United States-El Salvador: World Cup Qualifier Preview

On September 5th, the United States national soccer team will head to the Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah to take on El Salvador in an important World Cup qualifier for both countries.

After a crushing loss to arch rivals Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, the United States will be looking to get back on track with a win during this match, while El Salvador will be looking to win this match to keep their dreams for the 2010 World Cup alive.

The last time that these two countries met, the United States got two late goals in El Salvador to escape with a 2-2 draw.

Here is a preview of the match for both of these countries, and what each side will need to do in order to be successful.

United States

After a heartbreaking loss to Mexico at Azteca on August 12, the USA team will be looking for a win in this important World Cup qualifier.

The United States currently lie in third place in the CONCACAF standings with ten points, as they trail both Costa Rica and Honduras, and are ahead of Mexico by only one point.

But if qualifying ended today, the United States would be qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

In this match, the USA team must do the following in order to boost their chances of success.

Firstly, the Americans will need to exploit the El Salvador defense by constantly attacking the El Salvador goal.

Secondly, the United States must not allow El Salvador to control play after a United States goal, as that has been the American's undoing in their last several matches and has ultimately cost them their chance of winning.

And finally, the United States must give a complete performance here, as that will be the most important thing for them to do as they look to get back on track in order to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

El Salvador

So far in World Cup qualifying, El Salvador have been very disappointing, as they have lost three of their six matches, and are currently tied with Trinidad and Tobago with five points at the bottom of the CONCACAF table.

However, El Salvador still drew with the United States in their previous World Cup qualifying match, and also managed to defeat Mexico in a World Cup qualifier.

Here is what El Salvador must do in order to win this important match.

Firstly, El Salvador must stop the American attack, as they need to concede as few goals as possible in order for them to play their best and still be in with a chance.

Also, El Salvador must finish any chances or half chances that they could get in this matchup, as they have only scored six goals in the whole of World Cup qualifying.

And finally, El Salvador must be at their best in this match, as a loss here will probably mean that their chances to qualify for the 2010 World Cup will be finished.

Expect a great matchup between both the United States and El Salvador on September 5th, as both countries will need a win in order to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, and this game will be a make-or-break match for both countries.