CONCACAF Nations League

Discussion in 'Prem talk, Those Other Leagues, and International' started by BarryWhite, May 24, 2021.

  1. AggieMatt

    AggieMatt Well-Known Member

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    Wow!! Been a while since US Soccer made me feel like that. Proud of the boys, great heart!
     
    #21
  2. MicahMan

    MicahMan Administrator

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    Mar 4, 2014
    I haven't stayed up past midnight to watch the USMNT since Japan/Korea 2002 but this was well worth it. What a crazy finish. Both teams got better after the second half subs came on. The US in particular steadied once they stopped playing up from the back after Steffen left. I got the feels when Horvath was in tears after the final whistle blew. As Dempsey said "I'm not crying! YOU'RE crying!!" In case you didn't stay up past your bedtime to watch the end, here are the highlights (they don't include the guy who ran on the field that was tackled by security, Reyna getting hit in the head by a cup loaded with ice from angry Mexican fans, or the delay due to offensive anti-gay chants.)
     
    #22
  3. dtowndough

    dtowndough Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2011
    Hey SoCal - I did not make it. We just got back from a vacation so decided to double screen it at home with Southern Miss baseball. Turned out to be quite the evening.
     
    #23
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  4. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

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    Peoples Republic of South Texas
    Extremely proud of the boys. With a few exceptions, they played like the top professionals they are. I was going to criticize a few, but since we kicked us some El Tri ass, I'll go to the other extreme ... best player on the day:

    1. Gio Reyna -- goal, assist, in-your-face attitude
    1a. Weston Mckinnie -- love everything about this guy. Shorter than everybody but wins every header ... goal, assist, and attitude again
    1b. John Brooks -- love this guy ... played solid D and intimidated his opponents
    1c . Ethan Horvath -- come the time, come the man -- I know there'll be a highlight reel of his work so please enjoy it
    1d. Christian Pulisic -- his second half performance was epic

    Loving the fact that we have some very young players as we go forward.

    ONE QUIBBLE -- CONCACAF needs to spend some money and get officials from Europe to control regional international competitive matches. Mexico and their supporters intimidate all regional officials. There were at least three occasions where the match ref didn't blow in what was a card-earning tackle, because doing so would end up with a red card for a Mexican player.

    I know -- let's get refs and line persons from the RUSSIAN league. They get so much crap every weekend, Mexico would be a day in the park.

    Did I mention I was proud?
     
    #24
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  5. jumpkutz

    jumpkutz Well-Known Member

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    Louisville, KY
    Loved, loved LOVED the penalty from Pulisic. Even if the keeper guesses right, only Inspector Gadget has a shot at reaching it. And even that’s debatable, because as powerfully as he struck it, there wasn’t any time to react. We switched off on both of their goals and got a little lucky on what would have been their second, even though it was clearly offside. The call on the late handball was B.S., McKenzie’s hand and arm were in the definition of a natural position. Fortunately Horvath guessed right and Guardado didn’t get it far enough away from the middle. Even so, still a great play by Ethan. You still gotta keep it out, and he did. How often do you see the keeper guess right, have enough reach, but have it deflect in or go under or through an appendage? His saves from open play kept us in it. Some have suggested this was a meaningless tournament. The manner of our victory, however, makes it about as meaningful as you can get. We did not look good against Honduras. And their were stretches where we did not look good against Mexico. But the kids persevered, kept plugging away, and got an unexpected result in an encouraging manner. I’m still not sold on Berhalter’s tactics, but if we go on to qualify for Qatar, this might end up being the night we crawled out of the 2018 hole and got back into relevance.
     
    #25
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  6. BarryWhite

    BarryWhite Well-Known Member

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    Newburgh, IN
    Agree with a lot of what has already been said but I want to add that way the proudest I have been of a USMNT in a long time. I loved the toughness and grit on display last night.
     
    #26
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  7. nevzter

    nevzter Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2007
    Location:
    A City by a Bay
    That was a lifetime of emotions in 120 minutes.
    I concur. Sunday's match >Feilhaber's goal for me....and I love Benny's strike against Mexico.
     
    #27
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  8. BarryWhite

    BarryWhite Well-Known Member

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    Newburgh, IN
    Big thumbs up for this

     
    #28
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  9. MicahMan

    MicahMan Administrator

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    Mar 4, 2014
    I'm all for the person who hit Reyna to face consequences for their actions and I'm glad to see they figured out who did it, however...

    When Pulisic went over and started taunting the Mexican fans I said out-loud, despite being the only person awake in the house, "What are you doing?!" I immediately worried about what kind of reaction the shirt stripping and "shhhhh" finger and "bring it on" wave would cause. Instead, I wanted to see the guys run down to the USA side of the field to celebrate with their fans.
     
    #29
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  10. jumpkutz

    jumpkutz Well-Known Member

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    Location:
    Louisville, KY
    The taunting was unwise, for sure, but as for celebrating in front of them? Ninety percent of the time a goalscorer goes to one or the other corners of the pitch on the end they scored. I'm thinking of Tom Cairney's first half goal at Wembley in 2018. It was at the Aston Villa end, and he wheeled off to the nearest corner for a celebratory knee slide (which I hate, BTW...seems a perfect way to pull a hammy or harm some other essential leg parts). The knee slide was accompanied by a waist level, forearms protruding, palms up posture while facing and looking at the opposing supporters. I don't recall one object or missile thrown at #10 or the others in the ensuing pileup at the flag. That may be comparing apples to oranges, but whatever their excuse, there is still no justification whatsoever for the reaction in Denver, regardless of any real or imagined goading from participants on the pitch. It would also be unwise at Millwall, eh?
     
    #30
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  11. BarryWhite

    BarryWhite Well-Known Member

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    Sep 24, 2011
    Location:
    Newburgh, IN
    Post Nations League friendly with Costa Rica tomorrow night. Think it’s on ESPN 2 at 6 PM CST.
     
    #31
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  12. BarryWhite

    BarryWhite Well-Known Member

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    Sep 24, 2011
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    Newburgh, IN
    Looking forward to watching Dike, Weah, Musah and Aaronson tonight. Starting XI:

    Horvath
    Cannon, McKenzie, Ream, Robinson
    Musah, Adams, Lleget
    Weah, Dike, Aaronson
     
    #32
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  13. BarryWhite

    BarryWhite Well-Known Member

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    Sep 24, 2011
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    Newburgh, IN
    I think I have a man crush on Aaronson.
     
    #33
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  14. nevzter

    nevzter Well-Known Member

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    Mar 5, 2007
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    A City by a Bay
    The Aaronson line is forming to your left...
     
    #34
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