USA – Honduras Recap
USA 1-3 Honduras
The United States started 2010 and the final stretch to the World Cup with a 3-1 loss to Honduras Saturday at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles, California. The result broke an eight-game winning streak for the US against Honduras.
The US began the game applying high pressure to the Honduran back line, but was unable to break through the defense when in possession of the ball. The high defensive pressure made the US susceptible to counter attacking play. After a US corner kick was cleared away, Honduran midfielder Walter Martinez started to break away down the field as the US’s defenders hurried back into position. Martinez’s run was stopped at the cost of a yellow for US captain Jimmy Conrad who brought down Martinez before he got to half field.
In the 18th minute the game took a bad turn. Conrad was sent off after his second booking in 12 minutes. During a Honduran attacking run, Jerry Palacios sent the ball wide right to Carlos Pavon. Palacios continued his run into the box looking for a cross, but ended up on the ground after Conrad ran past pulling at his shoulder. Without hesitation the center referee pointed to the penalty spot and showed the US captain a yellow then red card. Carlos Pavon buried the PK to the delight of the Honduran fans.
A goal and a man down, the US looked to equalize quickly in order to stop Honduras’s momentum. Their chance came in the 21st minute from a US corner kick. Robbie Rogers sent in a driven ball to the middle of the box that found the head of Chad Marshall who rose up, but sent the ball just over the bar, landing in the top netting.
The US’s hopes of going into half time down by just a single goal were dashed in the 37th min once again at the hands of Pavon and Palacios. Pavon received the ball on the right flank with more than enough space to send in a cross. Though the cross lacked the desired force, Palacios, marked by Marshall, was still able to get on the end of it and beat goalkeeper Troy Perkins with a diving header.
During halftime, forward Jeff Cunningham was taken out of the game and replaced by defender Clarence Goodson to try and mend the US’s back line.
Five minutes into the second half, Rogers nearly cut Honduras’s lead in half. After receiving the ball from Benny Feilhaber, Rogers carried the ball a few yards before ripping a shot from 30+ yards out that flew past the diving Honduran keeper Donis Escober. Unfortunately the ball hit off the far post and away from the goal. A few minutes later Rogers was taken down outside of the box earning the US a free kick. Sacha Kljestan stepped up to take the kick, but sent his shot well over the goal.
It didn’t take Honduras long to shift the run of play back in their favor and tally the team’s third and final goal of the game. Honduras took the ball down the left side of the field to the 18 yard box and began some close and quick passing between three players until Roger Espinoza received the ball behind the US defense and slotted a low shot past Perkins.
Now down by three goals and without any of their own, Bob Bradley made four substitutes at the hour mark, sending in Conor Casey in for Kyle Beckerman, Heath Pearce for Marshall, Alejandro Bedoya for Kljestan, and Brad Davis for Rogers. This was Bedoya’s first game for the US National team.
Two of Bradley’s substitutes combined in the 75th minute for the US’s only goal of the game. With Rogers off the field, Davis stepped up to take a corner kick from the right side. Davis sent the ball into the far end of the six yard box where Goodson went up against Escobar and beat the keeper to the ball heading it into the goal.
In the 77th minutes, Bradley sent in Dax McCarty for Feilhaber, the remaining starter in midfield.
In the last minute of full time Davis was once again involved in a dangerous dead-ball situation. After Robbie Finley went down just outside the penalty box Davis stepped up to take the free kick. Davis sent in a forceful shot, but it was directed straight at the goalkeeper who could only parry it over the bar.
The US’s final chance of the game came in the 5th minute of stoppage time. With his back to goal, Robbie Findley flicked the ball into the path of Casey. With a defender on his hip and the Honduran keeper rushing forward, Casey was able to fire a low shot past the keeper, but wide of the far post.
Lineups:
US: Troy Perkins; Jonathan Bornstein, Jimmy Conrad (C), Chad Marshall (Heath Pearce, 61), Marvell Wynne, Robbie Rogers (Brad Davis, 61), Benny Feilhaber (Dax McCarty, 77), Kyle Beckerman (Conor Casey, 60), Sacha Kljestan (Alejandro Bedoya, 61), Jeff Cunningham (Clarence Goodson, 46), Robbie Findley
Honduras: Donis Escober, Erick Norales, Johnny Palacios, Mauricio Sabillon, Roger Espinoza (Mariano Acevedo, 90), Danilo Turcios, Amado Guevara (C), (Melvin Valladares, 56), Emilio Izaguirre, Walter Martinez (Oscar Garcia, 68), Carlos Pavon (Georgie Welcome, 78), Jerry Palacios (Ramon Nunez, 61)
Stats: US / HON
Shots: 11 / 9
SOG: 2 / 6
Saves: 3 / 1
CK: 6 / 3
Fouls: 14 / 12
Offside: 0 / 2
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Arg…clearly a step backwards. I know few of these guys will start or even go to S. Africa, but still very disappointing. What is Chad Marshall doing on the National team? He wouldn’t stand out on my crappy MRSL men’s team. Perkins is terrible. I’m sure they had to change his diaper at 1/2 time. I was also disappointed with Rogers…he just can’t seem to play consistently (he has so much talent though.) At least Bornstein proved he is a true first teamer and could ceretainly start if needed. Bradley did not prepare these guys very well, the defensive marking and schemes were awful. I suppose some credit should be given to Honduras…they looked pretty good at times.
It was ugly to watch, but I don’t think it was “a step backwards.” First of all, it was only an friendly, and we’ve already qualified for South Africa. Secondly, we don’t have a mature enough professional system to develop the depth we need to field a truly competitive national team. Any chance we have to give younger players international experience is a good thing, no matter how lopsided the result. Simply playing for an MLS team doesn’t cut it.
It would be ideal if we had a national “B Team” and a “C Team” that played during the off-season to give the younger players exposure to international competition on a regular basis. Hopefully, one day, we’ll be able to loose players like Davies, Onyewu & Dempsey and simply slot in players of equal skill and experience without missing a beat. As it is, I hope these guys heal quickly or we may be looking at a short trip to the WC.
I am in full agreement about lack of depth. The step backwards was primarily with the coaching. Any high level coach should be able to put together a game plan, based on the players available. Bradley did not.
After the 2010 WC, it is time to try a different approach with the national team. The US needs to go outside the usual US-built coaching pool. A coach that can build additional dimensions to the US style of play. Hopefully this new coach can help adjust the develop program as well. The US needs a fresh start to get to the next level.