US Soccer Victorious Over Slovenia: Minute By Minute

PRE-GAME:

-Looks like Jurgen listened to me and changed the starting lineup to a 4-4-2 with Altidore and Buddle up top. Hopefully the change will provide more freedom for Deuce to go forward.

-Bocanegra with 100 caps for the red, white, and blue. Carlos has shown stability and leadership in the US backfield and has solidified himself as one of the best defenders in our nation’s history.

-Alexi Lalas is always on point, his brutally honest opinion is correct. It’s time to see some offense.

-Do the results matter?

-Watching highlights of June 18th 2010…all I have is chills![youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXbgfW4b3Tw&w=560&h=315]

-Its eerie day for football, the fog is inside the stadium giving it almost a magical feel as though the teams are playing in the heavens…okay a bit dramatic.

1ST HALF

1st Minute – With in 50 seconds in the game the team is pushing the pace with an awesome strike from Fabian Johnson that just misses the above the cross bar.

3rd- US gets another chance as Michael Bradley feeds a nice ball to Buddle who misses high.

It’s hard to see anybody in the fog during the wide camera shot; even the commentators Ian Darke and John Harkes are complaining.

5th- You can already see the freedom Dempsey has with the ball in the middle, the more he touches the ball the better for the Yanks.

9th- Buddle secures a take away then shoots off the dribble for a brilliant strike off the post! GOAL!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVg0MVDvhe8&w=560&h=315]

10th- Johnson gets to the edge and Jozy misses a cross high!

12th- The jury is still on Goodson, who seems to continue to make poor choices when he has possession of the ball.

13th- Chandler aerial lead passes to Jozy are much better today them compared to the France match.

16th- Wouldn’t it be something if Bocanegra could get a goal in his 100th cap?

Good thing howard is wearing safety orange in this mist!

18th- I don’t know how Howard can see those balls coming in (this is your opportunity for one free joke).

19th- The Slovenia fans naively cheer a would be goal due to the lack of visibility.

21st- Looks like the refs are using their flags today…another offsides.

27th- Slovenia had been sneaking past in the middle and finally beats the US for a goal. Possible miss on the offsides call.

27th- All of a sudden our defense is in complete shambles compared to the France game.

28th- “You’ve got to find that balance”-Jon Hark

30th- “In England we would call these a pea-souper” – Ian Darke describes the overwhelming fog/mist. It looks like something out of a Star Trek episode, in other news happy belated 80th birthday Leonard Nimoy.

33rd- The reason the stadium is part empty is that the Slovenia fans are having an “Occupy Slovenia FA” for cheaper ticket prices.

36th- Steve Cherundolo with a great cross to an unmarked Dempsey who misses wide.

38th- How about Jermaine Jones for Beckerman please?

41st- GOAL! Demps finally gets his header on mark and moves to number four on the US all time scoring list. Bradley with the excellent cross.[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud11erbzf2k&w=560&h=315]

42nd-  Buddle with a tight pass to Johnson in the box who gets tripped up for the penalty kick.

43rd- Jozy with the set up…solid finish! GOAL!

 

44th- “The US is in a dreamland in the eerie mist”- Ian Darke

HALFTIME

“2 Goals in 9 hours…three in 45 minutes”- Ian Darke

2ND HALF

45th- Will the US sit back in a shell in the second half? Or let the floodgates open?

46th- Another mistake from Goodson.

48th- Tim Matavz almost tears through the entire defense, luckily the skipper saves the day on his special day.

50th- Chances back and forth for both sides.

53rd- Johnson is a sneaky litter bugger!

54th- Cherundolo moves up towards the box and crosses to Dempsey whose shot is blocked by a hand–no call.

56th “He’s off the christmas party list” says Ian Darke after aggressive push from a Slovenia player.

59th- It’s a post party for Slovenia!

62nd- After tons of chances, Slovenia gets a breakthrough from Matavz.

62nd- Brek Shea comes in for Fabian Johnson who had a brilliant game and could be a offensive key figure in the US squad. Good first impression from the German-American.

64th- Beckerman shows his brilliance once again with a wide pass past Bradley out of bounds.

76th- Slovenia with another hard challenge, this time on Timmy Chandler…yet the cards stay in the pocket.

78th- Maurice Edu in for Buddle; I thought Edson was going to get a shot  at starting today and he proved his worth with a brilliant game, probably his best performance for the red white and blue.

82nd- Danny Williams in for Chandler; Timmy pushed the pace all game, but it made the defense vulnerable in the back. He needs to learn how to balance offensive push and defensive space for the future, but overall, another impressive day.

90th- Jermaine Jones in for Kyle Beckerman; unfortunately the game is almost over.

90th+4- Robbie Rogers in for Michael Bradley who showed why he needs to be starting for the United States. His creativity, hustle, experience, and poise is key to good results for this team.

Howard tested late by a Slovenia free kick, but the Yanks hold on 3-2 for a solid performance and a change to a more offensive minded game.

FINAL: UNITED STATES 3 SLOVENIA 2