USA vs Antigua and Barbuda Game Thread

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Looks like Paco Torres to play left-back (good choice in my opinion if Johnson can't make a go of it)....he has played there before and has the speed, defensive skills (I've seen him in the Mexican La Liga and he is a good defender), GREAT left foot and play making abilty to do so....good choice indeed....still not sure why we keep playing such a defensive minded midfield....oh well....should be fun....


#USMNT Starting XI for #USAvATG- Howard; Cherundolo, Goodson, Bocanegra (capt.), Torres; Edu, Bradley, Jones; Donovan, Dempsey, Gomez

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Steven Goff‏@SoccerInsiderRimando, Castillo, Johnson, Corona, Wondolowski not in uniform #usmnt

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Subs: Guzan, Parkhurst, Cameron, Onyewu, Beckerman, Altidore, Boyd.

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Kickoff is scheduled for 6:11 PM CST....

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Wonder why we keep playing in Florida this time of year? When I lived there this sort of weather is the norm this time of year....must be a good down pour to delay the game...

U.S. SOCCER‏@ussoccerWeather update from Tampa: Slight rain delay here, new kickoff time for #USAvATG is 7:27 pm ET! Teams just entered the field for warmups.

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Broadcast underway....down pour....does not look to get better....

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CONCACAF has set up qualifying to make it easy for the USA and Mexico to qualify for the 2014 Cup in Brazil....now we need to make sure we do not blow it....

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Interesting the side-line reporter is American born and raised Monica Gonzalez who played for and captained the Mexico woman's team....really bugs the heck out of my daughter....no biggie to me...she is just doing a job....

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Game underway....heavy rain....

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Boca with a nice goal off of a corner kick from.....he is lethal if he can get it on his head....his goal #13 for the USA....

USA leads 1-0....

A&B came to play....not sure it will matter as their defense does not look that good...

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25 minutes gone...and still only 1-0 USA on a set piece goal by Boca....

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Hugo Cruz from Costa Rica is the ref....not sure if that helps us or not...

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44 minutes gone.....and still only 2-0 off of a set piece...and a PK in the 43rd minute....

Looks like those 6-0 predictions that some folk like my friend Ives might just might be wrong...

This team has some decent players....

Ref looks clueless and lost....typical CONCACAF...

No goals from the run of play has to be a little discerning....

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Half Time.....USA leads 2-0.....

Torres for being a make-shift at LB has looked really good....

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Ives sums it up:

SoccerByIves:
Wasn't the cleanest half for the USA, but they've thrown numbers forward well, now just need the final pass to be better. Torres OK at LB

http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_b...tary.html#more

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USA needs to pick it up a bit in the second half...play with more urgency....biggest thing I have noticed.....against better teams this sort of performance won't cut it....looks like a win regardless, but needs to look more convincing....hopefully we wear them down....

The Good: Torres, Demspey, Donovan, Goodson, Boca, Bradley, Charundaolo.....oh and always Howard...

So-So: Gomez

Not So-So: Edu and Jones.....both have been lost so far....Edu hands-down the worst US player on the field....

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Mexico leading in the first half 2-0 over Guyana

Goals from Salcido and DeSantos....

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Second Half underway....


Jozy and Boyd starting to warm up....Jozy might be a good sub as we can't seem to finish up front...and he can hold the ball up well....

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Torres takes a knock on his lower left leg and has to come off in minute 55....Gooch comign on and Boca sliding over to LB....

To bad Torres looks like the second best LB after Johnson I've seen....which makes him even more valuable to the team....playing multi-positions...

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B& A with a goal cuts it to 2-1...Gooch burned big-time....