June 22 - Gold Cup Semifinal(s) - USA v. Panama; Mexico v. Honduras

Discussion in 'Americas' started by agoo, Jun 22, 2011.

  1. agoo

    agoo Member

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    Enjoy! I'll be talking to myself for four hours tonight, feel free to interrupt.

    USA Starting Line-up for tonight:

    -----------------------Agudelo------------------------

    Bedoya-----------Kljestan-----------Dempsey

    -------------Bradley--------Jones-------------------

    Lichaj--Bocanegra---Goodson---Cherundolo

    ----------------------Howard--------------------------

    Yup...no Donovan, he's on the bench with Hahnemann, Edu, Wondolowski, Bornstein, Ream, and Adu.

    For Panama:

    ----------------Tejada---Quintero-------------------

    Barahona---Gomez----Cooper----Henriquez

    Machado---Baloy------Torres------Henriquez

    --------------------Penedo---------------------------

    Panama is without Blas Perez, arguably their top player, but they still have all-time top scorer Luis Tejada.

    Match starts at 7 pm EST.
     
  2. agoo

    agoo Member

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    Obviously no Donovan for the Semi-Final is a shocker, but it makes sense given how the US played without him against Jamaica. Everything seemed to open up and the players looked more confident. I think its because they didn't feel this need to play through Donovan all the time and force the ball to his feet. Altidore's injury was probably a contributing factor as the punt the ball long to the big guy strategy doesn't work with Agudelo or Dempsey as the target.

    As announced today, Altidore is out for the tournament.

    Also, if Jermaine Jones picks up a yellow today, he's out for the final assuming the US make it.

    Pregame almost over. The stadium is sold out, but there appear to be many, many Mexico fans tailgaiting through the first match. I'd anticipate seeing (and hearing) them for the second half when the crowd will be a pro-Panama sea of green.
     
  3. agoo

    agoo Member

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    3 - Agudelo earns a corner, Kljestan moves over to take it. Corner falls between Bradley and Bocanegra and Panama goes into the counter, but the US gets back to shut it out comfortably.

    5 - Eric Lichaj goes on a quick and powerful run forward with a Panamanian defender draped all over his back. Its been a great tournament for him thus far and I read a rumor today that AS Roma came calling as the new American ownership group seeks American players and Aston Villa decided to hold on to him. Its looking like the US left back issues are solved for years to come.
     
  4. agoo

    agoo Member

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    8 - US is closing down and defending aggressively all over the field. Agudelo just chased down the opposing keeper and forced him to kick it straight out for a throw in the attacking third.

    10 - Jermaine Jones called for a foul climbing over a midfielder for a header. He needs to be aggressive, but he needs to be smarter than that or we'll miss the final.

    11 - First shot, Armando Cooper with a dribbling effort from some distance. Tim Howard watched it go well wide.
     
  5. agoo

    agoo Member

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    14 - I never remember the name of the Univision comentator, but he looooooooves him some Eric Leeehigh.

    15 - Panama's backline has been strong, but they're taking a lot of pressure and the US has had a lot of possession on their half of the pitch over the first 15. Could be a very long night for them if Panama can't start to put some possession together.

    16 - Nearly a goal as Dempsey nodded the ball back across the goal looking for Juan Agudelo. Penedo came out to get the cross. Great effort by Kljestan to retain possesion and found Bedoya who sent a cross for Dempsey.

    18 - Armando Cooper with a running leap into Bedoya's back, making no effort to contest a header gets him a yellow. Cooper also appeared to take the worst of the blow. Free kick taken low and hard into the 18, but it was cleared out by Panama. Kljestan is superior to Donovan on the set pieces.

    19 - Panama seems to be switching the usual kick the shit out of Clint defensive strategy to a kick the shit out of Bedoya strategy.

    20 - Throw-ins in the attacking third are looking dangerous for both sides. I didn't catch who is launching them for Panama, but Lichaj is throwing them just past the penalty spot. We haven't seen much if any possession for Panama since that poor shot by Cooper.
     
  6. agoo

    agoo Member

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    23 - Clint Dempsey with the first shot for the US. His shot curled far away from the goal and Dempsey felt the need to apologize for the effort.

    24 - A little bit of possession for Panama, but Bradley gets back into the 18 to take the ball away and start a counter. Counter fizzles with a poor pass from Agudelo to Kljestan around midfield.

    25 - Agudelo hits the post! Cherundolo with a brilliant cross and Agudelo with a diving header. Header hits the ground and bounces up into the post and back out. Follow-up effort from Bedoya was cleared infront of the six by a defender.
     
  7. agoo

    agoo Member

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    27 - Tim Howard and Luis Tejada are getting into it. Barahona was squashed by a couple of US defenders at the top of the 18. Howard picked up the loose ball and was looking up to start the counter, while Tejada was looking t get him to throw it out. Howard throws a bit of a forearm at Tejada, who was also trying to stop Howard's progress forward. Business might be picking up here as they say. Bocanegra was playing peace maker, while Bradley came in to converse with Tejada.

    29 - Bedoya sends himself flying into Cooper, looking for a bit of revenge from an earlier challenge. Bedoya got a foot up and in on Cooper's thigh. Bedoya takes down Barahona a minute later. He needs to get himself under control as he gave up a free kick that was sent into the box on that one.

    31 - US looking dangerous again. Cherundolo with a long pass forward finds Bedoya down the right flank, but his cross was cleared. Kljestan tried to keep it in, but gave up possession quickly. Of course, the US took it back quickly and Dempsey drew a foul.

    32 - US free kick finds Goodson who wins the header, but was called for a foul. Header went to Dempsey and it looked like Roman Torres tried to kick him in the hamstring. Didn't look like much of a foul to this US fan.
     
  8. agoo

    agoo Member

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    34 - Close-up of Donovan on the bench and that guy looks pissed. He'll get into this match and Panama will not be happy about it.

    35 - US should have earned a corner after the ball pinged around the box before landing at Jones' foot. A rocket from Jones appeared to deflect off a defender and out, but the ref gave up a goal kick.

    36 - Yellow card to right back Luis Henriquez. The replay looked like Bedoya threw himself into Henriquez, then went down. Bad call, and Bedoya needs to get it together.

    37 - US attack is just a bit off with the final pass tonight. Lots of overlapping runs just now, but the header down to Dempsey running down the middle of the 18 was about a foot behind him.

    39 - Jones is way up in the attack right now. He and Bradley had their rocky moments early, but it seems like they're really starting to read each other well over the last 130 minutes of play. Both are switching between the holding and attacking roles, but are covering for each other as well. This is good news for the US.
     
  9. agoo

    agoo Member

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    45 - Clarence Goodson with a foul on the edge of the area to Howard's right. Dangerous opportunity on a free kick for Barahona and Panama.

    45+ - Barahona decides to try to go for goal himself for some reason from this angle. Ball goes over goal, but would have been right at Howard if it didn't.

    And there's the half. US has dominated possession, but just can't connect near the box. Kljestan hasn't been as on it today as he was against Jamaica. Jones has been good, but not as dominant as he was against Jamaica where he put in one of the best US midfield performances I've probably ever seen. Bradley has been a destroyer in defense though, crushing lots of attacks for Panama. Cherundolo and Lichaj have been strong on the wings, which has slowed the Panama counter as their wingers are defending as much as anyone else on the pitch.

    In the second half, I think we'll see a whole lot of Donovan. If his look on the bench was any indicator, he's ready to take this one over in the second half.
     
  10. agoo

    agoo Member

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    HT - The sideline reporter is pointing out some sort of issue in the grass. I don't speak Spanish, so I don't know what his point is, but it looks like there are seams in the grass.

    HT - Donovan enters for Kljestan...its going to get good now.

    48 - Panama with good possession in the attacking third early. US starting slow in the second. Jones tries to clear from the top of the 18 and it goes sideways off his head and out for a throw. Machado throws it to the spot like he was taking a corner kick.

    50 - The kick the shit out of Dempsey defense appears to be on now. He was cleared out on a header, then appeared to be tripped seconds after getting back up.

    51 - Dempsey draws a foul about 25 meters from goal, right in the middle. Alcimar Henriquez (right mid) appears to be hobbled after tripping Dempsey.

    52 - Donovan to take the kick, cleared comfortably by Panama.

    53 - Donovan and Jones are down holding ankles after separate collisions. Donovan got up while Panama was off to the races. Jones stayed down longer, but is up now. Panama getting very physical to start the second half. I'm just hoping that Dempsey, Jones and Bedoya hold it together and avoid retaliating.
     
  11. agoo

    agoo Member

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    54 - Crowd is getting loud now. Looks like a packed house finally. Doesn't sound like they're for either side. Lots of Mexicans probably rooting for Panama for an easier final, lots of Mexicans rooting for the US so Mexico can beat them. Nice wave going around for a couple minutes.

    56 - Jones can fly. I didn't realize how fast he was. Now that he and Bradley are giving each other space, he's really been opening it up and sprinting into the attack.

    57 - Dempsey seems to be in the center behind the forward, while Bedoya is holding down the right. Donovan is the primary option on the left, but is switching with Agudelo to go up front. Dempsey and Bedoya could be doing the same, but the ball hasn't gone right enough for me to notice since Donovan joined the match.
     
  12. OSUBlazerfan

    OSUBlazerfan Writing Team

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    This game sucks
     
  13. agoo

    agoo Member

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    58 - Lichaj can get going too. Runs right past both Henriquezes and sends in a cross. Cross was just a bit off though as Agudelo, Dempsey and Bedoya all couldn't get on it and it went out for a throw. Bedoya had the best chance as it was curving into him.

    61 - Bocanegra gets just a touch on a cross to get it over Quintero's foot. Quintero was looking to get that one on goal from about 10 yards out. Great lunging clearance for Bocanegra. He might be a step slower than I'd like, but he reads the game well. He and Goodson are a solid pair since Onyewu hasn't really recovered from the knee injury.

    64 - Panama have stepped up the defensive pressure. US is looking for the pass forward but can't find it this half. Much better effort from the midfield and forwards in the second half.

    66 - Freddy Adu enters the match for Juan Agudelo. Very interesting sub. Agudelo has been less of a factor since the second half started after being all over the pitch in the first half. It might be a result of less attack from the US, but he might also be gassed.

    67 - US wins a corner after a Jones shot deflects out. Adu takes it, but Panama clears it out for a throw. Lichaj will take it, looking to treat it like another corner. Panama defends, but can't get the ball out of their zone.

    68 - Lichaj with another long throw, looking for Goodson, but it was cleared. Carlos Bocanegra gets a yellow after Quintero goes flying. Reply shows minimal contact and Quintero looking for a foul.
     
  14. agoo

    agoo Member

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    OSU, this second half has sucked. First half was good stuff from the US. Panama has really picked it up.
     
  15. OSUBlazerfan

    OSUBlazerfan Writing Team

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    Ah...yea, i have been watching since half
     
  16. agoo

    agoo Member

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    70 - Clarence Goodson with a clearance after a cross goes begging. Adu launches into the counter. Seemed to get a bit ahead of himself, might be too excited for his own good right now.

    72 - Tim Howard with a save off a Cooper shot. Just barely got a finger on it. Looks like it may have gone over. Panama may be getting the better of the second half today.

    73 - Corner for Panama. Lots of joslting before the corner is taken and Gabriel Gomez gets a yellow for something. Corner is cleared easily, but a foul was called against Panama anyway.

    74 - Panama stringing passes together now, but Barahona's final effort was absurdly bad.
     
  17. agoo

    agoo Member

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    75 - US can't buy possession right now and Bob Bradley is looking restless on the bench. We haven't seen the impact I would have liked from Donovan.

    76 - Attacking throw results in a corner for Panama. Barahona takes it, and Howard punches it out.

    77 - Freddy Adu sprays a phenominal pass out right to hit Donovan perfectly. Donovan's cross is equally brilliant and hits Dempsey right on the back post and Dempsey finishes. GOAL USA - Dempsey makes it 1-0!!!
     
  18. agoo

    agoo Member

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    Happy now OSU?
     
  19. agoo

    agoo Member

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    78 - I'm equally excited for the US in the final as I am for the return of the Adu fanboys. The Bradley (Bob and Mike) haters were getting stale and its time for the Adu suckers to make a come back.

    79 - Its been a while since I mentioned Roman Torres, but I believe his idol is the recent incarnation of Brazil's preferred Ronaldo.
     
  20. agoo

    agoo Member

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    81 - Panama crying for a penalty. Tejada was tugging at Cherundolo after 'dolo got position on the ball and was looking to clear it out. Tejada goes down, Cherundolo clears, then turns around to inform Tejada of what he could do to himself while he's down there, if you catch my drift.

    82 - Panama is pressing now, getting lots of folks forward. There must be space opening up back there for the US to exploit if they can get a chance.

    84 - Dempsey gets hacked down from behind and called for a foul somehow. Counter for Panama results in Amilcar Henriquez taking a shot from distance. Howard made a comfortable diving save.

    85 - Jermaine Jones just made himself a one man counter. After winning possession, he goes into that extra gear he has and splits two defenders before Panama can get the ball away from him and give up a throw.

    86 - Two subs for Panama. Gomez and Barahona out. Godoy and Torres in. Barahona has been terrible tonight and should have been out earlier.

    87 - Adu to Bradley and Bradley gets in the attacking spirit. Returns the ball to Adu who reaches the end line and turns it back to Bradley whose shot left something to be desired and was easily cleared. Adu has been terrific tonight.

    88 - Dempsey forces a turnover in midfield, but the US can't get the last touch together in the counter. Panama is going all-in for a goal, but may give up a second if they're not careful.
     

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