Don't Tread on This

The United States entered the tournament as heavy favorites to win. They were placed in Group B with Mexico, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic. The USWNT had absolutely no problems in dispatching The Dominican Republic and Guatemala by scores of 14-0 and 13-0 respectively. Eleven different players ended up on the score sheet, with Amy Rodriguez tallying five goals in the opener and Sydney Leroux following suit in the next game. The U.S. were at the brilliant best, with sharp passing and movement and ruthless finishing. The one sour note was the injury to Ali Krieger, who received a high foot to her right knee from Leonela Mojica while following through on a shot. Ali would miss the remainder of the competition, and has now been ruled out for at least six months with ACL and MCL tears.

Mexico was next up, and the consensus was that this would be the first real test for the United States. The last time the two teams met, it took a stoppage time wonder-strike from Lauren Cheney to put Mexico away. If you have not seen the goal before, it is worth a look! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfXcZk-TkZM. However, this game was about the Carli Lloyd show. After scoring a goal in each of the first two games, Lloyd opened the scoring with a delicate header off of a rebound from the crossbar in the 7th minute. This was immediately followed by a Heather O’Reilly volley moments later to give the U.S. a quick 2-0 lead. At this point, Mexico managed to dig in and frustrate their opposition, but only until the 57th minute, as Lloyd got on the end of Cheney’s free kick. Lloyd then completed her hat trick in the 86th minute, getting on the end of a Rachel Buehler cross for a simple tap-in to seal the 4-0 victory and first place in group B. 

USA’s semi-final showdown against Costa Rica was a crucial game - the winner would go to the Olympics, while the loser would go home. Tobin Heath eased any possible American nerves by heading home from close range in the 16th minute off of a corner kick. However, Costa Rica played with great spirit and created chances, something which the USWNT’s previous opponents had been unable to do. They forced Hope Solo into making two good saves and even hit the cross bar - the closest the U.S. would come to conceding in the entire tournament. In the 72nd minute, Wambach’s attempted chip was cleared off the line, but her following header found Lloyd, who took a touch to remove the defender from the equation, and powered it sublimely into the bottom right corner. Alex Morgan added a third in the dying minutes of the game, getting on the end of a long ball and using her strength and persistence to hold off the defenders and finish smartly past the keeper. The win sealed the USWNT’s spot in the final against Canada, but more importantly, the Olympics.

Although both the U.S. and Canada had already succeeded in qualifying for the Olympics, they wanted to finish the tournament off on a high by winning the final. Unfortunately from Canada’s point of view, they never got going in this match. In the 4th minute, Morgan received a header from Wambach and out-muscled and out-ran the Canadian defenders before slotting the ball in the bottom left corner. The Morgan-Wambach combination would prove to be deadly throughout the night. In the 24th minute, Morgan found Wambach with a cross from the right touchline, and Wambach hit the back of the net with yet another headed goal. Four minutes later, Morgan picked out Wambach again, this time by picking up the rebound from Lloyd’s shot and laying it into the path of Wambach. Morgan picked up her brace in the 56th minute in another one-on-one situation with the keeper. The 4-0 victory meant that the USWNT lifted the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying trophy for the third time in a row. 

Check our next post for the DTOS Player of the Tournament.

The United States Men’s National Soccer Team started off 2012 in fine fashion, winning consecutive friendlies against Venezuela and Panama by 1-0 margins. With a “B” team fielded by Jurgen Klinsmann, the defense held firm for 180 minutes, while generating just enough chances to win both games. 

The U.S. dominated against Venezuela, creating the bulk of the scoring chances, but were unable to find a way past goalkeeper Jose Morales for the majority of the game. The best of the chances fell to the heads of Brek Shea and Chris Wondolowski, but the reliable mitts of Morales kept the ball out. But the U.S. finally scored the go-ahead goal in the 97th minute. Ricardo Clark found himself completely unmarked from a Jermaine Jones corner, and said, “Look what I found?!”, as he nodded the ball magnificently into the bottom corner for the dramatic late winner. 

This time, the States opened the scoring early on, through Graham Zusi in the 8th minute. Zach Loyd’s searching cross was deflected by Teal Bunbury into the path of an absolutely delighted Zusi, who calmly slotted the ball beautifully into the top corner for his first international goal in only his second cap. However, the U.S. did not dominate this game as much as they did against Venezuela - Panama ran through the U.S. defense on occasion and created several chances. However, Nick Rimando put the team on his back and put together a string of electric reflex saves in the first half to keep his team in front. In the 52nd minute, Geoff Cameron received a controversial red card after it was adjudged that he fouled Blas Perez from behind to deny the Panama striker a clear goal-scoring opportunity. This incident dramatically slowed the game down, as the U.S. looked to maintain possession and play defensively. This tactic proved to be successful, as the U.S. held on for their third consecutive win. The result took Klinsmann to 4-4-1 as head coach of the USMNT.

Up next for the USMNT: The “big names” will be set to return as the Stars and Stripes head to Italy for what will undoubtedly be a difficult match against the Azzuri.

DTOS Player of the Series - Jermaine Jones. The midfielder took on the responsibility of captaining the side and performed extremely well. In addition to assisting on Clark’s goal, Jones provided a spark in the middle of the park with aggression and creativity. It would appear as though he has once again cemented his place with the USMNT. 

DTOS Rising Star - Graham Zusi. After playing in his first two matches for the USMNT, Zusi not only tallied a goal, but showed his immense talent and composure on the ball. 

We would like to apologize for our extended absence from blogging! Hopefully this won’t happen again.

-Rodawg

The United States Women’s National Team has many stars, such as Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and Hope Solo. One of the most underrated stars (in my opinion) is Alex Kreiger, a defender/midfielder. After watching the friendly against Sweden this past Saturday, I would have to say Alex is more like Super Woman. She was playing defense, but she was EVERYWHERE, I swear she was like a defender, midfielder, forward all in one. SHE WAS AMAZING. This is considering that she had just flown in from Frankfurt (where she plays for FFC Frankfurt) a few days before the game - that’s a 6 hour time difference people. Needless to say, I think the outcome would have been a lot different if it hadn’t been for her!

So I know a lot about her from what i’ve learned from watching her play the last 12 months, but I was curious about her soccer career before the 2011 Women’s World Cup, so I did my research (which I probably enjoyed too much). And I found that she had played 4 matches for the U-19 national team before playing for the USWNT. She also played for Penn State, but what caught my eye was that, while preparing for an NCAA championship match, she had shortness of breath and was convinced to check into the hospital. Luckily that was a life saving decision because they found clots in her lungs that had triggered 6 mini heart attacks. Thankfully, she made a full recovery! She then went on to her pro career to play for the Washington Freedom and FFC Frankfurt. Her first USWNT cap was in the 4 nations cup in China on January 16, 2008 against Canada. This summer at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, she scored the team’s 5th penalty kick against Brazil, that just so happened to lead the women to the Semifinal round. Because of all her hard work during the World Cup, Fox Soccer named her in the top 11 best players of the World Cup.

All in all, I’d say that Alex is a huge inspiration to all players of all ages and genders. She’s one of my biggest role models and hopefully one day I’ll get to see her play and not through a 42” television screen.

-Alana

A sneak peak/excerpt of the DTOS report on concussions, their dangers, and how aware people are of the dangers. Stick around for more later this month!

I recently had the opportunity to interview Tim Twellman, a former soccer player, father of Taylor Twellman, and a member of the “Think Taylor” organization.

“Is there anything that can be done to reduce the risk of getting a major concussion?” I ask.

Twellman replies, “No, it’s the rehabilitation of the concussion that is important.”

“What steps should be taken after someone has suffered a concussion? If it is something small, is there anything precautionary that should still be done?”

“Remove the athlete from all athletic activity until he/she sees a neurologist.”

“How can removing a player immediately help in the long term?”

“It stops the risk of successive concussions which can cause 2nd impact syndrome which can be fatal.”

“Do you think sports teams around the country and even world are not being cautious enough? (For example, removing players immediately after they get hit in the head).”

“We have gotten so much better in the sports’ world of dealing with concussions, but we [the sports’ world] still don’t realize that, if the brain is given the sufficient enough amount of time to heal, then big problems will be avoided for the future of the athlete.”

“Do you think enough is being done about concussions in general? You have obviously done a lot, but for example: are people listening? Is the correct legislature being passed?”

“People are listening more and more, but we haven’t gotten through and reached the right people yet, and that is the mission of ThinkTaylor.org.”

“What, if anything, can the average person do to promote awareness about concussions?”

“If you don’t know the answer, send them to [the] right people. ‘If you have a broken foot, you don’t see an eye doctor.’” Tim Twellman finishes the interview with his son’s quote, almost a motto for their organization.

The interview was certainly intriguing and enlightening on certain aspects. It told me that, while plenty has been achieved, there is still a long way to go in the mission to spread awareness about concussions in sports. It also provided more information about how the suggested procedure for an athlete suffering from a concussion helps in the long run. 

The U.S. Men defeated Honduras 1-0 in Miami, Florida to give Jurgen Klinsmann his first victory as head coach of the team. Clint Dempsey provided the lone goal in the 36th minute, receiving a deflected cross from Brek Shea, faking a shot with his right foot, and turning and finishing with his right. Michael Orozco Fiscal picked up the assist, his first point at international level. 

The U.S. had no problem creating a plethora of chances, but as in previous games, they continued to have trouble finishing chances off. Shea put the ball over after Timmy Chandler had played him into a good position in the 21st minute. Minutes later, Maurice Edu’s unmarked header from close range produced a good save from Donis Escobar. In the second half, the U.S. missed an open goal twice, with Shea scuffing a shot and Oguchi Onyewu putting the ball over.

Honduras were not without chances either. Jerry Bengston and Mario Martinez forced spectacular saves from Tim Howard, off of a breakaway and a long-range shot, respectively. However, they were unable to put many more of their chances on target. 

In the end, it could have finished 3 or 4-0 to the U.S., but they did enough to ensure that Klinsmann picked up his first win.

The game against Ecuador in Harrison, New Jersey provided a reversal of fortunes for the U.S., as it was the visitors who went on to a 1-0 victory. Jamie Ayovi scored the only goal, receiving a cross, beating Tim Ream in the box and heading the ball past Tim Howard. 

This was the only clear-cut chance of the game, as both defenses were organized and solid for the most part. The United States’ best chance was probably in the first minute, when Jozy Altidore’s shot from a tight angle was saved by Maximo Banguera. For Ecuador, Jefferson Montero caused all sorts of problems down the left wing with his speed and flair.

The performance of Oguchi Onyewu was a bright point for Klinsmann. His physicality and intelligence in defense and aggressiveness going forward is bound to give him much more playing time.

It would take an individual moment of brilliance or a defensive lapse for a goal to be produced in this game, and in the end, it was the latter that was enough for Ecuador to seal a 1-0 win. 

Overall, it must have been a relief for Klinsmann and the USMNT to get that first win, and there were plenty of positives to take from the two games. Although a quick start hasn’t been made, the team is starting to find their feet under Klinsmann. Next up: a friendly against France in Paris on November 11th. This will be the biggest test for the young team so far, and we will have to wait to see how they respond. 

DTOS Player of the Series - The DTOS team had a hard time choosing between Clint Dempsey and Oguchi Onyewu, but we decided on Dempsey in the end. He provided the attacking spark and creativity for the U.S., in addition to the only goal of the two friendlies.

DTOS Rising Star - Danny Williams. This choice was more obvious, as he impressed in his first two games for the USMNT.  His composure on the ball and willingness to play physically had to have impressed Klinsmann, and if it wasn’t for a good save from the Honduras goalkeeper, Williams might have had his first goal on debut. He is certainly a player to watch for the future.

Rodawg talking USMNT with Charlie Flowe and John DiCriscio of the World Sports Show for a few minutes. The variety of selections, USA defenders (Jay DeMerit and Danny Califf), and predictions for the upcoming friendlies were the topics discussed.

http://worldsportsshow.com/Radio.php

It took place on October 3rd, 2011 (currently first on the top of the Show Archive page). The entire USMNT chat lasts from about 9:00 to 17:00.

Note: This was my first time on radio, so I was a little nervous. Ignore how terrible I sound! :)

While the likes of Abby Wambach, Hope Solo, and Alex Morgan have grabbed most of the headlines for the USWNT, there are several players who have performed extremely well under the radar. One of these players is Lauren Cheney, who has had a brilliant year so far.

Cheney has now become a regular starter, alternating between playing as a winger on the left and a more central role behind the striker(s). Cheney has followed up her best year with the team in 2010 (seven goals), with another solid year, appearing five times on the score sheets. Two of these came in the World Cup, as she opened the scoring both against North Korea in the first game and against France in the semifinals.

Her physical presence on the field is one of her strongest attributes, as she is often able to out-muscle and out-hustle opposition players. Cheney has worked well with Wambach to create havoc in opponent penalty boxes. Their strength and understanding has often been a nightmare to contend with for defenders.

However, Cheney also possesses a rocket of a shot, as you can see from probably the pick of her goals in 2011:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfXcZk-TkZM

With her fifth year as a USA player coming to a close, Cheney has developed into one of the stars of the game. At only 24, she still has plenty of years of soccer left in her and much more to come. In the mean time, happy birthday Lauren!

We’ve introduced two new features in our match recaps:

1. “DTOS player of the game” (expanded it to series for the first one) and 2. “DTOS rising star.” The team will decide who to choose, and we’ll mention it in our match recaps, but feel free to tell us who you think did it for you! We will take your thoughts into account. 

Cheers,

-Rodawg

The U.S. Women’s National Team returned to the field on September 22nd for the first time since the heartbreaking loss to Japan in the World Cup Final. This was the first of two consecutive friendlies to be played against Canada.

The U.S. got off to a quick start, with Abby Wambach scoring from the penalty spot just ten minutes into the game. They had most of the possession early on. However, as the game wore on, Canada grew more confident and began to see more of the ball. They equalized in the 42nd minute through Melissa Tancredi. On the whole, it was a sloppy game from both sides, with plenty of misplaced passes and wasted chances. The best of these fell to Lauren Sesselmann, whose shot in stoppage time went over the bar with only the keeper to beat. In the end, 1-1 was a fair result.

The United States were much sharper in the second game of the Celebration Series. However, they wasted plenty of opportunities, and it was still scoreless at halftime. The U.S. carried their momentum to the second half and finally broke through from a Wambach first-time shot from inside the 18, after Kelley O’Hara had won the ball back. It wasn’t long before the U.S. grabbed their second, with another from Wambach, this time via the head. Once again, O’Hara was involved in the goal, sending in the cross for Wambach. Alex Morgan added a third in stoppage time to put the icing on the cake, touching in the ball after it had been nodded down by Lauren Cheney. 

The USMNT will be pleased with their efforts, especially after the second game. Next up for them: a friendly against Sweden on November 19th in Phoenix, Arizona in preparation for the Olympic qualification tournament, starting on January 19th. There will be more on this in the future. 

DTOS Player of the Series - Abby Wambach. It’s hard to look at anybody else when Wambach scored 3 goals in the 2 games. Her hunger for more goals has not diminished by any means.

DTOS Rising Star - This was a toss-up between Tobin Heath and Kelley O’Hara, but the former just edged it out with her flair. Her dribbling and flashy passes were a delight to watch, and she was unlucky to not score in the 53rd minute, forcing a good save from the keeper. 

Q: How do you feel about the hiring of Jurgen Klinsmann and what do you think he can bring to the USMNT?

A: I’m really excited about the new coach. I think hiring him will shake things up a bit. He has a different view on how the team should play and it seems to be a good one.

Q: What do you like about what Klinsmann has done so far?  

A: I like that he is looking at different players and different lineups. We have a lot of good young players who look like they might get a shot with Klinsmann. And without neglecting our experienced players too. Bob just seemed one-dimensional and stuck.       

Q: Do you think that Bob Bradley did any good things as coach?

A: Of course he did. He got us to the World Cup.     

Q: At this stage, where do you think the U.S. is in terms of the rest of the world?

A: I’d like to say we’re up there with Spain, Netherlands, etc., but we’re not just yet. But we are equal to Mexico in my eyes.

Q: Where do see the USMNT going in the near future and in the 2014 World Cup? Do you think that Mexico will continue to match them?

A: By the time Brazil 2014 comes along, I think we will be ready and I believe we will get very far. My only concern, if we compare Mexico v USA, is the youth. I pay a lot of attention to Mexico, their NT, and their league, and their under 20’s are looking to possibly win the WC. Their u17’s already did. I question our depth at youth level.

Q: Do you think that the depth at the senior level is satisfactory?

A: We have so many Americans playing in the top leagues around the world. And playing with and against the top players…that can’t be a bad thing.

We would like to thank Cindy for her time and her views on the coach transition and the future of the USMNT!                      

On July 28^th 2011, Bob Bradley was fired as head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team, and within hours, Jurgen Klinsmann was appointed. This appointment was met with general approval, as Bradley had lost favor, especially amongst fans. But, while he did disappoint towards the end of his stint, there were still many positive results for the team during his time as coach.

Bradley started off brightly, leading the U.S. to a Gold Cup championship in 2007. He also led the team to their largest victory in history, 8-0 over Barbados in 2008. In fact, the U.S. didn’t lose in the first ten games under Bradley. In 2009, he went on to lead the U.S. to a second place finish at the Confederations Cup (including a 2-0 win over Spain, the number one ranked team) and to a place in the FIFA World Cup.

However, the majority of the fans (and most likely the U.S. Soccer Federation) were displeased after the U.S. fell short of expectations in the World Cup, losing to Ghana in extra time in the round of 16. Losing to Mexico in the final of the 2011 Gold Cup seemed to be the final straw, as Bradley was fired a little more than a month later.

Perhaps the soccer federation and the fans of the country were too impatient with Bradley. After all, he had taken control of a United States team that had exited the 2006 World Cup with only 1 point from the group stages. Still, the appointment of Klinsmann was considered a huge success, considering Klinsmann’s experience with the German national team (he had led them to a third place finish at the 2006 World Cup).

He made an encouraging start, with a 1-1 draw against Mexico. Despite two consecutive 1-0 losses to Costa Rica and Belguim since, U.S. fans should be encouraged with how Klinsmann himself doesn’t seem to be getting discouraged. If anything, his enthusiasm has increased with each game. Other noticeable aspects of his coaching include his open-mindedness to new formations, giving new players a chance, and recalling players to the team who had been forgotten under Bradley. Although the U.S. is yet to win in the three games under the new coach, based on the signs, the future looks bright for Jurgen Klinsmann and the United States.