I'll have the lineups for you as quickly as possible... in the meantime Cuba is off to a flying start. Looks like it could be another long night for the Red, White and Blue.
Ok, those lineups for you...
| Odelin Molina | (G) | |
| 2 | Silvio Pedro Minoso | (D) |
| 3 | Jeniel Marquez | (D) |
| 13 | Carlos Domingo | (D) |
| 5 | Jorge Luis Clavelo | (D) |
| 16 | Reysander Fernandez | (D) |
| 10 | Roberto Linares | (M) |
| 11 | Hensy Munoz | (M) |
| 14 | Jaine Colome | (M) |
| 7 | Luis Hermilo Villegas | (F) |
| 18 | Heriel Cordoves | (F) |
United States | ||
| No. | NAME | POS |
| 1 | Tim Howard | (G) |
| 2 | Frankie Hejduk | (D) |
| 5 | Oguchi Onyewu | (D) |
| 3 | Carlos Bocanegra | (D) |
| 15 | Heath Pearce | (D) |
| 17 | DaMarcus Beasley | (M) |
| 12 | Michael Bradley | (M) |
| 13 | Maurice Edu | (M) |
| 8 | Clint Dempsey | (F) |
| 10 | Landon Donovan | (F) |
| 11 | Brian Ching | |
Sadly, no real surprises from the Bob.
Minute 9:
Looks like the US is struggling mightily with this surface. I wonder how long it may take for them to settle in and whether Cuba can take advantage?
11th minute:
The Cuban support sounds awesome. Nice to see in a country where futbol comes 3rd... or 4th.... or 5th in the popularity race. Meanwhile, the US is playing a little better in short combinations which begs the question why they are lumping so many balls forward? The guys seem a little jumpy.
14th minute:
Dempsey has a scintillating bullish run that ultimately ends in some strange pseudo-cross/shot. Positive play, though, as it looks like the US is getting the hang of how to attack the Cuban defense especially as it seems their opponents may still be a little over exuberant from the energy in this place. I've gotta wonder if it's as electric in the ground as it sounds on Mexican tv?
16th minute:
Cuba's Linares makes a nice move but is unceremoniously dumped by Gooch. That'll be a fun battle to watch tonight.
20th minute:
Linares and Villegas providing some danger. The US needs to assert itself in midfield.... Yes, Young Michael, I'm looking at you.
23rd:
Hmmmmmm... 50/50 ball between US attackers and the keeper, raise your hand if you're surprised a foul was called.
Yeah, that's what I figured.
24th minute:
CONCACAF reffing, Ladies and Gentlemen.
27th minute:
The longer this match continues in this pattern the more I think it is tailor made for one of those semi-patented Freddy Adu lateral dribbling runs across the top of the 18. Anyone with me on this?
30th minute:
Gooch saves Bradley's bacon... time for the first NTC beer break, courtesy of some Belhaven yumminess.
32nd minute:
The US could really use some extended possession and build-up play for a goal here. The crowd's back in this in a big way and it probably won't be long before it gives a real lift to the home side.
36th minute:
The US looks like they're in 2nd gear right now and struggling to get out of it yet somehow they just managed to have arguably the most dangerous scramble of the match so far. This may be why it's often so frustrating to watch our play in these kinds of qualifiers.
and OH HEY, look at that, a dangerous challenge by Baby Bradley. cue much *facepalming* all over Big Soccer.
40th minute:
GOOOOOOOOOOOOL Estados Unidos. Clint gets his first of the night off of some nice combinations in the box. It's always great to get a goal and lead in an away qualifier but even better if you can nearly mortally wound Big Mo before he gets on the side of the underdog just before the half.
45th + minute:
Some really ticky tack fouls being whistled here as the half draws to a close. Dempsey took a nasty looking spill there at the end. Hopefully he'll be able to continue.
Ok, HT - I'll be back in a few minutes with some thoughts on the 1st half overall. Our score from the Big Cigar: USA 1 Cuba 0
For the half I'd have to give everyone adequate marks. I was particularly fond of the performances by Edu, Dempsey and Gooch. Overall, it's been a workman-like effort with some flashes of flair on the ground. Seems to me we need to see much MUCH more of that.
50th minute:
Here come the Cubans again. There's an intense ebb and flow to this match moreso than some of the more grueling hack-fests we usually engage in during qualifiers. High marks to Cuba for the style of play and their attempts at an freely attacking style. It's a far cry from the cynical approach we saw from Guatemala last time out.
55th minute:
Beasley into the pits for a tire change, record time on the stop by his crew on that one... whoops, wrong channel.
57th minute:
Really getting tired of long balls from the defense going straight to the Cubans or into touch. It's negating a lot of the good work being done in tight quarters by the midfield.
And there's Cuba nearly with the equalizer. Frankie's a-makin' me NERVOUS!
59th minute:
WHOA! Lovely work there culminates in a blast from Edu. I like the initiative there and eventually he'll start getting those on target. Keep it up, young fella!
61st minute:
Corner goes for naught...
63rd minute:
I... don't.... Yeah. Hmmm. Beasley made a mess of that didn't he? Moving right along...
65th minute:
Looks like they agreed to take a 30 second breather. Guess that means it's time for beer break #2 brought to you by Lazy Mutt Farmhouse Ale. Hello, Wisconsin.
ARGH! And this time DMB is just barely off... ok, he was off by a fair margin AND he wasted the shot. I'm starting to have flashbacks to Germany... somebody get my Prozac.
70th minute:
So... Bob, I'll buy you a beer if you put Sacha on and take your son off. Deal?
73rd minute:
*Capt. Obvious alert*
Might be a good idea to get Dempsey some touches again since, ya know, he was kinda good during the first half. Just a thought...
By your powers combined...
75th minute:
HOW?! How?!!? Oh. CONCACAF, that's right.... sheesh.
And, is that Sascha? I bet he takes off Dempsey...
77th minute:
Oh, Bob.
78th minute:
Oooooooooooooooh, lookie! A Landon Donovan sighting!!!!
82nd minute:
Brian Ching = Indiana Jones or John McClane of US Soccer? Anyone else with me on this one?
And stray free-kick from Landon. His Cakes aren't bringing anyone to the yard tonight.
85th minute:
Looks like Edu could use a sub, he's getting a little lackadaisical in his tracking back. Hey Bob, got Rico?
86th minute:
Edu proves he's superhuman by knocking the lights out so he can get a breather.
88th minute:
Oh my. The lights almost went down on the US there after another close shave that the Cubans just couldn't squeeze by Timmy.
And yes, I am going for as many bad one-liners as I can. I've gotta set the bar hiiiiiiiiiiiiigh since this is only the beginning of qualifying.
90+ minute:
Well, just about done... and there it is. I've got to say that the score doesn't quite give justice to what I thought was a fairly dominant match for the US. This one easily could have been something in the realm of 5-2 if both teams had some kind of inkling about how to "clinically" finish their chances. Oh well. Maximum points from two road tests, mission done in rather milquetoast fashion but this was an improvement from the last game, IMHO.
And a quick shout-out to what looked to be some of the American Outlaws in the stands. Good job of getting past the wire. Get home safe.
I'm out.
