The USA Still Heads CONCACAF

After a week of World Cup Qualifying matches, the United States still holds the lead on top of the CONCACAF after a tie last Saturday at El Salvador and a win on Wednesday against Trinidad & Tobago. The US A’s 4 points this past week gives them a total of 7 points heading into the next round of qualifying in June.

The United Sates left a sour taste in the American fan base after Saturday’s awful performance in the hostile crowd at Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador. Without the big center back, Oguchi Onyewu, who was out due to injury, and starting goalkeeper, Tim Howard, who was out due to a yellow card suspension, the US defense seemed shaky from the start. Sure enough, it only took 15 minutes for El Salvador to strike, getting a 1-0 lead and their first goal against the United States since 1997. The US never played with any sense of urgency while down by a goal and were only creating sloppy offensive chances. The consistent lack of chemistry took a toll on the US squad as El Salvador extended their lead, 2-0.

The US finally caught a break when El Salvador’s goalkeeper left with severe leg cramps. The US finally reenergized with help of Jozy Altidore, the 19-year-old striker, who came in as a sub. In the 77th minute, Frankie Hedjuk made across to the near post where Altidore headed the ball past the Salvadorian goalkeeper to cut the lead in half. The US finally started to press El Salvador in the last ten minutes of play, and with the shaky hands of the Salvadorian goalkeeper, the US managed to equalize two minutes before end of regulation. From a corner kick, Demarcus Beasley bent the ball across the box, where the goalkeeper miss-cleared the ball and was caught in no man’s land. The loose ball and open net were left for Hedjuk who headed the ball in for the2-2 tie. The California surfer and oldest player in the squad, at 38 years of age, ended is 12 year scoring drought for the US National Team with his goal.

Overall, the US played really miserable, with the exception of the last 15 minutes. Demarcus Beasley had an awful performance as the wingman, consistently missing passes and losing balls in the midfield. Landon Donovan disappeared for most of the match, unable to create any opportunities at goal and didn’t use his speed which could be such a threat. Fortunately for the US, they had little time for recover and focus on Wednesday’s game against Trinidad & Tobago in Nashville, Tennessee.

United States Head Coach Bob Bradley made some great changes for the second game, deciding to start young Altidore on top with Brian Ching, and moving Landon Donovan to the left wing position. That meant that Demarcus Beasley also had to be moved, taking the role for Heath Pierce as left back. Bradley also chose to keep it simple, choosing a 4-4-2 formation. Of course, with Howard between the pipes and Onyewu back, the defense was more experience than the one that faced El Salvador.

This new line-up absolutely outperformed that one of last Saturday, trouncing Trinidad & Tobago 3-0. The young Altidore was the man of the match scoring his first hat-trick, the youngest ever to do so for the US National Team. In the mix was also Landon Donovan, who after an abysmal game Saturday, had all three of the US assists on Wednesday.

The flood gates opened in the 13th minute when Ching left a soft header for Donovan. Darting into the 18-yard box, Donovan took a driven cross in front of goal to the streaking Altidore who tapped the ball in and gave the US a 1-0 lead. After going to the half with the same score, Altidore struck two more times in the second. In the 71st minute, Donovan beautifully spun his defender after receiving a ball from Beasley, seeing Altidore on top of the box, Donovan left him the ball. Altidore juked the last defender off his feet and slipped the ball past the goalkeeper, giving the US a 2-0 lead.

One minute from regulation, the thrill wasn’t over. Michael Bradley escaped the offsides trap and drove into the Trinidad & Tobago 18-yeard box unmarked, with only the goalkeeper to beat. As the goalkeeper came off his line to cut down the angle, Bradley passed the ball to Donovan on the left side who unselfishly tapped it behind to Altidore. His shot was low and soft, but still managed to slip under the hands of the Trinidad & Tobago’s goalkeeper, finalizing Altidore’s hat-trick.

It was good to see the US recover to well from a bad performance, and ending the week in a good note. Bob Bradley’s changes in the line-up worked wonders for the US. Paring Altidore and Ching as the two strikers shares the workload evenly. Altidore with his speed and Ching with his physical presence, always doing the dirty, unsung hero type of work; it could help the US become a more power threat offensively. Beasley’s work as left back was also impressive on Wednesday. He’s not experienced in the position but held his ground well, and the few times he was beaten, he made it up with his speed. However, I would like to see Francisco Torres, a young midfielder who comes in as a substitute, get more minutes. He is very cool and collective in the middle and might be a good replacement for an otherwise aging Pablo Mastroeni.

The US will not play a qualifier until June when it travels to Costa Rica and then to Chicago to host Honduras. Winning at home shouldn’t be a problem for the US, but if we see another performance similar to El Salvador in Costa Rica or even in Mexico, then the top spot in CONCACAF will be in doubt. Bradley has found answers to a lot of questions Wednesday, especially about the youth of the team. Maybe he now will trust them in a hostile crowd in Central America come summer.