UF on the scene from US – Costa Rica

What the US needs is a finisher

I ended up with a pair of tickets to see the US Qualifying match at RFK stadium in DC last night. After fighting craptacular traffic getting there and coming home (thanks Metro for not running extra trains – I could have walked faster), I wanted to add my comments on the match, which were delayed due to over sleeping and a hectic work day.

First of all, RFK has morphed into a Soccer stadium by fiat of DC United playing there and it being used for nothing else. The problem is that it’s twice the size it should be, OR that the fact we can’t fill a World Cup qualifier match is a sad fricking day.

I totally missed the pre-match theatrics but I am sure I would of found them completely weak. The stands were overload with Costa Rican fans, waving their flags and blowing those horns that Norfolk Ned loves so much. When Costa Rica struck twice quickly, the crowd was highly dejected. I even walked out looking for more drinks, thinking that if this kept up, I would have left looking for a bar. Luckily, the US side took the 2 goal deficit as an excuse to turn into the full on attacking squad that they need to be. When they attack they look really great. Sadly, they are the worst finishers I have ever witnessed. Time after time, there were open men within striking distance who were ignored, or if they were not ignored they sailed them wide of the net. Connor Casey and Michael Bradley are downright awful. Davies would have helped them with the finishing. Every time the ball was headed towards that buzz cut around the goal I cringed knowing there was no finish. The flurry of pushing the ball up-field was the only positive thing I saw.

My friend went off searching for more alcohol and returned 40 minutes later, and was highly upset by the whole process. He rolled in just in time to see Bradley not be able to screw up that cross and put the game into play. At that moment, all the drunk Costa Ricans got really really quiet. The old guy across the aisle crossed himself and started praying. The Americans got their wind, and continued to fly at the goal attacking constantly.

The fact that Bornstein tied the match was impressive considering the constant misses. The keeper of the Ticos was actually quite aggressive and had great skill in punching the ball out of the area in heavy traffic. Bradley refused to put a man on him to box him out. It was quite obvious they weren’t even trying. Watching the lower stands at RFK bounce up and down was a sight to behold.

Altidore is the real deal. On the ball he’s electric, but off the ball he’s a talker – motivating and pushing. Donovan is almost in one of the Beckham elder statesman roles at this point, doing set pieces and sitting in the middle.

The Americans should have won this 5-2, and the 2-2 result is what Bill Simmons recently dubbed a “moral defeat”. We were sloppy coming out of the gate, we marked terribly for the first 30 minutes, and played lost. Bradley the coach has no in-game management abilities and there is no leader on that field who can direct strategy. Jozy is too young, and a striker and not a mid fielder who can spread the pitch better.

It was joyous watching the Costa Ricans cry though.