Soccer: General Discussion

[MoValley John]

It was a flop LeBron would be proud of.

[WuDrWu]

Just checked PantherNation and they had absolutely no problem with the yellow there. In fact, most thought the Canadian player deserved a straight red for it.

[Kel Varnsen]

Result was good, but we could have gotten better. Pefok and Pulisic had golden opportunities that they did not put home. Mexico had possession advantage 62/38 (somewhat due to us bunkering down at the end, which I was not a fan of given how the game had gone), but we had higher xG - 1.3 to 0.4.

Here's an updated look at the table.

concacaf.jfif

The good news: we can draw our next two matches and we're a lock to be in. Costa Rica ain't beating El Salvador by 7 goals.

The bad news: Costa Rica won. We can only afford to lose that game if we beat Panama and/or Costa Rica ties with El Salvador.

Weah and Yedlin are on yellow card accumulation and will not be available for the Panama game. Not great, but we can (and should) win without them.

Either way, one win in these last two games sends us to Qatar. There's virtually no path to being completely out, but there is a path to a playoff against New Zealand at this point.

[Kung Wu]

I cheer for Shockers basketball. We lose.
I cheer for the Chiefs. We lose.
I cheer for Shockers baseball. We lose.

I hope Panama destroys the USMNT 4-0!!!!!!

[WuDrWu]

Big Sunday round today.

Jamaica at Canada at 3.
Costa Rica at El Salvador at 4
Panama at US at 6
Mexico at Honduras at 6

Best case scenario would be Jamaica (mostly irrelevant) beats Canada, El Salvador beats Costa Rica, we beat Panama and Honduras beats Mexico. The US would be tied with Canada and in 2nd place and in the World Cup with neither Costa Rica nor Panama able to catch them. Top 3 would be assured. Obviously, that is unlikely to happen.

A win or a tie tonight and the US is assured no worse than 4th as Panama could not pass the US.

The most likely scenario to clinch a top 3 would be a US win and a Costa Rica tie at El Salvador (unlikely).

The most likely scenario (IMHO) is Canada, the US, Costa Rica and Mexico all win. Costa Rica would be in a position to have to beat the US by whatever goal differential was remaining after figuring in tonight's game. An amount of GD so large it's not really worth discussing unless CR wins something like 7-0 tonight.

The comforting part is that the US would still control it's destiny even if they stumble and lose tonight. Beating CR would assure a birth at Qatar.

[MikeKennedyRulZ]

Just win baby!

[WuDrWu]

Big Sunday round today.

Jamaica at Canada at 3.
Costa Rica at El Salvador at 4
Panama at US at 6
Mexico at Honduras at 6

Best case scenario would be Jamaica (mostly irrelevant) beats Canada, El Salvador beats Costa Rica, we beat Panama and Honduras beats Mexico. The US would be tied with Canada and in 2nd place and in the World Cup with neither Costa Rica nor Panama able to catch them. Top 3 would be assured. Obviously, that is unlikely to happen.

A win or a tie tonight and the US is assured no worse than 4th as Panama could not pass the US.

The most likely scenario to clinch a top 3 would be a US win and a Costa Rica tie at El Salvador (unlikely).

The most likely scenario (IMHO) is Canada, the US, Costa Rica and Mexico all win. Costa Rica would be in a position to have to beat the US by whatever goal differential was remaining after figuring in tonight's game. An amount of GD so large it's not really worth discussing unless CR wins something like 7-0 tonight.

The comforting part is that the US would still control it's destiny even if they stumble and lose tonight. Beating CR would assure a birth at Qatar.

Jamaica 0 Canada 4 The Canadians qualify for Qatar.

FT Costa Rica 2 El Salvador 1. El Salvador equalized in the 31st minute but a goal in extra time at the end of the 1st half holds up for Costa Rica.

The US will have to win tonight or be forced to get a result Wednesday in what is likely to be an uncomfortable, at best, atmosphere in Costa Rica.

[WuDrWu]

VAR review 14th minute might give the US a penalty......if it were another team, like Germany, zero doubt it's a penalty.

We shall see........

Short review, quick penalty. Pulisic strikes....1-nil USA!

[WuDrWu]

How Panama didn't equalize there is beyond me. Horrible ball control by the back line resulted in a scramble in front of the American goal, and pure luck kept it from being even.

[WuDrWu]

2 nil in the 23rd minute off a gorgeous finish by Paul Arriola!

[WuDrWu]

Jesus Ferriera makes it 3 and the US are HAMMERING Panama!

[WuDrWu]

Is Honduras suffering mightily from Covid? There might be 20 people in attendance vs Mexico. The Mexicans pick up a yellow on a spiteful foul (not really, just wanted to use the phrase spiteful foul). No score in the 31st minute.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

4-0 after yet another PK, same player. Finally yellow given. Was his 5th foul of the half and second DOGSO.

[WuDrWu]

4 Nil Americans at half. Not perfect, but a fun half nevertheless.

Mexico are tied with Honduras at half. No fans is deflating.

[Kung Wu]

Go Panama!!!!