The most recent round of 2014 World Cup qualification matches was dubbed a sort of make-or-break affair for the United States Men’s National Team.  Having lost their first match away to Honduras, any further slip-ups could have meant that America would be in grave danger of missing out on the next World Cup, which would have been the first American absence since 1986.  Such an occurrence would be tragic for American soccer, but fortunately the team played fantastic in their two matches against Costa Rica and Mexico, and found a blessed piece of good fortune that earned the team a valuable 4 points of a possible 6.

The Costa Rica game was massive.  With a blizzard raging, the weather meant that the teams would be equally balanced and anyone could favor from a lucky bounce or slippery mistake on the frozen field in Denver, Colorado.  Fortunately, the break fell to America in just the 15^th minute as a deflected Jozy Altidore shot fell right into the path of Clint Dempsey, who pounced upon the opportunity and gave America the lead.

Naturally, the Costa Rica officials have cried foul to FIFA, but the result will stand nevertheless.  And although I predicted that these matches would be goal-fests, this lone goal was actually the single goal scored in both matches!  The American defense was able to set up shop and withhold any legitimate chances from Costa Rica.  It was a terribly strange match because of the snowy conditions, and in many respects cannot show us much about how America would play in sweltering Brazil, but a tough 3 points earned is a success for me!

The second match was billed as the big test.  Playing in Mexico’s sacred Azteca Stadium has been a nightmare for past American soccer players in World Cup qualifiers, and became even a tougher task when one considered the defensive lineup of Brad Guzan in goal, DeMarcus Beasley at left back, and center back Matt Besler making just his second ever international appearance.

Both Beasley and Besler were struggling early and picked up yellow cards in the match’s early goings.  Mexico was eating up our defenders and creating many chances, but for some reason they simply couldn’t score.  An American defender would always help break up the play at the pivotal moment, or shots would go high and wide.

Mexico had two fairly clear shouts for a penalty kick, but even the referee wouldn’t help them find the goal as he waved the claims away.  In the end, Mexico was never able to find a breakthrough, and the Americans were able to hold down the fort for the duration of the game.  One of the broadcasters even described it as the “Defending of the Alamo” as Mexico lined up for another one of their 15 corner kick attempts on the night as time winded down.  The point earned was just the second ever at Azteca for America in their history of competitive matches.

And so America is now sitting rather comfortably in the CONCACAF group with 4 points from 3 matches.  Although only in 3^rd position, there are still 7 games to go to determine the final spots in the table, and one must be feeling quite good about the American hopes considering they have already travelled to two of the most challenging locations for qualifying and will have an abundance of home matches to close out the campaign.  A big step has been taken towards the World Cup in these most recent qualification matches for America!

Now is the time!  The American 2014 World Cup hopes are on thin ice due to the 2-1 loss in Honduras, and with a home match against Costa Rica on Friday and a rough trip to Mexico city on Tuesday, this team will surely need to find a result or else watch the panic button get mashed repeatedly surrounding America’s qualification hopes.

Additionally, with key components missing from the American roster due mostly to injuries, the ragtag group will need to come out firing on all cylinders, most importantly on offense.  Missing from the defensive makeup of the American soccer team are Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Cherundolo, Fabian Johnson, Timmy Chandler, Jonathan Spector, and most importantly, goalkeeper Tim Howard.

So what is this group to do, when the starting center backs in both games will be Omar Gonzales and Geoff Cameron?  America simply needs to out-score their opponents.  Goals will surely be conceded, especially in the away match in Mexico.  Will America have the firepower to compete in a shootout?

I think so.  Clint Dempsey has been named captain and is far and away the nation’s best player.  Michael Bradley is an imposing figure in the heart of the American midfield, and his forward venturing ways often result in goals and decent opportunities.  This is also a huge moment for Jozy Altidore.

Although the striker has had a phenomenal season in the Netherlands for AZ Alkmaar, breaking the record for goals scored in a European club season by an American, Altidore hasn’t scored a single goal for the red, white, and blue since 2011.  Coach Jurgen Klinsmann even dropped Altidore last fall for several games due to his poor national team performances.  America needs their top striker to step it up now more than ever.

Further making the task difficult is the omission of Landon Donovan, the face of American soccer for the last decade, who has taken an extended leave of absence from the game.  His playmaking impact will surely be missed, but other American forwards like Eddie Johnson, Terrence Boyd, and Herculez Gomez can produce some fireworks, and we must hope that they do.

So how does this set of games look to shape up for America?  I think that they can handle Costa Rica at home, and will emerge victorious 3-2.  The trip to Mexico will not be as fruitful, and although I do hope for an unexpected draw or improbable victory, I do fear that this test will be too tough and that America will lose 3-2.

Either way, the long list of absentees on the defensive side for America should result in some fun, high goal-scoring games.  And due to the fact that 4 of the 6 teams in the CONCACAF group will progress in qualification, America will probably be fine regardless of the outcome in these two games against some of the toughest opponents in the group.  However, if America stumbles in these two games and has 0 points from the first three matches, there will definitely be serious panicking that could even result in Klinsmann losing his job.  American soccer is on the brink of a serious challenge, and they must produce during these two key games.

Two games into the 2013 MLS season, and my champion-predicted New York Red Bulls have earned just a single measly point.  Although one can argue that starting a season with two cross-country trips isn’t ideal for any team, the way that the Red Bulls have lost these games is entirely unacceptable.  In both matches, the Red Bulls had started off well, and were leading deep into the games before end-of-game collapses and conceding late goals have cost them vital early season points.

It all started in Portland against the Timbers, where Mikael Silvestre, as predicted, had several blunderous moments to gift the Red Bulls a 3-1 halftime lead.  But in the second half New York fell asleep and the Timbers fought back to a draw.  An 83^rd minute own goal by Jamison Olave was painful and sour, but the Timbers clearly deserved this game and had several chances to win as time expired.

Then the Red Bulls travelled to the San Jose Earthquakes, which is no easy task given the fact that the Earthquakes were last season’s points champions, but once again they gave away a lead, this time in more painful fashion.  Leading 1-0, the defence was outdone by a brilliant Adam Jahn goal in the 84th minute, but the sucker punch came in stoppage time.  The Earthquakes were awarded a penalty, and Luis Robles actually saved Chris Wondolowski’s effort, but the Red Bulls were penalized for encroachment by Roy Miller and the kick was retaken.  Wondolowski converted and the whole episode was eerily similar to last season’s playoff game against D.C. United where the Red Bulls were denied a successful penalty kick for encroachment and later suffered a late-game concession of a goal to end their season.

So what can the New York Red Bulls do in this sad continuation of last year’s misery?  Well, Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill need to step it up.  Neither has scored or produced a single assist in the first two games.  For two English Premier League stars this is unacceptable.  Likewise, the team needs to focus, especially later in games.  Both matches saw them concede late in the match while they were absolutely dominated.  Clearly the pangs of last season still ring in the players’ hearts, and it will be a tough limp to shake, but someone like Henry needs to begin making plays for the Red Bulls or else they could quickly become the laughingstock of the entire MLS.

Life isn’t going to get any easier any time soon either for the Red Bulls, who will host D.C. United this weekend, but maybe they can avenge last season’s misfortune and put their late-game collapses to bed.  Then the Red Bulls hit the road again.  In fact, they have a miserable early season schedule that includes 5 away games in the first 7 matches.  Although it will even out as the season progresses, the Red Bulls are facing a very difficult task and are currently unable to answer for it.  Let this be a call to action for the New York Red Bulls.  Yes, last season hurt, and these first two games have done little to ease the pain, but if this team is to be taken for real in 2013 they need to start winning and competing late in games!

Premier League Week in Review (March 5^th-March 11^th)

While this was a weekend where some of the Premier League teams competed in the FA Cup, there were other teams whose focus was solely on the Premiership.

Liverpool vs Tottenham

Anfield played host to the Tottenham Hotspurs in what turned out to be an enthralling matchup in front of 45,000 supporters. A rare brace from Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen meant nothing in the end as Liverpool came from 2-1 down to win 3-2 thanks to two goals in the last half-hour of play.

Luis Suarez opened the scoring in the 21^st minute after some brilliant play on the left by Coutinho and Jose Enrique. Behind the back double pass between those two before Coutinho eventually slipped Enrique in (who got a bit lucky with his first touch) before the Spaniard played a sublime through ball to Suarez who tapped into the near post before the onrushing Tottenham goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris, could do anything about it. This goal now puts Suarez on 22 goals for the season, 3 ahead of Robin Van Persie for the race for the Golden Boot.

Vertonghen equalized from a header after receiving a beautiful wide service from Gareth Bale. Vertonghen and Tottenham’s second goal came courtesy of a weak clearance by Jamie Carragher (who made his 500^th Premier League appearance on this game) before the Belgian would score in the near post leaving no chance for stand-in keeper Brad Jones.

Kyle Walker gave Liverpool a huge life-line as he played an awful ball back to Hugo Lloris from the half-way line that drew the Tottenham keeper off of his race in a foot race with Stewart Downing. He won the race, but miffed the clearance and Downing was through on goal with only Vertonghen guarding the empty net where he eventually shot the ball between his legs for the equalizer.

The game winner came off of a Steven Gerrard penalty kick in the 82^nd minute after Benoit Assou-Ekotto seemingly pulled down Luis Suarez.

Why this Game was Important?

With neither Chelsea of Manchester City playing the League this weekend, Tottenham were handed a huge psychological advantage in the race for Champions League places. They soured the opportunity to move 5 points above Chelsea in 3^rd and only 2 shy of Manchester City in second place. Rather, they can now be passed by Chelsea with their game in hand.

On the other side, Liverpool keeps their slimmest hopes of a top-four finish alive with this monumental win. They are in great form right now and are not the team that others want to play against with their form.

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The CONCACAF U20 Championship match ended with Mexico dominating an extra time period en route to a 3-1 victory for the trophy.  The young Americans fought valiantly, but clearly were an over-matched side against a U20 Mexican team that many rank among the top nations in the world.  Although some reporters have brought up the fact that America’s decent play excused getting beaten by our fiercest rival, I personally feel that the boys have a lot of growing up to do, in many facets of the game.

First and foremost I was appalled at goalkeeper Cody Cropper who tripped Mexico’s goal-scorer Julio Gomez after he scored a brilliant bicycle kick goal from a corner kick.  Such disrespect is atrocious and Cropper was fortunate not to be sent off for the violent and dangerous play.  Obviously in the heat of such a big game those antics are explainable, but they cannot be excused.  The goalie needs to be the most clear-headed and mature member on any team, not the guy who’s going to do something brash.

Cropper currently plays for the Southampton’s youth academy and has a golden opportunity to grow up in the talented English Leagues.  He could definitely do with a boost of maturity before we start thinking of him ever becoming a future number 1 keeper for America.

Now as for the actual game itself, America’s players need to get off to a quicker start.  Based on match reports, and particularly the hopeful praise by Fox Soccer writer Kyle McCarthy, it seems as if the team is simply pleased to have competed against Mexico and lasted until extra time.  What bugs me about this is that the United States benefited from a very questionable penalty decision to score their only goal of the game.

Likewise, they got off to a terrible start and absolutely wretched defending by the entire backline led to a Mexican goal in the 4^th minute.  Several other early chances followed.  And though we ought to commend the boys for not imploding from the terrible start, the fact remains that Mexico outdid them with two brilliant goals.

Jesus Corona showed great resilience and fight to chase down the ball and score the opening goal.  And what more can one say about Julio Gomez’s bicycle kick than he looks like a future Mexican star in the making?

The American boys did little to invite such projections.  Save for a few decent crosses, they didn’t really produce much offensively and we were lucky to see the game into extra time.  Perhaps this is a bit pessimistic, but it just seems to be more of the same for American soccer, as players never show the grit to kill off opponents.  Fortunate refereeing got them back into the Championship match, but in the end only pure talent could separate the sides.  Let’s hope that the team hits the practice field in preparations for the U20 World Cup this summer, where hopefully we will see the Americans build off of their semi-successful U20 CONCACAF tournament run.