And Then There Was Gooch

Nats fans can breath a sigh of relief, as starting centerback Oguchi Onyewu earned his first spell of playing time for AC Milan since joining the club this past summer. Gooch came on as a substitute in the 60th minute of AC Milan's Champions League match against FC Zurich today, playing for the first time since his start in the USMNT's 1-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago 3 weeks ago.

Some people (see: me) foolishly predicted that Onyewu likely would not make his debut in Champions League play, figuring manager Leonardo would not want to experiment in such a situation. I was happy to be wrong however, as I forgot to take into account Alessandro Nesta and his frequent ailments. Nesta reportedly needed to be subbed off in the second half because of back issues, which bothered him all of last season as well.

Onyewu had a few nervous moments early on, as he was a little shaky on the ball, but he was able to bail himself out of these situations by drawing fouls. He settled down and looked calmer as the second half went on, and was pushed up to a forward role later in the match, as AC Milan desperately looked for an equalizer, trailing 1-0. The Rossoneri would eventually lose to the Swiss visitors by this scoreline, but American fans will just be happy that Onyewu finally got his debut with his new club.

Of note was the play of Kakha Kaladze, who has been favored over Onyewu as the third centerback in the Milan pecking order. It was Kaladze's man who was left free for Zurich's goal 10 minutes into the match. Though the Zurich player did wonderfully well to finish, it does not excuse Kaladze losing his mark in the box. The Georgian international also was given a yellow card later in the first half, and has not looked great during his playing time since Thiago Silva's injury. Kaladze's underwhelming play, coupled with the injury concerns of Silva and Nesta, could mean more playing time for Onyewu in the near future. With horrid results over the past couple weeks, Milan will also be looking to shake up the lineup in hopes of reviving a season that is going south fast.

Something to keep in mind, however, is the status of manager Leonardo. Milan have started very poorly in both domestic play and Champions League play, with their three most recent results being a 1-0 loss to Udinese, a 0-0 home draw with newly promoted Bari, and a 1-0 home loss to FC Zurich. These are really unacceptable results for such a storied club, and Leonardo's days as manager are likely numbered. This brings us to the point that a change in manager could have an impact on Onyewu's playing time. This could mean a manager who favors the former Standard Liege star, or it could mean someone who favors other options over Onyewu. Either way, it will be interesting to see what unfolds at the San Siro, as AC Milan are experiencing quite a terrible start to their season.

Overall, Onyewu looked promising after settling down, and even made some positive offensive contributions to the AC Milan attack, winning possession, freekicks, and even a corner. AC Milan take on Atalanta in league play this Sunday, and Onyewu will be looking to make it two appearances in a row before departing for the crucial pair of games against Honduras and Costa Rica.

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MLS and the Nats

Since its inaugural season in 1996, MLS has undoubtedly had a significant positive effect on the USMNT. 13 years later, the National Team is built around current MLS stars and league alumni who now ply their trade in Europe. While the league has its fair share of critics, it's hard to argue against MLS' big role in transforming the USMNT into a team that has hopes of challenging for the World Cup in the near future.

Some argue that MLS does not provide the best environment for developing young players, but it certainly has its advantages. While a move to European side would certainly provide competition for playing time every day and a longer season, it may be to the detriment of a young player's development. More than a few aspiring youth prospects have made the move to Europe only to spend time on the bench or play for the reserves.

MLS, meanwhile, because of the various cap restraints and difficulties in building a roster, has allowed many young players to earn a great deal of playing time early on in their career. Landon Donovan, Stuart Holden, Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, and Michael Bradley are all examples of players who earned starting roles with their MLS clubs very early in their respective careers. The game experience they had at such a young age was an invaluable asset in their development and helped their careers blossom.

The consistent playing time helped the aforementioned players gain confidence and develop their abilities in game situations, and it can be argued that this set up (though it lacks some of the competition for playing time that is present in many European leagues) does more for young American players than bypassing MLS for Europe would. While there are some players who are able to make it by beginning their careers in a European league, there are plenty who opt for this route and fail to develop into the player they were projected to be. For every Charlie Davies and Oguchi Onyewu, there are a number of young players who opt for Europe but see their growth stunted by a lack of playing time early on.

By playing consistently, as well, young players are given a stage to showcase their abilities. Not only can such a player make their case for a spot in the USMNT conversation by solid play week in and week out, they can also show off their abilities for potential overseas suitors that would provide the opportunity for regular playing time, in contrast to the clubs that might sign on the youth player in a more speculative manner. Sitting on a bench in Europe does not provide the same opportunity to showcase one's abilities. While playing in MLS does not guarantee playing time, the unique roster restrictions make the league much more conducive to earning minutes as a young player.

While there is no one correct career path, MLS should not be considered anything but a great aid to the USMNT. With 12 of the 18 players called up for the last round of qualifiers either current MLS players or MLS alumni, it's obvious that the young league is making its mark on the National Team. Several players representing the US U-20 team in Egypt right now have taken the MLS route and have already been able to earn significant playing time at the club level at this point in their brief careers. So beyond the senior national team, MLS is having an impact on the youth levels as well.

If it weren't for MLS, who knows where the National Team would be right now. As the league grows and quality of play continues to improve, MLS will likely continue to be a key component in the National Team's progression for years to come.

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Daily News 9/30

US-Honduras match likely to be played as scheduled- LA Times

Honduras names squad for US qualifier- Soccer By Ives

Rongen's changes bear fruit as US routs Cameroon- ESPN Soccernet

Mexico pulls out of race for 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments- LA Times

"Africa's wildest stadium" set to illuminate World Cup- FIFA.com

US rebound to trounce Cameroon- Yanks Abroad

Eight World Cup play-off qualifiers to be seeded- ESPN Soccernet

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Daily News 9/29

YA Exclusive: A silver lining- Yanks Abroad

Weekend Americans abroad roundup= Soccer365

Onyewu still waiting in Milan- ESPN Soccernet

Watford's DeMerit sidelined by eye infection- ESPN Soccernet

Howard pleased with "air tight" defense- Click Liverpool

US U-20 vs Cameroon- Soccer365

Adu excited for new challenge- Yanks Abroad

Nigel Martyn: Tim Howard's debt to Everton goalkeeping coach Chris Woods- Liverpool Echo

Meet Edgar Castillo- US Soccer Daily

Don't pin too much pressure on US Under=20s' fortunes- SI.com

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Meet Edgar Castillo

With Jay Demerit out with an eye injury and Chad Marshall likely sidelined by a knee injury, the US backline is somewhat depleted heading into the final rounds of Hex matches. Because of the aforementioned injuries to centerbacks, Carlos Bocanegra will likely pair with Oguchi Onyewu in the center out of necessity. This means, in turn, that Bocanegra will not be playing left back, leaving the spot up for grabs between the Jonathans, Bornstein and Spector. Bornstein, who plays left back for Chivas USA, had a solid second half performance in the USMNT's crucial road victory over Trinidad & Tobago last month, but his play earlier in that match and against El Salvador have made a number of Nats fans leery of putting the UCLA product into the starting XI.

Spector, meanwhile, has been used primarily as a right back in his international career, but has played some as a left back for West Ham. Playing Spector on the left would mean that Steve Cherundolo would likely be the starting right back. Regardless of the solution, it still remains obvious that left back is a position at which the US lacks significant depth. That could be where Edgar Castillo comes into the mix, as the recent addition to the US player pool might provide added strength to a position that has been a soft spot for several years.

Castillo recently took advantage of FIFA's rule change that allows players of any age to switch national teams so long as they have not played in any competitive senior international matches for the first country. Castillo, who is of Mexican descent but born and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico, originally chose to represent El Tri. He played in four friendlies and was even called in for a pair of World Cup qualifiers in the spring, but could not travel with the team because he lost his Mexican passport.

This summer, Castillo made it known that he would like to play for the United States, saying "I want to represent the country where I was born, the place where I live." The necessary paperwork was filed and Castillo was cleared by FIFA last month to play for the United States.

Castillo began his professional career south of the border with Santos Laguna. He played with the club from 2006 to January of 2009, making 78 appearances and scoring 3 goals. His play earned him a transfer to fabled Mexican giants Club America. Castillo was loaned out to Tigres this summer and has made a number of appearances for his new club, including the SuperLiga final against the Chicago Fire.

As a leftback, Castillo possesses quality attacking abilities, which could significantly add to what can be a very stagnant American offense. While it is unlikely that Castillo sees playing time in either of the last two qualifiers because of the magnitude of the situation and his lack of experience with the USMNT players and coaches, it will be interesting to see if Bob Bradley calls him into the camp to get him integrated into the National Team picture.

Though Castillo likely will not play a part in October's qualifiers, he might be able to work his way into the conversation for a World Cup roster spot by next summer if he shines with the Nats. He has yet to prove himself at the international level, which is a whole other level from friendlies and club play, but many Nats fans will be hoping that he can add some depth to the US backline for years to come.

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Daily News 9/28

US looks to strike on the counter against Cameroon- ESPN Soccernet

US Soccer: Monday morning musings- MLS Talk

Durban's dramatic new World Cup stadium ready to open its doors- FIFA.com

American Abroad: A little more- USSoccerPlayers

American striker wants to make a splash across the pond- LA Times

Poor weekend for foreign legion- SoccerAmerica

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No Gooch For You

Another week has gone by, and with it so has another game for Oguchi Onyewu as an unused substitute for his new club AC Milan. The Rossoneri took on newly-promoted Bari at the San Siro, just four days after a road loss to Udinese. All season (however brief it has been), Milan have looked pedestrian at best, and their midtable position is a fair one. Today was no different, as a scrappy Bari side caused a number of problems for the Milan defense. Were it not for the wonderful display of goalkeeping by keeper Marco Storari, i Galletti could have very well stolen a road win.

For a team that is accustomed to challenging for the Serie A title every year and making a run in the Champions League, AC Milan hardly look threatening this season. They've struggled against teams lower down in the table and have gotten handled by the likes of Inter and Udinese. With the hopes of a Serie A title seemingly slipping away already, one has to wonder whether Leonardo will make some changes to the lineup in hopes of shaking things up a bit.

That brings us to Oguchi Onyewu, who has still yet to play in a meaningful match for AC Milan since joining this past summer. Onyewu was able to parlay his strong play in the Confederations Cup into a contract with the Italian giants, but he has so far been unable to crack the lineup. With critical qualifiers coming up in two weeks, it is a very real possibility that Gooch will enter the final round of qualifying without having played a meaningful match for a month.

There are some who might argue that club playing time isn't absolutely essential to playing well with the Nats, as shown by Jozy Altidore (who was riding the pine with Xerez) last spring with his hat trick against Trinidad & Tobago. Nevertheless, it's definitely preferable to have all of your players getting regular minutes, particularly leading up to such a crucial pair of games.

Onyewu will have just one more chance (two more if you count Milan's Wednesday Champions League match against FC Zurich, but it's unlikely Leonardo would experiment then) to get in some playing time before leaving for international duty, as Milan travel to Atalanta next Sunday. Atalanta sit in 19th place and have only scored twice in six games. With Thiago Silva injured and Kakha Kaladze hardly looking spectacular, could this be the time that Onyewu finally gets put into the lineup? Leonardo and his staff seem to favor the Georgian centerback over Onyewu (and what Italian wouldn't favor Kaladze after he scored TWO own goals for the Azzurri in a World Cup qualifier last month?), but with pressure mounting from the fans after a string of lackluster performances, the manager may decide to switch things up and give the American international his chance. A very winnable game against a fairly impotent offense would be the perfect conditions under which to integrate Onyewu into the lineup.

Of particular concern for USMNT fans is that Onyewu's lack of playing time is coupled with an eye injury for Jay DeMerit that will almost certainly keep him out of the last two qualifiers. So the US will have to rely on a pairing of Carlos Bocanegra (who's spent the last month playing at left back) and Oguchi Onyewu (who's spent the last month riding the bench). While Bocanegra has proven serviceable as a centerback, no one would deny that this is hardly the desired set of circumstances.

The last time Onyewu had a significant break from playing was after the Confederations Cup. After joining the Rossoneri for their American tour, Onyewu looked solid but had some mental lapses and moments of rust. This time around, Onyewu has at least been training regularly and will be in game shape. So, though he hasn't been in game situations for a little bit, expect Onyewu to get right back into the swing of things against Honduras and Costa Rica. With American fans and coaches keeping an eye on Onyewu for signs of rust, the big defender will be looking to turn in the type of performance that earned him a contract with AC Milan in the first place.

The defense will be critical in the last two qualifiers, with Onyewu obviously playing a huge role in that. Everyone pulling for the USMNT to make to South Africa next summer will be hoping that a month without playing time won't get in Gooch's way of shutting down our Central American rivals.

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Few Brights for Nats Fans on the Day

With the US U-20s opening up their 2009 U-20 World Cup campaign and with several Nats in action with their European clubs, American fans were hopeful that Saturday would turn out well. Unfortunately, Saturday was hardly memorable.

In Alexandria, Egypt, Thomas Rongen and the US U-20s took on Germany in their opening group match of the U-20 World Cup. The group, which also includes South Korea and Cameroon, is considered the tournament's Group of Death. Fortunately for the US, Germany was without many of its key players, who were not released by their Bundesliga clubs for the tournament. The U-20s were unable to capitalize on this, however, as they fell by a score of 3-0.

The result was a fair one, as the U-20s 4-3-3 formation was very ineffective. Sloppy play and a disorganized attack produced little offensive threat, while the Germans were able to create a number of opportunities. The US was able to keep the score level despite the early German domination. This all changed, however, in the span of three minutes in the first half, when the Germans took a 2-0 lead that they would not relinquish.

The US will take on Cameroon next, who defeated South Korea today, and will need a result to keep their hopes of advancing alive. The team will have to improve on its performance today if they want to replicate the U-20s' deep run in the 2007 edition of this tournament.

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In Europe, a handful of Yanks were in action with their club teams. Much like the U-20s, however, their teams did not end up on the right end of the results. Clint Dempsey played 90 minutes for Fulham, but the Cottagers fell to Arsenal at home by a score of 1-0. Eddie Johnson, who started Fulham's midweek Carling Cup match against Manchester City, did not make the substitutes bench.

In Liverpool, Jozy Altidore's Hull City were embarrassed, losing 6-1 to the Reds. Altidore, who did not feature in Hull's midweek Carling Cup loss, only came on for the final 10 minutes of the match, which by that time was already out of reach. A silver lining for Altidore and Nats fans is that the putrid performances by Hull over the past couple weeks will likely lead to changes in Phil Brown's lineup, potentially meaning more starts for the young striker.

In France, Charlie Davies and Sochaux took on AS Nancy in Ligue 1 play. Once again, however, the American ended up on the wrong end of the score, as Sochaux fell 2-1. Davies played the full 90 minutes, but was unable to find the back of the net for the fourth consecutive match since his debut brace against Bordeaux.

The lone bright spot on the day came in the form of Tim Howard, who recorded his fourth consecutive clean sheet. Howard made three saves in the Toffees' 1-0 win at Portsmouth.

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Daily News 9/26

FIFA U-20 World Cup: Young and restless- New York Times

Rare action for Freddy and Eddie; Cooper scores- SoccerAmerica

US loses Jay DeMerit for key World Cup qualifier against Honduras- LA Times

Onyewu still waiting in Milan- ESPN Soccernet

US U-20s face watered-down German lineup- ESPN Soccernet

Cyberpolice crack down on World Cup ticket fraud- ESPN Soccernet

Edgar Castillo among growing US assets in Mexico- SI.com


Be sure to catch the US U-20s in their opening match of the 2009 U-20 World Cup against Germany at 9:45 AM ET on ESPN Classic and ESPN360.com!

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Looking Ahead to 10/10: UEFA

While all of us will be focused on the USA-Honduras match two weeks from now, there will be many more games going on around the world earlier in the day that will go a long way towards shaping the 2010 World Cup. The races for automatic births have been tight on all the continents, not just in CONCACAF. With that in mind, here are some things to look for in Europe on the next matchday.

Matchday 9 will be huge for Group 1, where first-place Denmark and fourth-place Hungary are separated by five points. With Denmark on 18 points, Sweden on 15, Portugal on 13, and Hungary on 13, no one has guaranteed of even a playoff spot yet. Sweden will be taking on Denmark in Copenhagen, as the Danes look to return to the World Cup after missing out on the 2002 edition. Portugal, meanwhile, have their backs against the wall and need a result at home against Hungary to keep their World Cup dreams alive.

Group 2 is not much different, as leaders Switzerland (17 points) are just 3 points up on second-place Greece and third-place Latvia (14 points each), with Israel (12 points) still in the picture. Greece and Latvia will square off in Athens in a match that could very well end either side's hopes of progressing. Switzerland, meanwhile, can put themselves in a great position to gain an automatic birth by winning at Luxembourg. If the Swiss can win, and Greece and Latvia share the points in their match, they will earn a place in South Africa. A tie between Greece and Latvia could also open the door for Israel to sneak back into contention, as the Israelis will be hosting Moldova and looking to close the gap between themselves and the aforementioned teams. With just two games to play, much is still to be decided in both Group 1 and Group 2.

Elsewhere, Turkey's World Cup dreams are on life support, as they trail second-place Bosnia and Herzegovina by 4 points with just two matches left. With group leaders Spain already clinching a place in South Africa, only Group 5's playoff spot is up for grabs. Bosnia and Herzegovina can eliminate the Turks by winning in Estonia (who have already been eliminated). Turkey, meanwhile, will be all but eliminated if they draw at Belgium. Even if Bosnia loses, the Turks will still be 3 points behind and have to make up a massive goal differential in the final match (Bosnia has a 10 goal advantage over Turkey at this point). So, it is looking as if Turkey, the semifinalists from Euro 2008, will be missing out on South Africa.

In Group 6, Ukraine can all but assure themselves of a playoff spot if they can beat England (who have already earned their spot in the World Cup) at home on Matchday 9. With a win, Ukraine would move 1 point ahead of second place Croatia, who have already played 9 games. With a 1 point edge going into the final matchday, Ukraine would only need a win at lowly Andorra to take Group 6's playoff spot.

The UEFA playoffs will likely feature several heavy hitters. Russia will be one of the teams involved, while France looks likely to be another. Meanwhile, one team out of Denmark, Portugal, Sweden, Hungary will be in the playoffs, with either Ukraine or Croatia joining them. The draw for the playoffs will likely play a huge role in deciding who goes to South Africa, as all of the aforementioned teams will be looking to avoid each other in the final round.


In the next couple weeks, we'll also take a look at CONMEBOL and African qualifying, while also discussing the AFC-OFC playoff between Bahrain and New Zealand.

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Daily News 9/25

Happy Friday:

USA and Mexico looking to play Holland and Spain- LA Times

Honduras aim to keep US match at home- ESPN Soccernet

Preview of US U-20 MNT World Cup match vs Germany Saturday- Potomac Soccerwire

Eye infection troubling DeMerit- Yanks Abroad

Dynamo sign "face of franchise" Ching to new deal- Houston Chronicle

Preview: Weekend English action- Yanks Abroad

World Cup qualifying's top players- Yahoo! Sports

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FIFA OK with Honduras...For Now

There has been a lot of discussion over the past couple days about whether the ongoing political conflict in Honduras could potentially force the USA-Honduras World Cup Qualifier to be moved to another site. Today, FIFA stated that they do not foresee having to move the October 10 match. With a little over two weeks until the day of the game and an ever-changing situation in Honduras, FIFA also added that they would continue to monitor security in the Central American nation.

Though we all want the US to win and would love for them to avoid a game in San Pedro Sula, it really is a shame that all of this happening right now. Political strife and internal conflict is taking away from a bright period for Honduran soccer, as Los Catratchos are on the verge of qualifying for their first World Cup since 1982. Let's hope the situation resolves itself with minimal impact on the Honduran National Team and all of the people of Honduras.

Nevertheless, it's worth thinking about the possibility of this game being played at another venue. Moving a World Cup Qualifier would not be an unprecedented move, as FIFA moved the second leg of the China-Myanmar opening round tie in 2007. Neighboring Guatemala could be one possibility, with FIFA stating that the new venue would have to be agreed upon by both sides.

Though FIFA has stated that it doesn't think the match will need to be moved, they may not have the final say. Should the US State Department, which has stated that all non-essential travel to Honduras by American citizens should be deferred until further notice, prevent the team from travelling for security purposes, FIFA will be forced to move the match.

With a little more than two weeks remaining until the game, it will be interesting to see how this situation plays out.

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Daily News 9/24

Some news and notes to get you through your Thursday:

USA monitoring Honduras situation- Steven Goff, Washington Post

USSF officials monitoring security in Honduras- ESPN Soccernet

Q & A: Brian McBride responds to readers- New York Times

Donovan: Win at Honduras, don't leave it to chance- Associated Press

Rising Stars: Part II- Yanks Abroad

Casey lifts Rapids to tie with Earthquakes- Associated Press

Holden: Playing for the US a no-brainer- Goal.com

Report: Cadiz tried for Adu Transfer- Goal.com

Landon Donovan on US and MLS Future- Yanks Abroad Soccer Highlights (video)


Enjoy!

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Adu Debuts for Belenenses

The summer transfer/loan saga with Freddy Adu had many American fans nervous that the 20-year old would wind up stuck on the bench at Benfica this season. Thanks to a last minute loan move to Portuguese Liga side Belenenses, however, fans were given hope that this would be the year Freddy gets regular playing time in Europe.

From the get go, Adu's manager said that he would be slowly integrated in the squad, so Adu did not take part in Belenenses' first few matches. Today, though, with a League Cup match against Rio Ave, Adu was given his first taste of playing time with his new club. Adu came on as a second half substitute and immediately injected life into the Belenenses attack.


Adu showed flashes of what got American fans so excited about him in the first place, as he displayed quick combination play, good 1-on-1 ability, and quality crosses in his 26 minutes of playing time. Unfortunately for Adu, none of his teammates could finish off any of his crosses, and Belenenses lost 1-0. Overall, though, Adu was a standout performer in the second half.

Freddy played as an outside midfielder and more centrally later on in the match. Adu will hope to parlay this solid performance into consistent playing time, something he has not had since his days in MLS.

While his club career should be his focus now, as a fan one cannot help but think that Adu could work his way back onto Bob Bradley's radar with a good season at the club level. With the US lacking depth at outside midfield, particularly on the left hand side, it is not out of the realm of possibilities that Adu could work himself back into the World Cup conversation. For the time being, however, Freddy and his fans should just keep focusing on play with Belenenses. If he shows well, the call from Bob Bradley will come; until then, Adu just has to keep earning playing time and taking advantage of it.

Like many American fans, I for one am just happy to see him back on the field.

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Cooper Scores, EJ goes 90

There was plenty to watch today, with several Americans in action in Cup and League play. While Oguchi Onyewu once again did not see the field for AC Milan, American fans had a few things to cheer about on the day, most notably the debut of Freddy Adu with Belenenses.

In England, a handful of Americans took part in League Cup play. Brad Guzan got the start for Aston Villa against Cardiff City in place of Brad Friedel. In 90 minutes, Guzan made several quality saves, preserving a clean sheet en route to a 1-0 victory for the Villans. Guzan, who has cemented his role as the USMNT #2 behind Tim Howard, compiled 6 saves in the win.

The aforementioned Tim Howard was also in action, as Everton took on Hull City. Jozy Altidore was not in the lineup for Tigers, as Hull suffered yet another defeat. The Toffees won comfortably by a score of 4-0, with Tim Howard making six saves for his third consecutive clean sheet.

Elsewhere, Kenny Cooper scored once again for 1860 Munich in their German Cup match against Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin. Cooper's beautiful strike in the 49th minute double 1860's lead to 2-0 (we'll try to find you a video of the goal as soon as possible). The former FC Dallas striker was subbed off in the 68th minute, as his side eventually won the match on penalties. Cooper, who scored twice in limited action during the Gold Cup, is looking to make his case for one of the striker spots on Bob Bradley's World Cup roster.


Eddie Johnson, who was languishing on the bench at Cardiff City this time last season, played 90 minutes and set up Fulham's lone goal in their League Cup tie against Manchester City. Johnson and company were able to take a full-strength Man City side to extra time, before eventually falling 2-1. Johnson's cult-like following of fans will be pleased to see him getting some playing time and making an impact with Fulham. Though he still sits a ways down the pecking order, Johnson didn't do anything to hurt his chances of earning some more playing time down the road (albeit, likely just in the cup competitions). For many fans, it was nice to see Eddie back on the field for a full 90. Once thought of as America's next great striker, Johnson has found playing time hard to come by since moving over to Europe from MLS.

Last but not least, the Sochaux-Rennes Coupe de la Ligue tie did not end up featuring either Charlie Davies or Carlos Bocanegra. Both players were rested by their managers for the upcoming league matches.

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Plenty of Yanks in Action Wednesday

If you're looking for a distraction from work or have some time between classes, look for these games online featuring National Team members:

English League Cup

2:45- Aston Villa v. Cardiff City (Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan)
2:45- Hull City v. Everton (Jozy Altidore, Tim Howard)
2:45- Fulham v. Manchester City (Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson)

Scottish CIS Cup

2:35- Rangers v. Queen of the South (DaMarcus Beasley, Mo Edu)

Serie A

2:45- AC Milan v. Udinese (Oguchi Onyewu)

German Cup

1:00- 1860 Munich v. Hertha Berlin (Kenny Cooper)

Coupe de La Ligue

2:45- Sochaux v. Rennes (Charlie Davies, Carlos Bocanegra)


And later tonight, you can check out some domestic-based players in action, as the Columbus Crew (Chad Marshall, Robbie Rogers, Frankie Hejduk) take on Mexico's Cruz Azul in CONCACAF Champions League play at 8:00 PM ET on Fox Soccer Channel. Also, Conor Casey and the Colorado Rapids face off against San Jose at 9:30 PM ET in MLS play. Sacha Kljestan and Jonathan Bornstein will play with Chivas USA in an exhibition against Chivas de Guadalajara at the Rose Bowl, as well.

We'll have a full recap of how all of the Yanks fare in today's slate of games later tonight.

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Daily News 9/23

Midweek news and notes:

US Soccer Hall closes except for special events- USA Today

Preview: German Cup action- Yanks Abroad

Americans abroad, Dutch madness, MLS- Steven Goff, Washington Post

'Gladbach coach: Michael Bradley is an option again- Goal.com

Honduras defender Figueroa confident of beating US- ESPN Soccernet

Behind the scenes with Jonny Spector- World Cup blog

Holden scores twice in Dynamo win- USA Today

Adu looks set to make Belenenses matchday roster- Goal.com

Could Honduran crisis affect US qualifier?- Match Fit USA


Keep an eye out for potential debuts from Freddy Adu and Oguchi Onyewu on Wednesday, as Belenenses take on Rio Ave in the Portuguese League Cup and AC Milan take on Udinese in league play.

Also, there will be a matchup of USMNT starters in France, as Charlie Davies and Carlos Bocanegra will go head-to-head in the Sochaux-Rennes Coupe de la Ligue match.

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CONCACAF Qualifying Scenarios

After 8 rounds, not much has been decided in CONCACAF. Pretty much all we know at this point is that Trinidad & Tobago won't be making a second consecutive trip to the World Cup after qualifying for the '06 edition. The next round of games could be a decisive one, as the US, Mexico, and Honduras can all clinch births to South Africa with the right results.

With so many scenarios possible, we're just going to focus on those involving the US (because that's why you're reading this after all, isn't it?). There are several different ways by which the US could earn an automatic birth on October 10th, some of which are a lot more likely than others.

First, the US could win in Honduras. Simple as that; a win gets the US a World Cup birth (and would also put Honduras on its heels going into the final game of qualifying). Now, this is far easier said than done, and many feel that even considering this to be a possibility is overly optimistic. Honduras has been dominant at home in every sense of the word, winning all 8 of their home games by a combined score of 22-3. This includes two victories over Mexico and a 4-0 dismantling of then-first place Costa Rica. So while this is certainly a possibility, other scenarios seem a little more realistic.
The second way in which the US could qualify for South Africa next round is if Costa Rica lose to Trinidad & Tobago at home. A few months ago, the thought of Costa Rica losing at home would have seemed laughable; after their 3-0 home defeat to Mexico, though, Costa Rica are looking like a shell of the side that dominated qualification early on. Even though Costa Rica will be debuting a new coach and are in a state of disarray, Trinidad & Tobago are the Hex cellar dwellers and have only earned five points to this point, so a road win for the already-eliminated Soca Warriors doesn't seem too realistic either. Nevertheless, T&T has put in two solid road performances, earning a point at El Salvador (which neither Costa Rica or Mexico could do) and putting in a good showing at Estadio Azteca. The X-factor in all of this will be whether T&T have the motivation to play the spoiler and go at Costa Rica hard even though their World Cup dreams are over.

This brings us to our next possibility, which seems the most likely so far. A Costa Rica-T&T draw would essentially guarantee the US an automatic birth, barring some cataclysmic pair of results for Bob Bradley's squad. The US has a nine goal advantage over Costa Rica in goal differential, so unless the Nats lost their last two games by nine goals, a Costa Rica-T&T draw would essentially give them a place in the World Cup. So, the US could qualify next round even with a loss at San Pedro Sula. If a Costa Rica-T&T draw is coupled with a US-Honduras draw, that also would put the Yanks through to South Africa.

All three CONCACAF automatic births could be decided on October 10th. Mexico, Honduras, and the US could all qualify if the following happens: 1) Costa Rica loses to T&T, 2) Honduras beats the US, and 3) Mexico earns at least a point against El Salvador. With the way qualifying has gone up to this point, though, expect it to go right down to the wire, with all four teams looking to avoid the dreaded two-leg playoff with CONMEBOL's fifth place team.


With the next round of World Cup Qualifying being so important around the world, we will be analyzing all of the confederations over the coming weeks, so you know what to look out for on October 10th.

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Daily News 9/22

Plenty of news for your Tuesday:

Tough week for Americans in big leagues- Jen Chang, ESPN Soccernet

Tickets, anyone?- Big Apple Soccer

Under-20 World Cup loses some luster with star names missing- ESPN Soccernet

FIFA unveil Coca-Cola World Cup trophy tour- Goal.com

Every U-20 World Cup game on ESPN networks- Orlando Sentinel

Americans add English-based player for camp- SoccerAmerica

Americans abroad: keeping in England- USSoccerPlayers

To-do list- SI.com

Recap: weekend Danish action- Yanks Abroad

Recap: weekend Norwegian action- Yanks Abroad

Preview: midweek English League Cup action- Yanks Abroad

Keepers highlight quiet week for foreign legion- SoccerAmerica


Enjoy!

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The Rise of Stuart Holden

Before his emergence with the senior National Team this summer, Stuart Holden had already been a fixture in the US youth squads. He made a number of appearances for the US U-20 and U-23 teams, which included time at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. But Scottish by birth, Holden had two options for the senior international level: represent the country in which he was born, or the country he had lived in since he was 10.

Any fears of losing another quality player to another country's national team (a la Neven Subotic this past year) were allayed this past July, when Holden earned his first cap with the National Team in the Gold Cup.

The tournament would put Holden onto Bob Bradley's radar for World Cup qualifying, as he put in a number of quality performances for the US en route to the final. He scored 2 goals in 5 games, both of which were memorable ones. The first came in his first cap against Grenada, which would have been memorable even without the goal, while the second was a 30 yard bomb against Haiti late in the match that rescued a point for the US.

In addition to his goal-scoring ability, Holden showed great vision in the tournament, dishing out 3 assists, 2 of which came in the USMNT's 2-0 semifinal victory over Honduras. American fans were impressed by Holden's passing ability, an example of which was his perfectly weighted through-ball to Davy Arnaud that opened the scoring against Haiti. For a team that has lacked creative play in the past, Holden was a welcome addition.


All in all, Holden showed very well in the tournament and was deservedly named to the All-Tournament team. His play also earned him a trip to Estadio Azteca for the USA-Mexico qualifier on August 12th. There, Holden came off the bench and injected life into a sluggish US attack. Playing his first road match in a USA jersey in CONCACAF's toughest stadium, Holden showed no signs of intimidation and performed admirably, earning himself a call into camp again in September.

Once again, Holden came off the bench and provided a spark in both the game against El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago. His crosses and flank play nearly created goals in both games, as he caused problems for the opposition's defense as soon as he stepped onto the field.

At the beginning of the summer, Holden had yet to earn a cap for the senior National Team. Now, he and Benny Feilhaber are the two primary offensive sparkplugs off the US bench. Holden's recent performances have put him in great position to earn a spot on the US World Cup roster (should they qualify), with many believing that he has already cemented his place in the squad.

At 24 years old, Holden has many years ahead of him with the National Team, and he has grown substantially as a player over the last couple seasons in MLS. With many expecting the young star to head overseas in the winter transfer window, expect Holden to continue his growth and improvement. Though his rise to National Team prominence has been fast, Holden is thought of as the real deal, and fans, writers, and coaches expect him to be a fixture in the National Team picture for years to come.

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Daily News 9/21

Some Monday morning news:

Revisiting the Gold Cup Final and its impact on CONCACAF- MLS Talk

YA Exclusive: Another Star Gone- Yanks Abroad

Four quality teams square off- FIFA.com

Recap: Weekend English action- Yanks Abroad

Brazil spending US$ 86 billion to host the 2014 World Cup- Brazzil Mag

2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup preview- CBC.ca

US U-17's headed to England camp- soccer365

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Yanks in Action Sunday Morning

Here's your recap of Yanks in action on Sunday morning:

Clint Dempsey played 62 minutes in Fulham's 2-1 loss at Wolverhampton. Eddie Johnson was not in the Fulham lineup, while Marcus Hahnemann was an unused sub for Wolves.

Tim Howard had 4 saves in Everton's 3-0 home victory over Blackburn for Howard's first league clean sheet of the season.

In Italy, Oguchi Onyewu was once again an unused substitute for AC Milan in their 1-0 home victory over Bologna. In a World Cup year, it will be critical for Onyewu to get regular playing time with his club, and American fans, writers, and coaches alike are anxious for the big defender to break into the AC Milan lineup.

Kenny Cooper played 81 minutes and picked up a yellow card in 1860 Munich's 2-0 loss.


Also, here's a video from ESPN Soccernet Press Pass recapping Americans abroad in action yesterday.

Enjoy your Sunday!

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Nats in MLS Recap

The Wizards-FC Dallas game saw a matchup of two National Team defenders looking to make a push for the final spots in the World Cup roster (assuming the US qualifies). Unfortunately for Jimmy Conrad and Heath Pearce, they each had some less than spectacular moments.

Kansas City took an early 1-0 lead, but they would then give up the next two goals due to poor giveaways by Conrad. In the first half, an errant pass to the center of the field sprung Dax McCarty for the tying goal. Then, in the second half, Conrad tried to dribble out of trouble in the back, was dispossessed, and again had to pick the ball out of the back of his net thanks to Jeff Cunningham.

Fortunately for Conrad, however, he reedemed himself by scoring the winning goal in the 80th minute of Kansas City's 3-2 victory. After a near own goal forced Dallas keeper Dario Sala to tip a header off his own cross bar, Jimmy Conrad was all alone on the backpost to nod in the loose ball.

Pearce, who came on in the 62nd minute for his FC Dallas debut, was that FC Dallas defender whose attempted clearance of a cross nearly found its way into his own goal. Though Sala was able to steer the ball away, it did eventually lead to Conrad's finish and a lost point for FC Dallas.


In Houston, Brian Ching and Stuart Holden led the Dynamo against Kyle Beckerman and RSL. Ricardo Clark was not in the lineup for this one, but the Dynamo were still able to pull out a 3-2 victory.

Ching had an eventful game that started with a second minute goal typical of his gritty style, as he got his leg around his defender to redirect a Brad Davis freekick for a 2nd minute goal. The Dynamo doubled their lead before Gold Cup standout Kyle Beckerman helped bring RSL back into the match. After some nice buildup through the midfield, Beckerman was slotted through and finished cooly from the top of the box past an oncoming Pat Onstad.

Stuart Holden was active all night, being heavily involved in a number of quality scoring opportunities as Houston looked for the winner. The Dynamo eventually found that goal late in the match for a 3-2 win, but Brian Ching found himself headed to the showers early, after a hard challenge led to him being shown a straight red card.

Last but not least, Landon Donovan played a key role in Los Angeles' 2-0 victory over Toronto FC. With the Galaxy up 1-0 in the second half, Donovan sprung ahead of his defender into the TFC box and looked to have been tugged down, but was not awarded with a penalty. In the 83rd minute, however, Donovan helped complete a beautiful goal by hitting a David Beckham cross first-time right to the foot of Edson Buddle, who finished to seal the victory.


It's looking as if we're on a collision course for a Western Conference Final full of National Team stars, as the Dynamo and Galaxy appear to be the class of the West. Meanwhile, Chivas USA stars Sascha Kljestan and Jonathan Bornstein (who featured in Chivas USA's 0-0 draw at Seattle yesterday) will be looking to get their team into the playoffs.

Today, Chad Marshall and Robbie Rogers will be in action as the Crew take on the Chicago Fire.

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Bocanegra, Rennes cruise to victory

National team captain Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes won comfortably over Grenoble today by a score of 4-0. Les Rouges et Noirs scored 3 goals in the opening 20 minutes, giving Bocanegra and the rest of the backline plenty of security. Bocanegra played the full 90 minutes, as Rennes move up to third place in the Ligue 1 table, four points behind reigning champions Bordeaux.

Elsewhere in France, Charlie Davies played 90 minutes for Sochaux in their match against Valenciennes. Sochaux got off to a promising start, scoring off a corner kick just 3 minutes in. Unfortunately, the Valenciennes attack proved to be quite potent on the day, burying 5 goals en route to a 5-2 victory. Sochaux are in 13th place, but just 2 points clear of the relegation spots at this early stage in the season.

In Germany, Michael Bradley was an unused substitute in Borussia Monchengladbach's 4-2 loss to Hoffenheim. Bradley, who was a stalwart for 'Gladbach last season, has found playing time hard to come by this season, which has some national team fans concerned.

Steve Cherundolo captained Hannover 96 in their 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund. He played the full 90 minutes and was given a yellow card late in the match. The long-time Hannover defender will be looking to turn in impressive performances in the Bundesliga in hopes of winning back the starting right back spot for the USMNT from West Ham's Jonathan Spector. Spector, meanwhile, was an unused substitute in West Ham's 3-2 loss to Liverpool.

Jozy Altidore got the start for Hull City against Birmingham and played 64 minutes. The Tigers lost 1-0, and are now in one of the three relegation spots. Many pundits predicted that the Tigers would find themselves in the relegation battle, and it's looking like Jozy and company might have to pull off another miracle to secure safety for Hull City.

Tonight's MLS action will feature a slew of National Team regulars and hopefuls. Brian Ching, Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden, and the rest of the Houston Dynamo will face off against Real Salt Lake. RSL's Robbie Findley and Kyle Beckerman will look to push for a spot in the USMNT picture with a good finish to the MLS season.

Landon Donovan and the LA Galaxy will host Toronto FC at the Home Depot Center tonight, while hopefuls Jimmy Conrad and Sascha Kljestan will look to turn in good performances for Kansas City and Chivas USA, respectively. With the MLS season quickly drawing to a close, time is ticking for domestic-based players looking to secure a spot on the National Team.

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Daily News 9/19

Only a few news stories this morning, but we'll be sure to let you know how all the Yanks abroad fare today.

US target Jermaine Jones remains sidelined by injury- Soccer FanHouse

Soccer's footprint in US is expanding- Columbus Dispatch

Casey's goal salvages 1-1 tie- Denver Post

Jet-setting keeper Tim Howard delighted Everton FC are off to a flier in Europe- Liverpool Echo

Top 5 likely MLS winter Euro-departures- No Short Corners

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Remember Lee?

Lee Nguyen used to be spoken of in the same conversation as some of the USMNT's much-hyped youth prospects. In 2005, Lee's play at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championships impressed then-PSV manager Guus Hiddink, who brought in the young Vietnamese-American to his team. At just 19 years of age, Nguyen had many American fans excited about his potential.

Predictably, Nguyen did not get much playing time early on in his time at PSV, but he remained in good favor with Hiddink. His potential, however, earned him a call-up to the US roster for the 2007 Copa America. Though the roster was largely a "B" team, five of its members are now considered regulars for the National Team (Ricardo Clark, Jay Demerit, Jonathan Bornstein, Benny Feilhaber, and Charlie Davies), so Lee was in good company and appeared to be on track to become a fixture at outside midfield for the National Team in the coming years.


Unfortunately, as has been the case in recent years with other young Americans (see: Adu, Freddy), a change in managers meant the end for Lee at PSV. After Guus Hiddink left to take the job as coach of the Russian national team, Nguyen found himself dropped down to the reserves. Though he played well with PSV's reserve side, he did not receive any serious look for first team action, and decided to take his game elsewhere.

In 2008, Lee moved to Randers of the Danish SuperLiga, where he played a fair amount. As only a 21 year old, Nguyen still had some time to right the ship and get to regular first team action. Despite making 22 appearances for Randers in less than a year there, Lee decided to move away from Europe altogether this past winter, opting to sign a deal with Hoang Anh Gia Lai of Vietnam.


The move to the V-League left many American soccer fans scratching their heads, wondering why this 22 year old would leave Europe for a weak league in southeast Asia. While a nice paycheck and getting in touch with his ancestral roots were bonuses from the move, what was most important for Lee's development was the fact that he was playing regularly. In 24 appearances, Nguyen produced frequently, finishing his season with 9 goals and 16 assists.

Despite his solid play, many Americans considered Lee's window of opportunity to earn a spot on the national team closed. Even though he was just 22, the move to HAGL caused many fans and pundits alike to write off the former Indiana Hoosier as a prospect who just never made it. Lee, though, saw his time in Vietnam as just a way to right the ship and put him back on track for success in Europe. His decision to sign with HAGL would prove to pay dividends once the season ended, as it helped him land a stint with one of Europe's most storied clubs.

Following the season in Vietnam, Lee went back to Europe to pursue some new options. His journey starts in London, where he is now practicing with Arsenal. Lee was able to get this opportunity to train with one of the world's biggest teams because of a relationship between Arsenal and HAGL. When asked about whether the stint was just training or if it was a trial, Lee vaguely answered via Twitter that is was both.

Over the last week, Lee has trained with Arsenal's players and coaches, with some sessions run by Arsene Wenger himself. Should Lee impress, he will put himself into a good position to latch on to another European team (as Wenger is well connected), or, if he absolutely stuns the Arsenal brass, he could earn himself a contract with the Gunners. While the latter is certainly less likely, it will be interesting to see what comes of Lee following his season off the grid. Did the year in Vietnam stunt his growth as a player and spell the end for his time as a USMNT prospect? Or did his run with HAGL give him additional confidence critical to his future development as a player? We shall find out in the coming months and years. But one thing's for sure, Lee has already had an interesting journey in his soccer career, and he's only 22 years old.

Here's hoping he's got a few more stops along the way.

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Daily News 9/18

Friday's stories about the USMNT and its players:

Rising Stars: Part I- Yanks Abroad

Gooch and Milan: A Bad Deal?- MLS Talk

Lack of PT a Concern for Bradley, Onyewu- ESPN Insider

Europe's Not Always Better- Yanks Abroad

Jonathan Bornstein to Appear on 9/21 Fox Football Fone-In- Reuters

Thursday Kickaround- Washington Post

Donovan: Honduras Will Qualify for the World Cup- La Prensa (in Spanish)

Jones Will Not Have Another Surgery- Soccer By Ives

Chad Marshall Out Because of Sprained Knee- Columbus Dispatch

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Yanks in Europe Recap

It was a slow week for Americans involved in European club competitions.

Fulham traveled to Bulgaria to take on CSKA Sofia in their opening match in Group E of the Europa League. Unfortunately for American fans, neither Clint Dempsey or Eddie Johnson were called into the matchday squad. Dempsey is carrying an injury and was given some rest (as were many other Fulham regulars). Johnson, meanwhile, has found it hard to work his way into the squad this season despite a promising preseason. Johnson's best chance for playing time might come if Diomansy Kamara leaves Craven Cottage on loan, rumors of which are floating around.



Fulham was able to draw the game 1-1, putting them in second place in their group behind Swiss side FC Basel. These two teams will face off at Craven Cottage in the next round of matches.

Elsewhere in the Europa League, Everton took on AEK Athens at Goodison Park. Tim Howard posted a shutout, as the Toffees won comfortably by a score of 4-0. The win puts Everton at the top of Group I, which also features Portuguese giants Benfica and FC BATE of Belarus.

In the Champions League, DaMarcus Beasley was an unused substitute in Rangers' 1-1 draw at Stuttgart. Meanwhile, Oguchi Onyewu was not in the matchday squad for AC Milan's away victory over Marseilles. Onyewu has yet to make an appearance in a competitive match for i Rossoneri.

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Daily News 9/17

A few stories for your Thursday:

Despite Uphill Battle, US Still Leads Qualifying Fight- ESPN Soccernet

US World Cup Foe Costa Rica Could Turn Tough- LA Times

Brazilian Rene Simoes Named Costa Rica Football Coach- Associated Press

SBI 23 for 2010 September 2009 Edition- Soccer By Ives

MLS Will Take World Cup Break- Washington Post

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USA-Honduras: The Venue

Win, and we're in. That's what's at stake on October 10, when the USMNT travels to San Pedro Sula to take on Honduras in the penultimate round of Hex matches. Obviously, though, this is easier said than done. Road games in CONCACAF always prove to be challenging, as raucous atmospheres and often sub-par playing conditions combine to create an experience that is far from hospitable.

This match will be played at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano, where Los Catratchos have been unbeatable this cycle. In 8 home matches, Honduras has compiled a perfect 8-0-0 record, winning by a combined margin of 22-3. They haven't allowed an opponent to score more than one goal in any of those games, which includes two victories over Mexico. In fact, to find the last World Cup qualifier loss for Honduras in San Pedro Sula, you have to go all the way back to 2001, when Trinidad & Tobago and (coincidentally) the United States were able to pull off road wins.



It's no secret that the US has struggled on the road in qualifying up to this point, with a record of 4-3-1. The victories include underwhelming performances against Cuba and Barbados, but also include gritty wins such as the semifinal round victory in Guatemala and last week's win in Trinidad.

In the Hex, road performances have been categorized by slow starts (with the game against Mexico as a slight exception). Early deficits against El Salvador and Costa Rica kept the US from getting 3 points, while shaky moments almost put the US in a whole against the Soca Warriors. Though Charlie Davies' early goal against Mexico provided the US with a rare quick start, they relinquished the lead soon thereafter, erasing the momentum that an early road goal provides.

So, with a hostile crowd in one of CONCACAF's toughest road venues, the US will look to pull off one more road win to book their ticket to South Africa. Like almost all away matches in CONCACAF, look for a boisterous crowd and less-than-ideal field conditions to play a part in this game.

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Daily News 9/16

Some news to get you through your Wednesday:

Landon Donovan Deserves National Team MVP Award- NJ.com

Does Jermaine Jones Have a Future on the US Team?- MLS Talk

Jermaine Jones Might Need Another Surgery- ESPN Soccernet

Recap: Weekend Danish Action- Yanks Abroad

Hornets Duo Could Return- Club Call

Chivas' Bornstein Getting Full-Time Work- MLSnet.com

Spector: Eyes On Europe- Yanks Abroad

Catching Up with GK Tim Howard- Grant Wahl, SI.com

Howard Feeling Good- NSNO.co.uk

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Daily News 9/15

Here are a few news stories to get you through the day:

US U-20s aim to make their mark in Egypt- Soccernet

Another Debacle. No Live TV for USA Road Qualifier in Honduras- MLS Talk

Surveying the US team's landscape- Jen Chang blog, Soccernet

Rodrigo Kenton fired as Costa Rican soccer coach- Tico Times

Enjoy your Tuesday!

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The Week That Was: World Cup Qualifying

Following the 2-1 loss in Estadio Azteca last August, fans knew that the first week of September would be critical in the USMNT's quest to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Though the games were against the two cellar dwellers of the Hex, El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago, no one expected an easy six points, as CONCACAF qualifying is always a tricky process.

Fortunately for the Nats and their fans, Bob Bradley and company were able to come away with six points from these two games. The stretch, however, had its fair share of negatives in addition to the positives, which we will examine further.

First, a positive: 2 games, 6 points. It's hard to complain about the bottom line of matchdays 7 and 8, which is that the US won both games, one of which was on the road. The 6 additional points put the US at the top of the Hex with just two games remaining, putting them tantilizingly close to an automatic birth in South Africa and guaranteeing at least a place in the CONCACAF/CONMEBOL playoff.

On a negative note, though, both games were unnecessarily nerve-wracking. Yes, CONCACAF qualifying is a tricky path to navigate, but games against the bottom two sides remaining shouldn't have been the white-knuckle, stomach-turning performances that they were. Though the Yanks were able to rebound nicely against El Salvador to overturn an early deficit, they failed to apply the killer blow (i.e. a third goal) that would have sealed the victory. Instead, they let Los Cuscatlecos hang around, which led to some frantic defending and nervous moments towards the end of the match.

In Trinidad, meanwhile, the US came out very slow and could have very easily been in a 3-0 deficit were it not for the spectacular goalkeeping of Tim Howard. A lackluster first half was almost overturned by a late effort on goal by Landon Donovan, but a save meant that the two sides went to half tied 0-0.

The US attack was still fairly anemic in the second half, and three points were only rescued by a swerving strike by Ricardo Clark, who was about to be subbed off. Clark's bullet was clutch in every sense of the word, and it was all the US needed to preserve the win.

Another positive, Stuart Holden continues to add energy to the US attack. The Houston Dynamo midfielder once again added some spark to the lineup with his insertion into both games. Holden is looking like a likely fixture in the World Cup roster, and he may be the player that comes on for Clint Dempsey or takes Dempsey's outside midfield position when Clint slides up top to relieve Jozy Altidore or Charlie Davies.

With one last negative, let's talk about the crowd in Sandy. While many of us were hoping for a duplication of the raucous, pro-US crowd that cheered the Nats on to victory over Costa Rica in the last cycle, we were disappointed to find that there were some empty seats and plenty of El Salvador fans at Rio Tinto.

Yes, the Salvadoran population in Los Angeles made this match accessible for some of the opponent's fans, but color me disappointed that Utah didn't step up to stake its claim as the "Columbus of the West". With the diverse population in our country, it's difficult to really get a homefield advantage against Central American teams, so the USSF needs to find other places like Crew Stadium to get decidely pro-US crowds. Though Rio Tinto definitely had a majority of US fans, it did not duplicate Salt Lake City's sold-out crowd that created a rare homefield advantage back in 2005. Could the recession play a factor with regards to the empty seats? Perhaps. But I was expecting more for such a big game. Nevertheless, Rio Tinto looked great, and the US fans in attendance had plenty to cheer about when all was said and done.

With two games left and World Cup hopes still hanging in the balance, fans will eagerly await the final week of qualifying. Bob Bradley and his staff have a little under a month to work out the kinks and prepare for two stiff tests that stand in their way of a trip to South Africa.

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Welcome to US Soccer Daily!

Welcome everyone to US Soccer Daily, a site dedicated to all things relating to the United States Men's National Soccer Team, its players, and the world of international soccer. USSD will be bringing you daily news links about the USMNT, game previews, post-game write ups, opinion pieces, interviews, and more.

With World Cup Qualifying coming down to the wire, it's an exciting time to be a fan of the Yanks. Hopefully US Soccer Daily will help you stay in the know about all things relating to your favorite team, its players, and the various international competitions going on across the world.

Enjoy!

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