Think I'll try a live thread for the US v. Jamaica match...I'll have some fun talking to myself here. USA line-up: --------Altidore------Dempsey---------- Bedoya----------------------------Kljestan -------------Bradley----Jones------------ Lichaj-----Bocanegra----Goodson---Cherundolo -------------------------Howard------------------ BENCH- Edu, Agudelo, Donovan, Bornstein, Ream, Adu, Hahnemann And Jamaica: ---------Richards-----Johnson-------Shelton---------- Phillips-------Austin----------Morrison--------Vernan ---------Reid--------Thomas---------Taylor------------- ------------------------Ricketts------------------------------ Obviously Donovan on the bench is the big surprise. Donovan and Dempsey both left camp to attend a sister's wedding. Dempsey returned from Texas at 2 am, while Donovan got back from California at 7 am, so fatigue is an obvious factor for both, but more so Donovan who was flying all night. Dempsey at least got some sleep not on an airplane last night. Ives is reporting that the US will line-up in more of a 4-5-1 with Dempsey on the right, Bedoya on the left and Kljestan behind Altidore. Personally, I'd rather see Dempsey in that role so he can pick his spots. US will need to exploit the wings, while Dempsey and Altidore are patrolling the middle to keep the three centerbacks occupied. Lichaj and Cherundolo were terrific last match, but will have a lot to do with keeping the speedy Dane Richards covered. Am also thrilled to see no chance of Wondolowski fucking up in this match.
Kick-off approaches at RFK in Washington DC. 85 degrees and cloudly at kick off. The refs are an all-Mexican crew, including the same guy who called the US v. Panama match. Being a US fan, its very hard to trust a Mexican ref in this competition as the US is the only team that has a shot against the Mexicans. Univision going with a slow-mo close-up of an odd pregrame activity from Tim Howard. He went behind the goal and tore up a divit, then rubbed the dirt and grass on his gloves. Never noticed him doing that before.
2 - First attacking chance for the US as Altidore takes a long throw at the top of the six. Forced to go away from goal, but Jamaica concedes a corner. Kljestan to take with Donovan out. Nodded down by Bradley short of the goal, then played back to Bedoya, who sends a shot over the goal. 4 - SEEEEEEE LAAAAAAAAAAAAAA PERDIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO - Dane Richards goes down the right wing, then cuts it, finding an open player who sends the ball right at Tim Howard, who can only get a foot on it. Shot by a second player goes over the goal for a goal kick. Shelton with the sitter, channelled his inner Wondolowski.
6 - USA with the ball in their attacking third. They'll have a lot of chance to keep possession, but need to watchout for the counter attack. Jamaica is fast, especially Dane Richards who is probably MLS' fastest player. 6 - Questionable reffing there. Probably a foul by Jermaine Jones to gain possession, but then they call Kljestan for a foul when it appeared that he was hacked. Jones appears to have been hobbled a bit in his efforts. US will need him at full strength to keep Jamaica under control in the midfield. 9 - Altidore seems to be gimping around a bit as well and just motioned to the sidelines for a change. This is not good. Dempsey will need to up his workrate a lot, which is not something he's known for in his US career. Altidore is down, holding his hamstring looking like this is serious. He was walking around, but just grabbed a seat a minute ago. Agudelo is back in his supersub role, but it might be a bit early for a supersub with 81 minutes to be played. 11 - Agudelo will enter for Altidore.
12 - Agudelo is in for Altidore now. First touch is good. Bringing some early energy to the match. 13 - Agudelo with some moves on the left wing, sends the ball back to midfield. A cross goes to Bedoya who nods it back for an on=coming Dempsey, who's sliding effort forces a good save from Rickets. 14 - US earns a corner after the ball goes back and forth across the six without a shot on goal. Corner cleared easily, but US gets possession back. Dempsey goes for a volley, but catches a Jamaican defender in the chest. He pulled back when he saw that coming so no injury. US has had the better of possession and attacking chances thus far today, but the best chance was Shelton's sitter.
16 - Kljestan nodds it down to Dempsey, but gets hit by Austin in the process. Ref blowed the play dead and gave Austin a yellow card. 17 - Jones lines-up the free kick, looking for a target in the box, but its cleared by the Jamaicans. 17 - Close-up of Altidore sitting on the bench shirtless and displeased. Might not be too serious if he's watching the match from the bench, but we'll see. 18 - Free kick "earned" by Shelton. Austin takes it from about 30 meters, but sends it high and well wide. Howard made no effort as it went across the goal. 19 - US is definitely playing a 4-4-2 with Bedoya and Kljestan on the wings and Dempsey and Agudelo paired up front. 20 - Jones appears to be feeling no ill-effects from the earlier knock he took 21 - Lichaj takes the ball down to the touchline on the left wing, manages to get space for a cross between three defenders. Cross is cleared back to a US player, but the volley return goes well over the goal.
22 - Bedoya takes the ball at Shavar Thomas in the box. Lots of contact, but no foul called. Thomas wins the ball and clears it away. Shelton and Cherundolo compete for the ball around midfield. Foul called on Shelton and Cherundolo is down clutching his arm. Looks like he may have hit hard. Bad sign for the US who would probably be forced to bring Bornstein in and move Lichaj to the right as Bocanegra doesn't have nearly the speed needed to keep up at left back for this match.
25 - No worries as Cherundolo is back in for the US. Bornstein was warming up though, which is always a concern. 27 - Jones gives up possession to Austin in midfield, then just blatantly trips him. Jones earns the yellow. Looks like he is complaining about catching an elbow in the jaw though. Replay shows it may have been a headbutt as Austin contested for possession. Jamaica isn't giving Jones any space to operate, but they aren't applying the same pressure on Bradley, who may be the bigger threat offensively.
29 - Speculative cross from Cherundolo finds Reid in the Jamaican defense, ball pings around between Reid, Agudelo and Dempsey before going out off Dempsey. Dempsey made a weak case for a corner, but refs got this one right. 30 - Austin lucky to not pick up a second yellow after going in late and from behind on Dempsey. No call and Rickets gets possession. 30 - Jaimaca with the ball inside the 18. Shelton appears to fall over the ball after getting a pass from Ryan Johnson. Shelton was looking to dribble into the middle when he probably should have looked for a shot. US clears and counters. Now maintaining possession in their attacking third.
31 - Richards with a coutner attack, forcing Jones to sprint across midfield to clear for a throw-in. Jones has been all over the pitch today, but we haven't seen much from Bradley yet. I hope to see him take advantage of the space he's getting to send in some shots from deep. 33 - Jamaica has been very physical with Dempsey today. He just got taken down again without a call. Dempsey got back up and was able to retain possession. 36 - Dempsey with a free kick from about 25 to 30 out, forcing a save from Rickets. I'd love to see him taking free kicks regularly as Donovan has never been a threat in that role. 35 - Corner cleared by Jamaica, but US retains possession. US has looked much better and more confident with the ball today as opposed to their last few games. Jamaica has been giving them a lot of space. 37 - Jones with a galloping run into the 18, but loses possession to Reid. Ball goes out for a US corner. Kljestan plays it to Bocanegra who snaps a header forward, but too strong for Agudelo to do anything good with it. Dempsey loses possession and the counter is on. 38 - Richards gets in behind the defense, but his run takes him away from goal. Goodson gets back to cover, but Richards gets space to send in a low shot, forcing a save from Howard.
39 - Kljestan with a shot from distance, nearly skips it over Rickets, but he makes the save and deflects it out for a US corner. 40 - Kljestan sends it long to Bocanegra who nods it on to Dempsey. Dempsey tries to chest it and launch into a bicycle kick, but his effort goes well over the goal. Good idea from Dempsey who seems to be a lot sharper today than he has been thus far in the Gold Cup. 41 - Kljestan dribbles down the right side of the 18, sends a cross into the penalty spot. Bedoya pops up there, but his header goes wide to Rickets' right. I like what I've seen from the attacking four for the US. Agudelo, Bedoya, and Kljestan have been all over the pitch, while Dempsey has been the target in the middle. 42 - Agudelo dribbles around two defenders and rockets a shot at the far corner forcing Rickets to save. The rebound goes to Jones at a tight angle. Jones manages to kick it off his own knee and out for a goal kick. I probably would have done that myself.
44 - Bradley with a terrific pass onto a streaking Lichaj. Lichaj was open and in and Rickets. Lichaj tries to place the ball around Rickets, but Rickets is able to stretch out and catch the ball. Rickets needed all of his 6'5" frame for that one. Rickets probably man of the match thus far with the saves he has made in the last 20 minutes. Terrific goal keeping for Jamaica. 45 - Fourth official puts up 2 minutes of stoppage time.
45+ - Interesting officiating here as Reid slams into Agudelo while contesting for a header. Agudelo has the possession, but Reid went through him to win it and the ref calls advantage for the US, rather than give the free kick from about 22 meters. 45+ - Rickets with a long goal kick to Richards, but he gets cut off and has to play it back. Richards has looked dangerous for Jamaica, but he appears to be the only attacker who is capable of hurting the US today. And that's the half.
The US has looked good thus far, looking more like the team that is expected to dominate until they face Mexico. Jamaica is still dangerous on the counter, but Lichaj and Cherundolo are doing well to keep Dane Richards in control. Luton Shelton has been getting some space in the middle, but hasn't been able to do anything with it. Bocanegra and Goodson will have to keep tabs on Shelton or they will get burned at some point as the guy is his nation's all-time leading scorer for a reason. In attack, Bedoya and Kljestan have been very strong on the wings, while also popping into the middle when Agudelo drifts out wide. Dempsey has been dangerous today and looks good for a goal before the match ends. I'm hoping to see Jones and Bradley get in to the attack more in the second half as they've each ahd their moments, but haven't been consistently involved in the attacking third. I don't mind it though as they are bossing the midfield as Jamaica has had no possession what so ever in the middle of the park. However, I should note that Bradley was the guy who kept Richards onside on the Jamaica chance in the fourth minute. Luckily for him, Shelton sent it well over the goal.
Second half starts. US outshot the Jamaicans 9-5 and forced five saves. They also won six corners to the zero for the US. No subs for the US. Resulting the lingering question of when do we see Donovan.
46 - Ryan Johnson appears to have missed the opening whistle for the second half and just entered the match from the sideline. Not sure what happened there. 48 - Interesting foul call against Richards as he went shoulder to shoulder with Bocanegra. Boca won the collision and sent the ball out for a throw. Sideline official called the foul on Richards who was probably more confused than me. 49 - Lichaj with the long throw to the penalty spot. Looks like Dempsey was up there alone, among five yellow shirts. Might have to take advantage of that throwing distance alter in the match. 49 - Cross by Lichaj is cleared back to Jermaine Jones who rockets a volley off a Jamaican defender and in for a goal. Goal Jones makes it 1-0 to the US Jones scores his first for the United States, then celebrates the goal with a salute to his father, a US serviceman who was stationed in Germany.
52 - Jones takes a bit of a forearm shiver to the nose from Ryan Johnson and stays down for a bit holding his face. He may have played up the contact a bit, but there was a definite forearm to the nose by Johnson. 55 - Shelton struggles continue as he has the ball inside the 18 and takes down Clarence Goodson. Fair defending by Goodson, but Shelton keeps popping up in dangerous spots. The US still needs to get a better hold on him. 55 - Kljestan and Bedoya combine to get the ball into the 18, but the last pass sends Kljestan wide. He sends it back across the top of the 18 to Bradley who tries a volley right into two Jamaican defenders who clear it out. Counter attack by Jamaica goes harmlessly back. 57 - Jamaica seems to have stepped up the defensive pressure all over the pitch in the second half. Jones was always closely marked in the first half, but that was really it. A lot more pressing and closing down by the Jamaicans here thus far. 60 - Official word is in on Altidore, and its a strained left hamstring. Don't know what that will mean if the US can keep this result and move forward in the competition.
61 - Bedoya keeps possession while getting hastled by two defenders, sends it back to Cherundolo. Brilliant cross finds a rushing Dempsey, but Rickets gets across for the save. Another brilliant save by Rickets off another strong shot from Dempsey. A lesser keeper would be looking at the wrong side of a 3 or 4 goal defecit, but Rickets his keeping his team in it.
62 - Agudelo with some fancy footwork to keep it in on the right wing. Looked like it went out and I think the US thought it did go out as no one went into attack with him. 63 - Crowd is starting to get crazy, getting ready for the next match. Lots of El Salvador fans getting crazy in DC. 64 - JeVaughn Watson on for Eric Vernan. Didn't even notice Vernan thus far in the match. Watson slides into midfield with Austin. Donovan is up on the bench for the US and will be looking to enter shortly. 65 - Donovan enters for Bedoya. Bedoya was terrific today, hopefully the addition of Donovan doesn't change the style of play. Donovan needs to play as the rest of the attack four have been with everyone switching positions and popping up all over the top third.
67 - First action for Donovan is a foul on Watson. Probably not the start anyone would have hoped for after replacing a dangerous player. 68 - RED CARD - Jermaine Taylor "takes down" Jermaine Jones who was streaking down the pitch on the counter attack. Jones took a huge dive, but Taylor doesn't argue as his tackle was from behind and with the clear intent of ending the counter. Jones would have been in free on goal. Taylor was also the guy who Jones' goal took a deflection off of. 68 - Free kick for Kljestan bounces harmlessly wide. 69 - Jamaica down to 10 men, made a sub. Missed who came off, but Keammar Dailey has entered. He's another midfielder, so I'm really not sure who Jamaica has in the back. I'm guessing Austin shifted back. 71 - Off-side called on the US. It was a good call as Agudelo was off and in on Rickets all alone. Rickets charged out before the call and made another terrific save, but this one doesn't count. 72 - It was Jason Morrison who exited the match. Still not sure what the formation is for the Jamaicans.
