Another poor turnover in the US midfield is destroyed by Opara. Semih Aydilek thought he would be able to get through and Opara got all ball and sent the German flying. Opara and Gale have looked solid in central defense after that early accident that sent RSP through. That might be the lone bright spot thus far.
Since Flores entered, Shea and Ownby have switched with Shea going out right. Not sure why. Shea plays leftback very well, while Flores is more of an attacking player for Chivas USA.
Interesting moment here pointed out by the commentator. The crowd is cheering the US. Probably just hoping for a competitive match. The US look poor. Ownby has been pathetic, even without the penalty he gave up. The US don't have a ball winner in the midfield. I'm hoping for Arguez or Duka it come in early in the second half. There are some decent attacking players out there, but there is no link for them and no one to hold possession while they set up.
Germany sets up the attack down the right and Sebastian Jung slams a shot over the goal. Had a lot of players available for the cross, but chose not to take it.
And that's the half. Probably the best news the US has gotten since the match started. Germany is up 2-0. The US needs possession and needs someone who can win the ball in midfield. Gale and Opara have been solid in central defense, but there's nothing there for them once they win the ball.
In the 57th and I just found a stream. From various twitter feeds and Ives, Arguez seems to have made some difference, but there isn't enough for the US.
Ownby gets the ball out wide in the 58th and sends in a horrific cross. I'm wondering why exactly he is still in there. Put it anyone else, please.
Gale slams in on Jungwirth and he is down and not loving life at the moment. It was two-footed and studs up by Gale. Gale caught the ball with his left foot and the German with his right. Jungwirth is hobbling off now.
Jungwirth gets the magic spray (does that stuff cure cancer too?) and is ready to come back in. Moments before, RSP gets sprung in on goal with a nice through ball, but was offside. He took the shot anyway, and sent it wide.
Shea gets the ball on the left and rocks a cross in looking for Ownby. It gets sent out by the Germans though. Second corner for the US. Jeffrey finds Shea who deflects it for Opara who only sends it straight down. Nothing there as it goes back to Jeffrey. A new attack for the US and Shea with a nice move, but the cross gets blocked before he sends it in.
Brian Ownby with another horrific cross from the right. Why is he still in the match? Or in Egypt? Taylor and Shea were ready in the box. Ownby has been one of the best defenders Germany has had today.
First real chance for the US and its Diskerrud taking a pass from a charging Arguez. Zieler comes out and squashes Diskerrud's shot with his knee. Took a while, but at least we got one real shot on goal.
Taylor earns a free kick taking a hard challenge from Jungwirth. Yellow for Jungwirth. Germany makes a sub and its Kemper off for Schaffler. Looks like a 4-4-2 for Germany now. Jeffrey takes the free kick, but sends it a few feet two high. Nice curve on it, but nothing else of note.
And a rocket shot from Jeffrey that goes flying off the cross bar. Second real chance for the US. Shea set that one up by holding the ball up top. Just realized that the ESPN360 feed is about seven minutes behind the USSoccer twitter page.
Been a while for an update. Kaptan entered and almost immediately set up Schaeffler, the previous sub, for a goal. Germany goes up 3-0. Jeffrey had another dangerous free kick, but sent it slightly off frame. Dilly Duka entered for Diskerrud, who only recently starting to get in the game. Brian Ownby for some reason is still on the pitch. Jorge Flores appears to not know that he has a right foot and that he is permitted to use it.
I'm giving up on this match. Time for lunch and then rugby. Highlights for the match are Gale and Opara in defense. Despite giving up three, none were really their fault and they played well. RSP always looked threatening for the Germans, but he did not get much done centrally after breaking through the defense. Brek Shea was strong and active in the attack, but was not able to link up with Taylor or Diskerrud. Here's the lineup I'm hoping for in the next match: GK - Perk DF - Mayen - Opara - Gale - Flores MC - Arguez - Jeffrey AM - Diskerrud - Duka - Shea FW - Taylor And here's a roster analysis from duNord's twitter: "They only brought five defenders and now two are hurt. Who picked this team? They only brought two forwards as well. So that means they have 11 midfielders on the roster." Final score is 3-0 to the Germans. US plays again Tuesday against Cameroon.
Germany u-20 have 2 Bosnians on their squad. If they do good I won't be surprised if Ciro gives them a call up to the senior team.
