US 3-0 T&T

A video review of some of the bigger games in World Cup Qualifying yesterday.

Here is a map of all the locations of World Cup qualifiers yesterday from around the world. Thanks to Mike Petersen for putting this together. Click on the map and you will actually be taken to the Google Map where you can zoom in and look around. Pretty cool!

US v Trinidad and Tobago

Jozy Altidore scores three goals for the hat trick and becomes the youngest American to score in a World Cup Qualifier, but he still can’t get onto the bench for his Spanish team Xerez where he is on loan from Villareal. He at least saw the bench and an occasional substitute role when he played for the La Liga team. Xerez is making a run for the Spanish 1st division and don’t want to upset their chemistry. I’m sure Villareal is not happy either as they most likely planned on Altidore getting playing time or they would not have loaned him out.

Landon Donovan was man of the match in my book with 3 assists and seemed to be the only player on the US team who consistently drove the ball forward and looked to attack quickly while the rest of the team seemed content to square and back pass.

The US now has almost 2 months before they play their next qualifier, on June 6, against Honduras at Soldier Field. Mexico was beaten in their match last night by Honduras with a score of 3-1. Our southern neighbors have not won a game away from the Estadio Azteca in 5 games. Will Sven-Goran Eriksson still be around for Mexico’s next qualifying match?

Here’s the points in the CONCACAF with three games played.

1. USA………………..7pts
2. Costa Rica………….6pts
3. Honduras……………4pts
4. Mexico……………..3pts
5. El Salvador…………2pts
6. Trinidad & Tobago……2pts

Highlights of the Honduras v Mexico game

It couldn’t have happened to a nicer team!

The Shocker of the night, Argentina, and their new coach Maradona who just came off a nice win over the weekend, were defeated by Bolivia 6-1. I’m sure the Argentines are not happy this morning. The game was played in Bolivia, but for anyone to think that the US should have just walked in to El Salvador last Saturday and dominated that team, this is proof that winning away from home in qualifiers is not always a given and is very tough work, even for arguably the most talented team in the world.

Argentina 1-6 Bolivia