USMNT Vs. GUATEMALA
By: Brendan Ferguson
If you read my article earlier on PUN SPORTS you would know that the US Men’s National Team needed a win against Antigua and Barbuda within CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying. It looked like the match was going to end in a 1-1 draw, which would have made the yanks’ road to the hexagonal round a little bit more difficult. But, the USMNT did get it done with a very late Eddie Johnson strike to break the hearts of A&B, and potentially, also Jamaica.
With the US win over the weekend they are now tied with Guatemala for the top spot in CONCACAF qualifying group A. Both sides have 13 points through five matches with them playing each other in Kansas City tomorrow at Livestrong Sporting Park. This is an important match for both sides but with Guatemala defeating Jamaica on Friday evening, both sides know that a draw between them will let them both advance to the next round of qualifying. But, on American soil I have to imagine that the USA will try and get a victory and atone for an earlier draw between the two on Guatemalan soil. Of course if the USA loses this match and Jamaica is victorious vs. A&B then there will be a tie and goal differential will be a huge deal. Right now Jamaica is even in goal differential with the USA being +3.
On Tuesday you should watch and see if either the USMNT or Guatemala try and push for goals. It could lend itself to being a very boring soccer match knowing that a draw will get them both in. I, for one, do not want to see any sort of collusion here and I do think that the US will make it as group winners with a win. I predict a 1-nil victory for the US and then we will see them move on to the hexagonal round later within qualifying. If America does not get it done at home then you will want to root for Antigua to win, or lose by less than three goals.
By: Brendan Ferguson
If you read my article earlier on PUN SPORTS you would know that the US Men’s National Team needed a win against Antigua and Barbuda within CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying. It looked like the match was going to end in a 1-1 draw, which would have made the yanks’ road to the hexagonal round a little bit more difficult. But, the USMNT did get it done with a very late Eddie Johnson strike to break the hearts of A&B, and potentially, also Jamaica.
With the US win over the weekend they are now tied with Guatemala for the top spot in CONCACAF qualifying group A. Both sides have 13 points through five matches with them playing each other in Kansas City tomorrow at Livestrong Sporting Park. This is an important match for both sides but with Guatemala defeating Jamaica on Friday evening, both sides know that a draw between them will let them both advance to the next round of qualifying. But, on American soil I have to imagine that the USA will try and get a victory and atone for an earlier draw between the two on Guatemalan soil. Of course if the USA loses this match and Jamaica is victorious vs. A&B then there will be a tie and goal differential will be a huge deal. Right now Jamaica is even in goal differential with the USA being +3.
On Tuesday you should watch and see if either the USMNT or Guatemala try and push for goals. It could lend itself to being a very boring soccer match knowing that a draw will get them both in. I, for one, do not want to see any sort of collusion here and I do think that the US will make it as group winners with a win. I predict a 1-nil victory for the US and then we will see them move on to the hexagonal round later within qualifying. If America does not get it done at home then you will want to root for Antigua to win, or lose by less than three goals.
USMNT VS. ANTIGUA and BARBUDA:
By: Brendan Ferguson
So we have a week without MLS soccer down the stretch but that does not mean there isn’t still some meaningful footy to watch in the next couple of days here in America, (that’s if you actually can get beIn Sports). For many Americans, I assume, they see the USA in the World Cup every four years and do not realize that they actually have a lot of work to do to qualify. Well, the USA is still in group stages of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying and they are not out of the water quite yet. It did help their cause when they defeated Jamaica just days after losing to them in Kingston. So where does the USMNT stand right now with two matches left in Group A play?
The United States, Jamaica, and Guatemala are all tied with seven points through four matches with the top two clubs advancing to the hexagonal round of CONCACAF qualifying. The USMNT take on Antigua and Barbuda tomorrow night on the road. This is a must win for the national team because A&B is 0-3-1 so far in qualifying and have only scored twice in four matches coming in. Back on August 6th the Yanks defeated A&B by three goals to one in Tampa. Jurgen Klinsmann better have his squad ready to win on the road; something that is not easy in CONCACAF play. A win in Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua would give the team quite a boost going into their final match against Guatemala on Tuesday in Kansas City. A draw could be deadly for the USA, but we have seen early on in the Klinsmann era that the men’s national team does play well on the road (defeating Italy and Mexico both on the road under Klinsman).
Lastly, Landon Donavan will not be playing in this match for the USMNT. He has been hampered with a lower body injury over the past few domestic and national team matches. Also, Guatemala and Jamaica will play each other and the US would love to see nothing more than a Jamaican victory. Lots left to come in Group A play to see who will make their way to the next leg of World Cup qualifying. It is not jut a given to see the USMNT in Brazil 2014, however with these two matches left anything but a trip to the hexagonal round of qualifying would be a huge setback for the US Soccer Federation. I for one see a two-nil showing in Antigua which will put immense pressure on Guatemala to come in with a victory in the states on Tuesday.
By: Brendan Ferguson
So we have a week without MLS soccer down the stretch but that does not mean there isn’t still some meaningful footy to watch in the next couple of days here in America, (that’s if you actually can get beIn Sports). For many Americans, I assume, they see the USA in the World Cup every four years and do not realize that they actually have a lot of work to do to qualify. Well, the USA is still in group stages of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying and they are not out of the water quite yet. It did help their cause when they defeated Jamaica just days after losing to them in Kingston. So where does the USMNT stand right now with two matches left in Group A play?
The United States, Jamaica, and Guatemala are all tied with seven points through four matches with the top two clubs advancing to the hexagonal round of CONCACAF qualifying. The USMNT take on Antigua and Barbuda tomorrow night on the road. This is a must win for the national team because A&B is 0-3-1 so far in qualifying and have only scored twice in four matches coming in. Back on August 6th the Yanks defeated A&B by three goals to one in Tampa. Jurgen Klinsmann better have his squad ready to win on the road; something that is not easy in CONCACAF play. A win in Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua would give the team quite a boost going into their final match against Guatemala on Tuesday in Kansas City. A draw could be deadly for the USA, but we have seen early on in the Klinsmann era that the men’s national team does play well on the road (defeating Italy and Mexico both on the road under Klinsman).
Lastly, Landon Donavan will not be playing in this match for the USMNT. He has been hampered with a lower body injury over the past few domestic and national team matches. Also, Guatemala and Jamaica will play each other and the US would love to see nothing more than a Jamaican victory. Lots left to come in Group A play to see who will make their way to the next leg of World Cup qualifying. It is not jut a given to see the USMNT in Brazil 2014, however with these two matches left anything but a trip to the hexagonal round of qualifying would be a huge setback for the US Soccer Federation. I for one see a two-nil showing in Antigua which will put immense pressure on Guatemala to come in with a victory in the states on Tuesday.