USA/Mexico

[illinisooner]

Didn't feel like burying this one in the Premiership thread, but thought it deserved some attention. So the US faces off against Mexico in Houston this Wednesday; just a friendly, but it's never really friendly when we play El Tri. Both teams are bringing fairly strong squads with some glaring omissions (No Castillo for Mexico), so it should be a great game. Mexico hasn't beaten us since 99 on US soil and hadn't even scored on US soil since 99 until they went up 1-0 in Chicago last year at the Gold Cup final. Last time these two faced off in Houston, it was a 0-0 draw in 2003.

I think the US maintains dominance over Mexico in the US; however, if Mexico wins...it's only a big deal to them, not for the Americans. It's simple statistics that they'll eventually win over here, and also that we'll eventually win at Azteca. I'm really looking forward to the game; I say 1-0 US, but really it could go either way. For those who don't know, it will be on ESPN2 at 8 PM...I'm pretty sure I got the time right.

[birddog]

good call. i almost forgot about this one.

hopefully we can build on the 2-0 win over the swedes. i'll be curious to see some of the new faces.

[illinisooner]

Hopefully Altidore and/or Adu get a start; at the very least, playing time for both of em. Mexico are bringing some of their young guns (Vela and dos Santos I think are their names) that will likely see the field, hopefully Bradley does the same with our guys. Michael Bradley has a chance to be the midfield thorn in Mexico's side for the next decade; like Cobi Jones used to be. Maybe we can start Feilhaber (even though he somehow never plays at Derby) just so El Tri has to remember his wonderstrike in the Gold Cup final lasr June. I always like the way Dempsey's game should work against Mexico (running at people, attacking), but he's never had a tremendous impact...so maybe he steps up and is the MOTM.

[Scott D]

I'd say Adu will likely get his second straight cap (Sweden being the previous one).

Giovanni dos Santos is fun to watch with Barcelona. The kid is a special talent, and because of his hair they call him little Ronaldinho there.

[phead903]

Did I hear that Brian McBride was back with Fulham's second squad ths weekend? any chance he will come back for international play? I know his skills are diminishing, but I sure like the fire and determination he brings!

[birddog]

nah, mcbride's days as an international are finished. that guy has been great for us soccer, and fulham for that matter.

hopefully someone can fill his shoes as a big target around the box. not sure who that may be just yet.

[illinisooner]

Maybe it's just because I'm an Arsenal fan, but I like Vela more than dos Santos. Brian Ching has proved the best option so far as a target forward, but the Hawaiian Punch is always injured. There are other big guys out there (Kenny Cooper comes to mind), but none of them are as powerful in the air as Ching. It's probably just as well, because no one on the US team strikes a good dead ball or crosses very well...so we don't need someone good in the air. But there's also no forward who's real good at holding the ball and waiting for help, like McBride was.

[birddog]

here's the 22 man squad for wednesday's friendly:



Adu, Freddy M 5’8” 140 6/2/1989 2/0 Potomac, Md. SL Benfica (Portugal)
Altidore, Josmer F 6’1” 175 11/6/1989 2/0 Boca Raton, Fla. New York Red Bulls (MLS)
Bocanegra, Carlos D 6'0 170 5/25/1979 53/8 Alto Loma, Calif. Fulham FC (England)
Bradley, Michael M 6’2” 175 7/31/1987 14/1 Cedar Grove, N.J. SC Heerenveen (Holland)
Clark, Ricardo M 5’10” 150 5/10/1983 11/1 Jonesboro, Ga. Houston Dynamo (MLS)
Convey, Bobby M 5'8 150 5/27/1983 45/1 Philadelphia, Pa. Reading FC (England)
Corrales, Ramiro D 6’1” 170 3/12/1977 5/0 Salinas, Calif. SK Brann (Norway)
Davis, Brad M 5’11” 165 11/8/1981 3/0 St. Charles, Mo. Houston Dynamo (MLS)
Dempsey, Clint F 6’1” 170 3/9/1983 36/9 Nacogdoches, Texas Fulham FC (England)
Donovan, Landon F 5'8 148 3/4/1982 97/35 Redlands, Calif. Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS)
Edu, Maurice M 6’0” 170 4/18/1986 2/0 Fontana, Calif. Toronto FC (MLS)
Feilhaber, Benny M 5’9” 150 1/19/1985 14/2 Irvine, Calif. Derby County (England)
Guzan, Brad GK 6’4” 210 9/9/1984 5/0 Homer Glen, Ill. Chivas USA (MLS)
Holden, Stuart M 5'10" 160 08/01/85 0/0 Houston, Texas Houston Dynamo (MLS)
Howard, Tim GK 6’3” 210 3/6/1979 26/0 North Brunswick, N.J. Everton FC (England)
Lewis, Eddie M/D 5'10 155 5/17/1974 73/8 Cerritos, Calif. Derby County (England)
Moor, Drew D 6’0” 170 1/15/1984 3/0 Dallas, Texas FC Dallas (MLS)
Noonan, Pat F 6’0” 170 8/2/1980 14/1 Ballwin, Mo. Aalesund FK (Norway)
Onyewu, Oguchi D 6’4” 210 5/13/1982 28/2 Olney, Md. Standard de Liege (Belgium)
Parkhurst, Michael D 5’11” 155 1/24/1984 3/0 Providence, R.I. New England Revolution (MLS)
Pearce, Heath D 5’10” 175 8/13/1984 10/0 Modesto, Calif. Hansa Rostock (Germany)
Robinson, Eddie D 6’1” 195 6/19/1978 1/1 Greensboro, N.C. Houston Dynamo (MLS)

good to see convey's back in action.

[birddog]

sweet. this game kicks off on the deuce immediately following ou-texas.

[birddog]

it's go time, boys!

hopefully the us can redeem the sooners after their loss.

[phead903]

Altidore getting his first start...

[silverwheels]

**** Mexico.

[birddog]

us with it's first decent chance in the box. so far messico is controlling the flow of the match.

10 minutes in.

[birddog]

we look a step too slow and quite disorganized in the back.

[birddog]

GOOOOOOL USA!!! great finish by onyewu off the noggin.

[silverwheels]

GOOCH!

[phead903]

Some good service by Donavan during that stretch!

[birddog]

damn, messico just equalized. 1-1 35th min.

[birddog]

looks like we'll have another classic heater between these two.

[phead903]

JOZY!!! What a finish! 2-1!!