(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Wow. What a game. On a night in which the 'Nats totally dominated Costa Rica, we had to come down to a Johnathon Bornstein header in the last seconds of stoppage time to pull out a tie.
The final score? 2 - 2. Good enough to preserve our at-home unbeaten streak in this World Cup Qualifying cycle, and good enough to win the CONCACAF hexagonal with Mexico also only able to tie Trinidad & Tobago.
Let's get on to the good, the bad, and the ugly.
THE GOOD
Bob Bradley:
Good starting lineup and game plan from Bob Bradley. He said he'd play his "best team," and he did. No experimentation, but he allowed for competition in the right spots. In the absence of the tragically injured Charlie Davies, Conor Casey and Jozy Altidore up top were the best choices.
In the midfield, of course, National Player of the Century, Landon Donovan, then Michael Bradley, both expected, and giving Feilhaber the start over Clark was smart. They're both in tight competition for the spot, with Clark having won the last few starts. This was the game to allow for some competition in spots that are really close.
For the injured Dempsey, the inclusion of crossing specialist Stuart Holden was also an excellent choice.
The back line held no surprises. Gooch and Boca in the middle, with Bornstein at left, and Cherundolo getting a full start over Spector on the right, another spot that's back and forth, and useful to switch starters for competition purposes.
Tim Howard. I thought Bob could have played Brad Guzan tonight, to give him another full game with the national lineup, but Timmy is the "best team," for sure.
BB also made good substitution choices, bringing on Jose Torres early at the 60' mark, giving him a much needed look. Robbie Rogers for Holden was a surprise, but a welcome one, and Kenny Cooper for a frustrated Conor Casey was a good choice as well.
Some would say these were uncharacteristically good substitutions by Bradley, but the downside was, and perhaps this is why he conservatively waits so late in games to substitute, was Oguchi Onyewu's late game injury, in the 81st minute, when we had no subs left, forcing the USA to finish with 10 men.
The US dominated Los Ticos in possession, at 60+% and did a nice job of imitating countries like Spain and Brazil in patiently passing the ball around the midfield and developing opportunities, rather than just playing kick and chase, even when we were behind.
We outshot them 15 to six with six shots on goal, and won eight corner kicks to their three.
Jozy Altidore:
Jozy came out like a man posessed. He harassed the Ticos back line early and won himself a few extra balls, as if he had either been inspired by Charlie Davies or had a marathon reading session about the major criticisms of his play. Regardless, if he's willing to play with that level of energy, he's going to be big time, rather than just potential.
Michael Bradley:
Sold job on 'D' and got our first goal on a rebound from the goalie. Good follow-up.
Johnathon Bornstein:
Like the whole team, our oft-criticized left back was getting up front early. He then seemed to disappear until his surprise header in the 95th minute salvaging a tie and giving us the big win at the top of the table.
THE BAD
Despite looking like a world class soccer team and dominating Costa Rica, the U.S. went down 2-0 in the matter of three minutes in the first half.
The first good scoring opportunity of the game comes when Conor Casey shoots a one on one with the goalie ridiculously wide and over the crossbar at 10'. Yes, the two-goal scorer v. Honduras feels bad about it.
Following that, Timmy makes the only save he really needed to, with a point-blank stop.
After that, it's all us. 15 shots. We left our feet at home, folks. I can't even recall all the players who had good looks at the goal making weak or wide shots. I'm using the live blogging feed for recall.
Jozy misses a header. Conor, weak shot.
Oh, wait, here's where we get to the real bad.
Gooch allows an attacker to turn the corner on him. Instead of running with the guy, he sticks his foot out in an attempt to get the ball. He misses. The attacker is now one on one with Howard. Gooooaal!
Costa Rica 1 - 0 United States.
Three minutes later, Ruiz of Costa Rica finds himself unmarked in the box and with the ball... Gooooool!
Costa Rica 2 - 0 United States. Twenty three minutes of soccer.
In the rest of the half, Donovan shoots two over the goal, and a weak one right into the goalie. Altidore shoots one into the goalie.
It ain't like the chances ain't there.
Second half starts out the same, US on the attack.
Bradley follows up a rebound and makes it 2 - 1 at 72'. Fans are smelling blood.
Rogers, Bradley, and Casey all miss shots.
We hit the 90th minute with 5' stoppage time.
BORNSTEIN DROPS A HEADER IN OFF ROGERS' CORNER KICK AT 95'.
Bornstein heads it perfectly, down, and towards the right post, where it goes off the ankle of the defender and in.
RFK STADIUM GOES NUTS!!!!!
THE UGLY
Charlie Davies nearly losing his life and his career in an auto accident at 3:15am the day before the game. He broke his right tibia, femur, ruptured his bladder, and had facial and left arm fractures. He's stable after surgery and will recover. Soccerwise, he's out for 12 months. He's 23, so he may still have a career.
Seeing Big Gooch go down in the 81st minute was bad. Our 6'4" defensive stalwart planted his knee to go up for a corner kick header and never made it up. The early word is torn left patellar tendon. Not a good one. Long rehab.
THE FUGLY
Seeing the Costa Rican head coach plus assistant get ejected late in the game for arguing with the referee and sending a stretcher onto the field in an obvious attempt to run the clock. It was priceless watching $7.25 an hour "Event" personnel protect the FIFA officials from this guy.
They deserve their date with Uruguay, as opposed to Honduras, which was a class opponent. Bet CR wins, though, proving the strength of our region, class or no class.
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