The US National team grinded out a 2-1 victory over El Salvador over the weekend in World Cup Qualifying in the CONCACAF region, but as Luke Cyphers from ESPN reported, it didn't go quite exactly as planned.
The plan all week for the U.S. soccer team ahead of its World Cup qualifier was simple: Play an attacking lineup, grab an early lead, then wear out El Salvador by possessing the ball in the midfield.
One out of three ain't bad. In fact, it was good enough for a 2-1 victory and three points, keeping the U.S. on track for a berth at next year's World Cup in South Africa.
One out of three ain't bad. In fact, it was good enough for a 2-1 victory and three points, keeping the U.S. on track for a berth at next year's World Cup in South Africa.
U.S. coach Bob Bradley started an offensive-minded lineup, with Jozy Altidore and Charlie Davies at forward, and the creative Benny Feilhaber alongside attack-minded Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan in the midfield. Meanwhile, left back Jonathan Bornstein made several overlapping runs up the field, and right back Jonathan Spector attacked with long balls to the forwards.
Yet despite creating scoring chances early, the U.S. found a way to fall behind, on Christian Castillo's header off a Rodolfo Zelaya assist in the 32nd minute.
"I was angry," Donovan said. "We started the game pretty well and put them under a lot of pressure. We should have found a way to get a goal and then we make one mistake and they capitalize. It was frustrating."
No comments:
Post a Comment