USA v Sweden: Live Blogging

Well, its been about 6 months since our last post, and I would like to say that I expect to post more regularly moving forward, but I can't make that commitment at the moment. Still, since I am motivated tonight, let's start this bad boy up again.

USA v Scandinavia-Yellow Division

18 Min: The game has been short of skill for the first 18 minutes. Mainly, we have been forced to watch Ching and Davies trip all over themselves and the ball. Apparently, this is a new offensive strategy: Ching falls over about 30 yards from goal, and the ref confuses the Hawaiian for Ronaldo, blowing the whistle. Sacha hits a curling cracker into the top left corner of the goal. Shocking piece of skill from the player.

Apparently its his first goal with the Nats. No real surprise there, I guess.

25 min: Couple of players to keep an eye on tonight. I haven't watched much of Wynne in his short career, but you have to love the physical skills. If he could develop some technical skills, the Nats would be in business on the right side. So far he has had one right side run that ended in a mediocre cross. 

Robbie Rogers is another I'm interested in watching. I've enjoyed his exploits at the junior level, but I am doubtful it will translate to higher levels of competition. Still, I'm always hopeful when a young player gets to go abroad in his formative years. Maybe he will make it back to Europe shortly.

I know lots of people are excited about seeing Charlie Davies get a run out. Not me. I could care less. Even if he maxes out his potential, he gives us nothing more than a poor man's version of EJ. thanks, but no thanks. 

We want Cooper! We want Cooper! The greatest travesty with the USMNT is the mysterious case of Kenny Cooper. Clearly this guy should be getting some games, against Sweden in January and Costa Rica in June. I demand the FBI investigate this crime. 

34 min: Not much going on. I don't see Sweden scoring in this game, unless the US D commits a major error, which is always a strong possibility.  All one way traffic at the moment. Classic Americana though - no skill in the final third of the field.

A round of applause for the right side of the US midfield: Young Hwang gets the start. I have loved this guy since I discovered him playing for Huddersfield Town on an old FIFA video game. Its a sign of the meritocracy that is US soccer that a player of Thorrington's skill can ever pull on a US jersey.

36 min: That is the Davies I have come to know. A modern day Cobi Jones. On a 3v2 break, Ching lays off to Davies in the box, who centers for....no one. Great vision.

39 min: Wynne is released in the box by Thorington, and gets tripped up. Penalty! Sacha cool dispatches the ball into the bottom right corner. 0 Nats goals prior to tonight, now sitting on a hat-trick. Quick Sacha, make a big money move to Sweden. I hear Brondby is looking for players.

Correction: I have been informed that Brondby is a club team in Denmark, which comes as a surprise to all of us who didn't realize there was a difference between Denmark and Sweden.

Halftime: I am not sure this game should qualify as a Friendly. Doesn't FIFA have a designation like Friendly B, where none of the stats count? I think that designation was made for games like this. When I think of the skillful players that Sweden has developed over the years, I cringe at this sorry display. Maybe its the long flight to Cali. Maybe its the winter break in the Swedish domestic league. Maybe the Swedish golden generation has passed. Whatever the reason, I think my department intramural team could keep pace with these stiffs.

The USA hasn't been much better. Sacha had the nice strike, a touch of class in an otherwise pedestrian game. No other players have really stood out. At the least the US has kept possession. Rico Suave has dominated in the center of the park, but given the quality of the players out there, it would have been notable only if he hadn't. Davies has proved he has no business being considered for the Varsity team. We want Kenny!

Puberty Alert: Just saw a closeup of Sacha. Dude can't grow facial hair. Sacha, just go clean shaven and make it look like a choice rather than a physical inability.

Advertising Alert: Looks like US Soccer has either learned a thing or two from Nike, or Nike is now producing their commercials. Either way, love the new behind-the-scenes-of-a-qualifier commercial. perfect music.

Start of the second half: Don't see any immediate changes. Scratch that. Cooper on for Davies. Yes! 

Look at that vaunted frontline of Cooper and Ching - even greyhounds would be intimidated by that pair. 

47 min: US corner turns comical, and the ball almost trickles in before being saved off the line by unidentified Swede.

54 min: Better Swedish play to start the second half. Holding the ball in the middle of the park. No threat going forward, but not bunkered down like the majority of the first half.

You know what's delicious? Swedish fish. I've always wondered why they were red, though. 

60 min: Rolfe on for Young Hwang. Our chance to get a look at another player who should never get a sniff of a real cap.

62 min: Wynne has a nice throw into the middle of the box, causing some confusion. Now that is a nice weapon to have. 

66 min: Kenny hasn't done much in his first 20 minutes, but he looks so much more comfortable on the ball than Davies did. This might just be a case of me seeing what I want to see. 

69 min: Rogers is off. Didn't really show much tonight. Back to the drawing board that is Columbus.

73 min: Sweden claws back a goal, and shows I'm fallible all in one move. Not a defensive breakdown, but an excellent Swedish attack. Beautiful little pass beats the flat back four, and a nice little header beats the keeper.

74 min: US hits right back. That man Sacha again. Most of the credit has to go to Ching, who gets in deep, holds of two defenders, and lays off to Sacha in the box, who dutifully finishes. I don't see any hats on the field, but that was a beautiful collection of goals for Sacha. He is counting the fistful of Euros at the moment. 

76 min: Sweden should have made it two. Open header in the box from 6 yards out, straight into the ground and over the bar. Again, the D is cut open easily. Couldn't see who was responsible on D.

77 min: Gaven on for Ching; Gaven? Is he still playing? I remember watching him in MLS about 8 years ago, and his skill level was head and shoulders above everyone else on the field. Unfortunately for him and the Nats, it has never really come together for him. 

79 min: Who the hell is Chris Wingert? Doesn't matter, replacing Bornstein makes him a winner in my book.

87 min: Sweden tries the long throw into the box trick, and after a near post flick on, unidentified Swede #2 has a free header on goal from 6 yds out. No magic this time.

89 min: Jesus, another free header in the box, after a cross from the left wing. #3 was to blame. Nowhere near the goalscorer.  Not a good way to start, Ugo. The defensive was pretty strong the first 70 minutes of the game, but they have come a little unstuck here with substitutions from both sides. 

90 min: 3 minutes of added time. The Nats don't deserve to lose this game, or rather the Swedes don't deserve to win, but with a couple minutes to go, it could happen. The US is all over the place defensively at the moment. 

92 min: Oh Kenny! You need to do better than that, Son. breakaway with the keeper, tries to go around him, but manages to hit the keepers arms. Not so much a save as a poor shot. Kenny, when you fail to take your chances, you make your supporters look stupid. Taylor Twellman would have finished that. 

Final Score, 3-2. Sacha was the star, scoring his first three goals at the senior level.