes. We've had a mixture of Spring and Winter days this month.
It looks like Keylor Navas is the only Tico who is playing abroad.
Costa rica has scored eleven goals ion eight matches so half a dozen in one match will be a tough ask for them, especially given the defensive style they play
I think you're right. The Tacos used to have several in MLS , but they're now back in their domestic league. There used to be more Ticos abroad
I'm doing a favor for Kate - back in a tick.
I found two others, but they're on the sibs bench. Joel Campbell plays for Monterrey in Mexico and former Toffee, Bryan Oviedo now playing for FC Copenhagen. Other wise all playing in the Costa Rica league
They're off from San Jose.
See you soon, mate
The U.S. have lost their last five WC qualifiers, all by two or more goals. Now is as good a time as any for that to change
Ticos playing with several young debutants in the line up. Are they conceding that they're going to be in the playoffs?
Hi David. I'm here after my shower so that I can stay up as late as I can. Would it kill them to play earlier?
Tim Weah wins a U.S. corner
Good evening, Steve. Great question. How have you been?
Miles Robinson with a shot off the corner fumbled by Navas then gathered at the second attempt
Miles Robinson just fails to prevent a Costa Rican corner
Thanks for that summary. I find it really odd that we can go to the Azteca and eke out a result. But against these guys in a stadium where their support would have to have MLB arms to lob in the baggies of urine or batteries, we can't get a result.
Long rang short from Daniel Chacon off the corner just over after the corner was headed away.
Doing well David. It's bleedin' cold here so the winter can go do one for my tastes.
You're welcome. Agreed.Steve. I was just as surprised as you to hear those grim stat at this venue. Since the 1-1 draw in 1985, not a scooby
Shot from P{epic turned around at the near post by Navas off a pass from Timmy Weah.
Glad you're doing well. It was in the 70s today, but a bit chilly last weekend. I think everyone is ready for Spring
A quarter of an hour played and still 0-0 in all four matches. That suits us to a tee
Musa fouled from behind about 25 yards from goal
Into the wall by Acosta
Hi again, chaps - I'm back after some dishwasher duty. Still 0-0 I see.
Miles Robinson called for a foul. Barely touched the p[ayer who fell theatrically
Welcome back, Bob.. Still 0-0 which suits us
Ticos have a free kick chance out wide right now - cleared out well.
Mexico has taken the lead vs El Salvador as has Hionduras in Jamaica. That score in the Azteca bad news for there Ticos , which is their problem, not ours.
I certainly does. It would be humiliating for us to finish third in the CONCACAF table.
Yeltsin wins a corner for the U.S.
Cynical trip on Tyler Adams and should have been a booking
Need a nice corner from Pulisic here. A bit too lofty and Myles Robinson couldn't get over it.
The main thing is that we don't face the Kiwis in the playoffs. Ticos only hope was a win vs the U.S. and a Mexico loss by a combined total of five goals.
Mexico have taken the lead against Honduras, which puts another nail in the Ticos automatic qualifying hopes.
El Tri now second in the table and the US drop to third.
As it stands, the Ticos need a 6-0 win in order to avoid the playoff match with the Kiwis.
That's good news for the U.S., who as things stand qualify automatically.
I don't see a lot of urgency in the Ticos play as of yet, half way through the first half. They'll need to throw caution to the wind before long and commit a lot of players forward.
Don't we have to lose this one 6-0 to let the Ticos back into the 3 automatic berths?
The Ticos have as much a chance of scoring six tonight in San Jose as Bob singing " Do You Know the way to San Jose?"
Yes we have to lose by that much for the Ticos to finishing the top three.
Yeah - a 6-0 win is necessary now for the Ticos.
You know that's a karaoke favorite of mine, David.
I gert the impression that the Ticos have conceded any chance of finishing in the top there based on what I'm seeing
He loves a bit of Bacharach and Warwick, he does.
LOL, Bob! Lucky guess on my part.
Any storm activity in the DC area tonight, Steve?
LOL, Steve. Great info.
You know I do, mate.
Oh - a bit of danger there from the Ticos but cleared out.
Trooper snoring loud enough to make think its thunder. Storm activity or his being bored of this match?
Navas tips over a routine cross. I thought he should have caught that
Honduras are leading in Jamaica in the dead rubber match tonight.
The US racking up the corners but haven't had that many chances.
Despite that Honduras will still get the wooden spoon. So much for biting the hand that fed them
This camera angle on Paramount Plus is giving me the vertigo.
Chacon with yet another foul on Puli
Ref tried to play advantage, but in the end blows up for a foul on Pulisic. Good opportunity here.
Rubbish free kick in from Pulisic at almost ankle height.
Long range shot comfortably saved by Zak Steffen
Aguilera with a pop from distance but Steffen smothers it well.
Oh - nice spot by Tyler Adams there but Weah just couldn't reach it.
Costa Rican shot deflected for a corner
Still no urgency to the Ticos play that I can see. They need goals - and fast.
Leon Bailey ties it up for Jamaica vs Honduras, which doesn't mean anything. Both goals in that match have been from spot kicks
I think the Ticos are conceding that they will be in the playoffs based on what I'm seeing from them. I get the impression booth teams will be happy with 0-0
Timmy Weah fouled from behind by Gallo from 25 yards out
I can't tell whether the crowd has gone quiet or Greg Berhalter is really that loud. Or have they miked him tonight?
Free kick from Acosta off the wall for a corner
The Ticos are thinking that they can bring on 5 in the second half and mug us. We should be pressing for a goal.
I think the crowd is a little more subdued than normal
Free kick chance now for the US about dead center.
Acosta takes and it skims off the top of the wall for yet another corner.
LOL, Steve. Wishful thinking from the Ticos
They have the core of their side on yellows sitting on the bench being protected from being suspended for their playoff ties.
It's 0-0 at the half with no stoppage time. The Ticos need half a dozen second half goals
Bob's mate, Raul Jimenez, puts Mexico two up with a spot kick
That's half-time. Not a lot for the punters to cheer on in San Jose. Another 45 minutes and we'll be there.
Three of the four first half goals this evening have been spot kicks. I guess everyone is ready for the qualifiers to end.
Alright. I must do the responsible thing and head off to bed so that I'll be clear in the morning. Come on USA! I want to wake up and watch 45 minutes of the Ticos getting theirs. Cheerio.
Good Night, Steve. Great chatting with you.
Ravel Morrison , formerly of the MUFC Academy many years ago, give Jamaica a 2-1 lead in first half stoppage time.
The second half is underway from San Jose.
His name is Luca and he came on for Tyler Adams from the second floor.
We're back on for the second half. The first half didn't have much to shout about. I'm hoping for a bit better in this half, albeit not a boatload of Ticos goals.
Is Suzanna Vega in the crowd tonight?
Oh - a brilliant double-save from Navas to keep the Ticos in this one.
OH! Miles Robinson Header from a free kick from Puli pushed away by Navas then Timmy Weah with a shot cleared off the line then Walker Zimmerman blasts over
Not sure . I think she's being drowned out by whistling Tico fans
Just heard the Beer Holder shown the way to San Jose by Warwick. Not sure how to interpret that
BUGGER! TICOS TAKE THE LEAD
Bugger! The Ticos strike first, and now things will start to get edgy.
Juan Vargas headed in the corner from young Aguilera
Ticos now need five without reply to qualify
Panama has taken the lead vs Canada in a meaningless match. Canada still top of the group, well ahead of Mexico on goal difference
Shot from Pepi pushed away by Navas the Well over by Antonee Robinson
Shot from Pica De Gallo blocked.
BUGGER! TICOS GO TWO UP. SLOPPY DEFENDING OFF A SET PIECE . CONTRERAS WITH THE GOAL
Oh dear! Ticos are 2-0 up now and the nerves will start jangling a bit.
Zak Steffen dropped a routine free kick then did well to block the rebound. The U.S. defense then guilty of ball watching as a p[ass came into the box and was diverted in by a wide open Contereas in the six yard box
Berhalter responds with three subs to shore things up. US looking a bit ragged.
Shaq Moore on for Yeltsin and Gio Reyna for Pepi
Ferreira came on for Timmy Weah. That was the other substitution in the triple change by the Beer Holder
Kendall Watson down for the Ticops as the U.S. wins a free kick
Double switch for the Ticos ahead of the U.S. free kick
US trying to kill off the momentum with some tedious passing in midfield.
Puli wins a corner off a pass from Luca De La Torre off a poor clearance from Navas
Imagine now if Mexico had scored late in the Azteca the other night. Yikes!
Puli wins a corner off a pass from Musa
Agreed, Bob. We would have been preparing for a match vs the Kiwis.
And I don't really fancy a playoff match against the Kiwis.
Gio Reyna wins a U.S. free kick
I second that. Automatic qualification is of the utmost importance
OH! Nice kick saver by Navas from Puli then Musa with a shot deflected just over
Oh - great chance there created by Gio and Pulisic. The eventual shot was blocked out.
Another key result was in the Ticos opening match when they lost 0-1 at home to Mexico. That has turned out to be a huge help to the U.S.
Nice solo run by Gio Reyna but ends with shot well over.
Navas appears to be injured for the Ticos. He's replaced by Alvarado who came on for Navas in the reverse fixture ion October and scored an OG to hand the U.S. a 2-1 win in October. Another key result.
Navas comes off to a hero's ovation.
I can't believe that there is talk of celebrating at full-time. It's a disgrace for the US to go down like this in Costa Rica. They should be relieved but limp off the field in shame.
I agree. Hard to celebrate off a poor performance despite qualifying.
The final roll of the dice from Beer Holder as the Pie Eater on for Puli. Can you visualize a Beer Holder bringing on a pie eater?
Moore replaces Pulisic now. Chelsea fans will be happy with that.
The Ticos getting the "Oles" from their crowd now. This is the way to end a qualifying campaign.
The Pie eater digs in. To a foul, not a pie. Plenty of bite in the foul, not the pie
I would have to favor the Ticos vs the Kiwis. I don't think the Kiwis have the cutting edge to break down the Ticos defense.
Martinez bursts through and gets a shot off on goal. Steffen holds on well.
Canada ties it up in Panama. Doesn't really change anything for either team
If they're still using Chris Woods up front, then I'd have to agree with you.
Chris Wood and some one from the Portland Timbers are the two front players. I think that tells us everything
Nearly there now.
A Barber Shop Quartet of stoppage time minutes.
Wonder what you would sing about in that genre after this match?
Full-time: Well, the US have qualified but only after having lost again in Costa Rica, definitely they're least favorite away day. We've limped into the World Cup Finals, a bit. We were fifth last time around and third in the CONCACAF standings this time. Not really good enough. The draw will have to be very kind to give this side a chance of even getting out of the group stage.
It's over and the Ticos win 2-0. U.S qualifies for the WC while the Ticos face the Kiwis in a playoff in Qatar in June
Just happy that the U.S. qualified. Not hopeful of the U.S. doing well at the WC.
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