I finally got around to watching the Mexico-USA match on DVR. The nice thing about doing that is that I can go forward and reverse to review key plays and pinpoint breakdowns. Here are my impressions of the first half:
The USA were the stronger team in the opening ten minutes. They held possession deep into the Mexican half, they pressed deep, and their defenders even played a high line upfield. The culmination of their effort was Donovan's beautiful through ball that split the Mexican right and center backs and freed Davies in to score. Equally beautiful was the curling shot past Ochoa.
And then...the USA became timid and pulled back behind the centerline. The players became too static, no pressure was being applied by the midfield four, and Mexico were given free reign of the flanks. The majority of balls that were being pumped by into the right flank were sent into the box as crosses. Guardado also had the advantage in one-on-one situations on the left flank. But it wasn't a cross that gave Mexico the lead. I didn't see who supplied the square ball, but Castro drifted into the huge space provided when DeMerit dropped back into position and no midfielder (Clark or Dempsey) picked up on Castro drifting forward. Fantastic strike that Howard had no chance of stopping. But Castro should never have been given such a free shot.
One agonizingly close moment for the USA occurred when Donovan had a free kick to the right of the Mexican penalty area. The kick crossed over the face of goal just in front on an onrushing Onyewu. If Onyewu had managed to connect it would almost certainly be the USA's second goal, pretty much against the run of play. Mexico dominated possession after the US goal and kept it up after their goal. The two American strikers were starved of service, but Ching was especially anonymous. Donovan was the best of a very mediocre midfield quartet; none of them were able to hold up the ball. Clark was just not having a good game, and Bradley was nowhere to be seen. The best US player on the field has been Onyewu. It hasn't even been close. Davies has been second-best despite the lack of service.
The first half ends with Mexico and US drawn, but Mexico in the advantage.
I'll have more impressions of the match tomorrow.
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