Sazar
06-28-09, 03:34 PM
I will be keeping a running commentary for those who can't see the match :) Refresh for updates.
The game is about to start. A touching pre-game speech by the son of a former player.
00:00 KICK OFF, Brazil Kicks Off
01:12 The crowd really getting into the game, lots of noise, lots of cheering as Brazil start of smoothly. Can the US forwards hold on to the ball this game?
02:07 Altidore and Dempsey, a weak 1-2 and a shot, off target. First shot of the game for the US (and either team)
02:47 Another through ball for the US, followed by a quick counter by Brazil. Nice hold by Howard.
04:50 Flowing move from Brazil (some iffy touches) and Kaka wins a throw-in. The resulting throw results in a corner for Brazil. Some pressure developing?
06:47 Corner for Brazil. Set piece results in a free-header from Kaka but high and wide. Howard looked planted :eek:
08:00 Some pressure from USA but they can't build up :( When will the US team learn to close the seams? They send 3 guys to chase 1, stupid football. Results is a Brazil counter and a shot, that is high over the cross-bar.
09:20 GOAL Wow, the stars are aligned for the US this week :D . A daft looking through-ball that apparently no one touches, falls to Dempsey and he guides it in. USA leads 1-0 early.
12:00 Brazil has another flowing move down the left flank. Robinho, lovely curving shot towards the right bottom corner and Howard, great save.
12:54 AWESOME chase by Donovan to save the ball and open up Davies down the right flank. A little too far and Davies is closed down but corner for the US. Opportunities here :D
13:30 Bocanegra has a header wide, but wins a corner (dunno how). The resulting corner leads to touches from Dempsey and Altidore but Altidore shoots over from close range. Brazil's back four look at sixes and sevens.
16:00 The goal seems to have deflated Brazil and given the US a huge shot of confidence. They continue to push and crowd the Brazilians for space. Still, technically inferior all over as their attacks just don't use seams. You cannot continue to hope for lucky bounces for wins when it comes time for the World Cup. However, unlike v/s Spain, the forwards are holding up the ball a little better, allowing the back four of the US to settle so an improvement there. And unlike the first couple of games, Altidore is doing much better at holding the ball.
18:09 Yellow card for the US captain. Bocanegra, needless yellow there.
21:00 Lots of back and forth. No real chances, other than a blocked shot from Brazil. The teams have settled down a little. Robinho and Kaka have both made some runs but the US has numbers at the back. Brazil looking a little out of sorts, not as free-flowing as they were. A mental block perhaps.
24:00 I HATE the ESPN commentators. They don't offer any insights or background. They just do a play by play. OOOOH, a SHOT from Brazil. Great save by Howard. Blasted in from about 30 yards out but straight at the keeper. Had there been a deflection, maybe something interesting.
26:00 Another save by Howard. Brazil building up the pressure but their attacks are disjointed. Nothing like in the first game where they had better movement and spacing. Too many players crowded and too mny trying to go 1x1.
26:55 GOAL GREAT wing play and again, another counter-attack. Brazil's back four (2?) don't get back and a lovely through ball to Donovan and he pulls it back across, creates space and BANG. USA 2-0
29:00 Dunga looks on forlornly from the sideline. The World Cup winning captain from 1994 doesn't seem too pleased with his teams effort. Heck, I'd wager Dunga can walk into this team and play better defense than the backs :) And, AGAIN the back four don't cover their assignments. If this keeps up, this lead WILL grow. Yes, there are technical deficiencies in the US but they are playing with renewed energy AND confidence. And for the first time, they are actually building on their wins (Egypt, Spain and now, Brazil?)
31:30 The US needs better spacing, yes I say it again. Better spacing will allow them to spring the Brazil defense even more. Currently they are just too bunched up. The wing player on each side needs to be able to provide the wide option. But they are playing 8 men on defense and flying up on the counter. They have counter-attacked like terriers this tournament and that is something they should build on :)
34:00 Santos Shot, Howard Save. Well played Howard. The resulting corner leads to a shot that is high. Howard and Donovan, players of the match so far.
36:29 Keep up the pressure lads. Good set piece results in a header from Dempsey. Or did it? Looks like another corner so it was touched by Brazil. And the following corner leads to the first useful touch by the Brazilian keeper who has not really done much so far :D (thanks to the play of Dempsey and Donovan mainly)
37:40 Free-kick for Brazil. What will Howard pull off this time? Oh well played by the defense. Way to make a meal of a simple free-kick Brazil :rofl Nice counter-attack by the US.
40:00 Unless Brazil can raise their level of play and the US level drops, this will be a useful US lead into the half-time break. Onyewu has done well in defense by the way. Made some key decisions and stops and interceptions. OOOH, Robinho Shot, Howard Save. Again. Howard has at least 4 or 5 GOOD saves in this match so far. Nice reactions to a cheeky little shot :D
42:30 Are those boo's I hear from the crowd? Ooooh. And yet another Brazilian counter stopped by an awful touch at the front. Other than Kaka and Robinho and, occasionally Santos, not much by way of "skill" being show in the front. On the flip-side, the less heralded Altidore, Dempsey and Donovan are making the most of their opportunities.
45:00 And it looks like that last attack by Brazil will do it. Half-time looms with 1 minute of injury time added. GREAT move by Brazil but once again, a deflection by the US players and no goal for Brazil. That could have been interesting but you know, as they say, coulda, woulda, shoulda? But he didn't :)
*** HALF TIME ***
Second Half begins
45:00 US kicks off and go on the attack straight away.
45:45 GOAL Fabiano. WOW, what a class goal. A full spinerooni and BANG, Howard had no chance. Can't really fault anyone on that, Fabiano just made something out of nothing. Hopefully the US will continue to hold their line. USA 2-1 Brazil
49:00 some back and forth from both teams. Lovely run by Kaka but he just runs into a wall of SEVEN US players. Heh, I think they really want to keep the Real man in check
50:00 Davies, nice run, a little too far into no-mans land but the forwards continue to make great runs and are finally using the seams. Well played US.
52:00 Oh My goodness. Davies makes a meal of it. Landon, great through ball and I have NO IDEA what Davies was thinking. Poor decision might have cost the US at least 1 more goal. On the flip-side, Kaka being bear-hugged by 2 defenders. It's a wonder the guy gets free at all with all the pushing and tugging lol.
57:00 It feels like the energy level is dropping off a little bit. Kaka still making great runs and WOW, Howard saves another shot. Lucio, great header, GREAT save and the rebound blasted over the top. Big miss but GREAT save.
59:00 WOW, did that go in? Header by Kaka, Howard was in the goal but the ball may not have crossed the line. WHEW. Huge relief for the US. BIG SAVE again. Howard. OH WOW, in the replay, the ball clearly crossed the line. Should be 2-2 but they get away with one. Play on lads :)
64:00 Players are now in more space for Brazil. The US defending relatively well but Brazil is peppering crosses in and the US needs to buy more time up front with Davies and Altidore.
65:00 2 great shots by the US and 2 great saves by the Brazilian keeper. Good pressure by the US. Brazil making substitutions.
67:45 Wonderful shot of the fans. South African fans really getting into this tournament. The year of sports for SA what with the IPL 20/20 tournament and now this and the World Cup next year. Great job so far.
70:00 Great through ball for Fabiano, better save by Howard. Brazil playing desperate now, BAD SHOT by Alves. Demeritt not a good clear there. Need to be a little more solid.
72:23 Wild shot by Brazil. No idea what he was thinking. He had 2 players wide open.
72:30 GOAL That man Fabiano again. 2 Shots, 1 off the crossbar, the second is in. Really should be 3-2 Brazil but, we're tied now and it gets interesting. 2-2 Tied
78:00 Some recent action includes 2 subs by the US and some back and forth action on the field. Donovan doing well still. The US has had their chances. Brazil should really be up 3-2 and now a GREAT grab by Cesar in goal for Brazil. He plucked that one out of thin-air.
80:00 Cheeky 1-2 by Kaka and they can't spring Alves on the left-wing. Alves hasn't done much in this game since coming on. OH A SHOT and it's wide by the US. Bornstein the man.
82:00 OH !!! So close. Kaka to Robinho and just wide and high. Well, wider on second glance but definitely a good opportunity. Davies goes down in the penalty area on the other end but no penalty. I've seen that given sometimes, but he didn't have control at all so who knows. The ref has definitely allowed play to continue the last 10 minutes.
85:00 ANOTHER GOAL and the Brazilians are celebrating. Lucio, another Header. 3-2 Brazil
87:41 A CHANCE for the USA, but it's high.
90:00 Injury time. What can the US do? Brazil holding onto the ball, playing keep-away. The USA desperate.
And it's all over. Valiant effort by the US but the Brazilians fought back well. The US team should be proud of the effort but the technical deficiencies need to be addressed. Removing Altidore may not have been a good idea ultimately but then again.
They need to definitely address the same issues that have plagued them since 1994. They don't conserve energy near the end of the game and the players need to improve technically. If the forwards can't hold the ball, that puts more pressure on their backs and they WILL tire. The Brazilians were fresher because they ALL contributed and Kaka anad Robinho made their runs but also held up the ball when needed.
Build on this guys and who knows, you might go further than the 4'th round next time :)
The game is about to start. A touching pre-game speech by the son of a former player.
00:00 KICK OFF, Brazil Kicks Off
01:12 The crowd really getting into the game, lots of noise, lots of cheering as Brazil start of smoothly. Can the US forwards hold on to the ball this game?
02:07 Altidore and Dempsey, a weak 1-2 and a shot, off target. First shot of the game for the US (and either team)
02:47 Another through ball for the US, followed by a quick counter by Brazil. Nice hold by Howard.
04:50 Flowing move from Brazil (some iffy touches) and Kaka wins a throw-in. The resulting throw results in a corner for Brazil. Some pressure developing?
06:47 Corner for Brazil. Set piece results in a free-header from Kaka but high and wide. Howard looked planted :eek:
08:00 Some pressure from USA but they can't build up :( When will the US team learn to close the seams? They send 3 guys to chase 1, stupid football. Results is a Brazil counter and a shot, that is high over the cross-bar.
09:20 GOAL Wow, the stars are aligned for the US this week :D . A daft looking through-ball that apparently no one touches, falls to Dempsey and he guides it in. USA leads 1-0 early.
12:00 Brazil has another flowing move down the left flank. Robinho, lovely curving shot towards the right bottom corner and Howard, great save.
12:54 AWESOME chase by Donovan to save the ball and open up Davies down the right flank. A little too far and Davies is closed down but corner for the US. Opportunities here :D
13:30 Bocanegra has a header wide, but wins a corner (dunno how). The resulting corner leads to touches from Dempsey and Altidore but Altidore shoots over from close range. Brazil's back four look at sixes and sevens.
16:00 The goal seems to have deflated Brazil and given the US a huge shot of confidence. They continue to push and crowd the Brazilians for space. Still, technically inferior all over as their attacks just don't use seams. You cannot continue to hope for lucky bounces for wins when it comes time for the World Cup. However, unlike v/s Spain, the forwards are holding up the ball a little better, allowing the back four of the US to settle so an improvement there. And unlike the first couple of games, Altidore is doing much better at holding the ball.
18:09 Yellow card for the US captain. Bocanegra, needless yellow there.
21:00 Lots of back and forth. No real chances, other than a blocked shot from Brazil. The teams have settled down a little. Robinho and Kaka have both made some runs but the US has numbers at the back. Brazil looking a little out of sorts, not as free-flowing as they were. A mental block perhaps.
24:00 I HATE the ESPN commentators. They don't offer any insights or background. They just do a play by play. OOOOH, a SHOT from Brazil. Great save by Howard. Blasted in from about 30 yards out but straight at the keeper. Had there been a deflection, maybe something interesting.
26:00 Another save by Howard. Brazil building up the pressure but their attacks are disjointed. Nothing like in the first game where they had better movement and spacing. Too many players crowded and too mny trying to go 1x1.
26:55 GOAL GREAT wing play and again, another counter-attack. Brazil's back four (2?) don't get back and a lovely through ball to Donovan and he pulls it back across, creates space and BANG. USA 2-0
29:00 Dunga looks on forlornly from the sideline. The World Cup winning captain from 1994 doesn't seem too pleased with his teams effort. Heck, I'd wager Dunga can walk into this team and play better defense than the backs :) And, AGAIN the back four don't cover their assignments. If this keeps up, this lead WILL grow. Yes, there are technical deficiencies in the US but they are playing with renewed energy AND confidence. And for the first time, they are actually building on their wins (Egypt, Spain and now, Brazil?)
31:30 The US needs better spacing, yes I say it again. Better spacing will allow them to spring the Brazil defense even more. Currently they are just too bunched up. The wing player on each side needs to be able to provide the wide option. But they are playing 8 men on defense and flying up on the counter. They have counter-attacked like terriers this tournament and that is something they should build on :)
34:00 Santos Shot, Howard Save. Well played Howard. The resulting corner leads to a shot that is high. Howard and Donovan, players of the match so far.
36:29 Keep up the pressure lads. Good set piece results in a header from Dempsey. Or did it? Looks like another corner so it was touched by Brazil. And the following corner leads to the first useful touch by the Brazilian keeper who has not really done much so far :D (thanks to the play of Dempsey and Donovan mainly)
37:40 Free-kick for Brazil. What will Howard pull off this time? Oh well played by the defense. Way to make a meal of a simple free-kick Brazil :rofl Nice counter-attack by the US.
40:00 Unless Brazil can raise their level of play and the US level drops, this will be a useful US lead into the half-time break. Onyewu has done well in defense by the way. Made some key decisions and stops and interceptions. OOOH, Robinho Shot, Howard Save. Again. Howard has at least 4 or 5 GOOD saves in this match so far. Nice reactions to a cheeky little shot :D
42:30 Are those boo's I hear from the crowd? Ooooh. And yet another Brazilian counter stopped by an awful touch at the front. Other than Kaka and Robinho and, occasionally Santos, not much by way of "skill" being show in the front. On the flip-side, the less heralded Altidore, Dempsey and Donovan are making the most of their opportunities.
45:00 And it looks like that last attack by Brazil will do it. Half-time looms with 1 minute of injury time added. GREAT move by Brazil but once again, a deflection by the US players and no goal for Brazil. That could have been interesting but you know, as they say, coulda, woulda, shoulda? But he didn't :)
*** HALF TIME ***
Second Half begins
45:00 US kicks off and go on the attack straight away.
45:45 GOAL Fabiano. WOW, what a class goal. A full spinerooni and BANG, Howard had no chance. Can't really fault anyone on that, Fabiano just made something out of nothing. Hopefully the US will continue to hold their line. USA 2-1 Brazil
49:00 some back and forth from both teams. Lovely run by Kaka but he just runs into a wall of SEVEN US players. Heh, I think they really want to keep the Real man in check
50:00 Davies, nice run, a little too far into no-mans land but the forwards continue to make great runs and are finally using the seams. Well played US.
52:00 Oh My goodness. Davies makes a meal of it. Landon, great through ball and I have NO IDEA what Davies was thinking. Poor decision might have cost the US at least 1 more goal. On the flip-side, Kaka being bear-hugged by 2 defenders. It's a wonder the guy gets free at all with all the pushing and tugging lol.
57:00 It feels like the energy level is dropping off a little bit. Kaka still making great runs and WOW, Howard saves another shot. Lucio, great header, GREAT save and the rebound blasted over the top. Big miss but GREAT save.
59:00 WOW, did that go in? Header by Kaka, Howard was in the goal but the ball may not have crossed the line. WHEW. Huge relief for the US. BIG SAVE again. Howard. OH WOW, in the replay, the ball clearly crossed the line. Should be 2-2 but they get away with one. Play on lads :)
64:00 Players are now in more space for Brazil. The US defending relatively well but Brazil is peppering crosses in and the US needs to buy more time up front with Davies and Altidore.
65:00 2 great shots by the US and 2 great saves by the Brazilian keeper. Good pressure by the US. Brazil making substitutions.
67:45 Wonderful shot of the fans. South African fans really getting into this tournament. The year of sports for SA what with the IPL 20/20 tournament and now this and the World Cup next year. Great job so far.
70:00 Great through ball for Fabiano, better save by Howard. Brazil playing desperate now, BAD SHOT by Alves. Demeritt not a good clear there. Need to be a little more solid.
72:23 Wild shot by Brazil. No idea what he was thinking. He had 2 players wide open.
72:30 GOAL That man Fabiano again. 2 Shots, 1 off the crossbar, the second is in. Really should be 3-2 Brazil but, we're tied now and it gets interesting. 2-2 Tied
78:00 Some recent action includes 2 subs by the US and some back and forth action on the field. Donovan doing well still. The US has had their chances. Brazil should really be up 3-2 and now a GREAT grab by Cesar in goal for Brazil. He plucked that one out of thin-air.
80:00 Cheeky 1-2 by Kaka and they can't spring Alves on the left-wing. Alves hasn't done much in this game since coming on. OH A SHOT and it's wide by the US. Bornstein the man.
82:00 OH !!! So close. Kaka to Robinho and just wide and high. Well, wider on second glance but definitely a good opportunity. Davies goes down in the penalty area on the other end but no penalty. I've seen that given sometimes, but he didn't have control at all so who knows. The ref has definitely allowed play to continue the last 10 minutes.
85:00 ANOTHER GOAL and the Brazilians are celebrating. Lucio, another Header. 3-2 Brazil
87:41 A CHANCE for the USA, but it's high.
90:00 Injury time. What can the US do? Brazil holding onto the ball, playing keep-away. The USA desperate.
And it's all over. Valiant effort by the US but the Brazilians fought back well. The US team should be proud of the effort but the technical deficiencies need to be addressed. Removing Altidore may not have been a good idea ultimately but then again.
They need to definitely address the same issues that have plagued them since 1994. They don't conserve energy near the end of the game and the players need to improve technically. If the forwards can't hold the ball, that puts more pressure on their backs and they WILL tire. The Brazilians were fresher because they ALL contributed and Kaka anad Robinho made their runs but also held up the ball when needed.
Build on this guys and who knows, you might go further than the 4'th round next time :)