soccer soccer soccer

[Rex Buckingham]

Boy did we need that. Great service from Acosta. And McKennie is so good in the air

[wolf stansson]

I like it when Acosta plays well, because I really enjoy his dark arts work

[wolf stansson]

[wolf stansson]

Acosta will be in Qatar because he’s the only American alive who can deliver a dangerous free kick.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Jamaica can you be useful for a single game, 1 point from 6 games against Mexico/CR/Panama if this holds

[Rex Buckingham]

any reason to play Pulisic in the 2nd half? I'd keep him off and maybe even look to remove Weston late to keep them from injury

[UMFan83]

Jamaican me crazy Reggae Boyz

[UMFan83]

Costa Rica winning makes things interesting for sure but it was a distant 3rd in the 3 things that we wanted to happen tonight. If Mexico wins tonight and the US holds on, it would still be a scenario where if the US wins at home against Panama, US would have to lose both their other matches and CR win the rest of their matches. So the goal is still to beat Panama and be a virtual lock to advance.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The US's counter press has been incredible this entire window, just relentless

[UMFan83]

CR wins. Now Canada @ Costa Rica will be a big match if we want to avoid needing a result at Costa Rica. New scenario to avoid needing any road results:

 

1. Mexico beats Panama tonight

2. Canada win/draw at Costa Rica

3. USA beats Panama at home

 

That will clinch it

 

If Panama gets a result in Mexico and Canada loses their first match of qualifying in Costa Rica then and only then things will get tense

Edited February 3, 2022 by UMFan83

[bukie]

Pulisic enters, immediately gets thrown to the ground, scores 1 minute later.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

If Panama gets a result in Mexico and Canada loses their first match of qualifying in Costa Rica then and only then things will get tense

 

Honestly if those two things happen the US is likely facing Mexico with a new coach and there's as much opportunity to send them to a real dark place as there is potential for our own disaster.

[UMFan83]

Glad we got the 3 points but it’s not going to shut up the people who are concerned that the US can’t score outside of set pieces

[bukie]

Glad we got the 3 points but it’s not going to shut up the people who are concerned that the US can’t score outside of set pieces

This was the first time the US has scored goals off set pieces this entire cycle.

[UMFan83]

Glad we got the 3 points but it’s not going to shut up the people who are concerned that the US can’t score outside of set pieces

This was the first time the US has scored goals off set pieces this entire cycle.

 

Correct, I’ve read that a few times though as the reason why they haven’t scored as many goals in WCQ. Maybe I’m reading the wrong sites

[bukie]

Glad we got the 3 points but it’s not going to shut up the people who are concerned that the US can’t score outside of set pieces

This was the first time the US has scored goals off set pieces this entire cycle.

 

Correct, I’ve read that a few times though as the reason why they haven’t scored as many goals in WCQ. Maybe I’m reading the wrong sites

They tend to have a lot of issues being CONCACAF'd in the final third (defenders just trying to goon up the game, primarily by murdering Pulisic), but more than any other cycle they've dominated play. They just haven't finished well overall.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Canada got their 'Gyasi scored by taking a clearance to the face' goal

 

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

I like that the announcer confuses dumb luck for grit and hard work, just like any other successful jackass irl.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Hector Herrera got a silly yellow(he just trucked a defender in a hopeless pursuit 1 min into the half) so he'll miss the USA match. Chucky Lozano just got carted off with what looks like a separated shoulder. Still 0-0.

[UMFan83]

Mexico should have like 4 goals in this match

[Transmogrified Tiger]

all that and it takes a soft pk to get Mexico ahead. Maybe the best result on the whole, Mexico still thoroughly unconvincing and vulnerable at home, lose a couple players for our matchup, and the US enters the last window 4 points clear of the playoff

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Probably won't end up being anything but worth keeping an eye on, Costa Rica apparently played multiple guys last night who were known Covid positives

 

There's a little nuance because as the article describes these were players who previously tested positive, went through quarantine and apparently had recent negatives. But depending on how the protocols are written and how the powers that be see it, they could be in some trouble. A forfeit means the US functionally guarantees at least the playoff with a single draw, and any win or CR dropped points would mathematically guarantee it.

[stitchface]

I like it when Acosta plays well, because I really enjoy his dark arts work

 

Acosta was really really good. Overall, US got what we needed - an early goal, a set piece goal (or 3) and 3 points. The attack generated a few more chances from open play but wasn't very convincing - hard to judge in those shitty conditions. Hopefully Pulisic's equivalent of a seeing-eye single gets him going.

[UMFan83]

Here are the models after Matchday 11:

 

 

Interesting that the US odds of finishing top 3 did not change considering they got optimal results in 2 of the 3 relevant matches, but I guess the US beating Honduras at home and Mexico beating Panama at home were pretty likely events coming into the day and Costa Rica winning makes it a 5 teams race for top 3 instead of 4 teams.

 

If the US manages to only get 1 point in the final window, they have a roughly 90% chance of at least making the playoff. 2 points and they move up to 99% chance of top 4 and 66% chance of top 3.

[stitchface]

US has to beat Panama. It really comes down to that. A draw might be enough but that's leaving things in the hands of others.

 

 

I was worried about the midfield going into this Honduras game but they were really good. Good to see some options there - granted against weaker competition but in earlier qualifiers, the US failed to dominate the midfield (see Honduras first half the first time)