46th - Tons of subs at the half. Pearce at left back, Rogers at left mid. Kljestan in the middle. Ching and Gomez up front. Not sure about Czech subs, but I'm sure they did some. Haven't heard of many of these guys anyway. Buddle, Johnson, Torres, Bornstein, Beasley out. I think Beasley has played his way in and Rogers is just getting a run to thank him for coming.
49th - Good play between Holden and Cherundolo. Holden sent it back for a streaking Cherundolo who was looking for Ching making a run. A diving defender was all that prevented a goal.
55th - Czechs put one in the back of the net, but it was offside. I'm lacking in the PBP department as I am attempting to pack my apartment so I can move to the Philadelphia area tomorrow.
58th - CZECH REPUBLIC GOAL - Jan Polak sneaks directly in front of Heath Pearce who apparently forgot that he was actually playing defense. Perfect cross and Polak puts it in the net on his first touch.
63rd - I like hearing British guys say Jose. Alejandro Bedoya is up and ready to get in. Nice build-up twice as Ching starts a series of passes that lead to a strong shot from Holden, but blocked by a defender. More build-up as Ching gets one going away from goal and back-heels Gomez into space. He rockets one that Cech smothers. Full body save there.
Gomez in MLS. Gomez for the US MNT. 65th - USA GOAL - Goodson heads a corner across to a wide open Gomez who nods it right in. Figured I'd sneak that in for the visual learners. Bedoya comes in during the celebration for Onyewu. Holden moves in centrally and Edu moves back into central defense. Just in time for the Czechs to put in the large Tomas Necid. Goodson will have his hands full as Edu doesn't have the size to match.
74th - US is playing with some fire of late. I've decided I'm bringing dirty laundry with me to Philly, so no need to worry about packing right now. And as I type that the US is playing with fire and getting possession, a Czech midfielder goes down easy as Edu approaches to greet him. Leads to a cross in, which Gomez clears and a brilliant touch from Rogers sends Gomez out with just a defender to beat. He didn't quite beat him as he was struggling to carry a propane tank.
78th - CZECH REPUBLIC GOAL - Simple cross isn't cleared. First save isn't cleared. Blocked shot isn't cleared. Unmarked Fenin sends it off the cross bar from close range. Necin was getting all of the attention and Fenin was ignored and left open.
79th - Fenin celebrates the goal and then walks off for a sub. Goal was set up as Pearce went diving into a tackle on Polak, who made a simple touch around him. I think he forgot that he wasn't playing against MLS competition. Goodson bundled over the ball and let it dribble in behind him to Necin who had his shot saved, and the rebound blocked. That set up Fenin.
84th - Holden gets fouled near the sideline. He sends in the following free kick, but its much too high and Cech gets under it easily. The US have a number of attacking players out there, but no one is really getting possession in the middle of the pitch. Kljestan seems to have disappeared completely, as is typical since he scored that random hattrick two years back against Sweden.
89th - Still not a great deal going on for the US. I'm not sure if Kljestan is on the pitch any more. I'm pretty sure he is, but he hasn't done a damn thing. Oooh...as I say that, he runs down Tomas Necin. Czechs are making a couple more switches. Jan Polak among those off. 90th - Three minutes of time added. Also, Holden gets low bridged and called for a foul as he slams to the ground. Interesting officiating that was there.
90th+2 - The actual US National Team is strolling down to the bench area as Necin sneaks in behind Edu and slots one home. GOAL CZECH REPUBLIC. Edu...not really a central defender shows why he's in midfield. I think we'll see Bocanegra eating-up attacking players against the Turks, rather than chicken wings.
Game over. Result wasn't really important, while the performances were key. Onyewu left a big question mark at his failure to get up in the air on the 2nd goal for the Czechs. Beasley made the team today, while Bedoya looks to be bounced out. Gomez is the super sub, while Ching showed that he's still got the occasional flash to go with his usual strong, hold-up play. Based on tonight, here's my prediction of the 23 Bradley names tomorrow: GK - Howard, Hahnemann, Guzan DF - Cherundolo, Onyewu, DeMerit, Bocanegra, Goodson, Spector, Bornstein, Pearce MF - Donovan, Bradley, Edu, Holden, Torres, Feilhaber, Beasley, Clark FW - Altidore, Dempsey, Ching, Gomez
that free kick never should have been given. definitely a phantom foul(as was one of the earlier free kicks given to the czechs in a dangerous position).
i'm not sure what you saw in beasley. he was ok but really wasn't ever dangerous. i think rogers was better than him tonight(and normally rogers is completely worthless). onyewu's play was worrisome. he really wasn't that great. i'm thinking we might see boca/demerit in the middle if he doesn't pick it up in the next two games. bornstein was bad, pearce was worse. i think pearce gets left at home, especially if you think boca is going to be playing on the left. i didn't like cherundolo defending at all. he was pretty weak back there. i think spector gets the starting job. gomez scored but i think after the performances tonight both ching and buddle should be ahead of him. i'd only bring altidore, ching, and buddle to south africa with altidore/ching starting up top. i'd go with the same 23 as you except i'd have buddle over gomez and bedoya there instead of pearce.
USA didnt show up against a mediocre opponent.... typical I know its just a friendly, but they do mean something
i wouldn't say they didn't show up(unless you're talking about donovan, dempsey, altidore, bradley, howard, bocanegra, demerit, and feilhaber all not being available). the US was the better team to start and took the lead. then the czechs took over control a bit and scored(though i would have rather it been on a legitimate chance rather than a free kick given to them by a bad call). then the czech republic was the better team to start the 2nd and they took the lead but the US came back and played really well for stretch equalizing and pushing for a winner before they made a mistake clearing an easy cross in the back that gave away another goal. the 4th goal for the czechs was basically meaningless and a result of the US pushing guys up trying to get the game tied again. so yeah, i'm not seeing the "didn't show up" thing. they played well for stretches, play poorly at times, and lost the game but they showed up.
even though i didn't think cherundolo was very good tonight, with how terrible bornstein and pearce were, i'm hoping cherundolo and spector start at the outside back spots the remaining two games to see how that works out.
We should consider for a moment that the only regular starter out there for the US hadn't played a match in seven months. Our starting forwards have gone over a year and seven years without caps. Holden has played once since getting hurt against the Dutch. When we face England, Onyewu is the only guy who is a lock to start who started tonight. Holden and Edu have strong shots, but Onyewu is the only lock.
