Soccer Post: USMNT at Honduras

Maroon Eagle

All-American
May 24, 2006
18,547
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View attachment 21674

Match tonight at 9:30.

The US needs a win but with McKennie gone from the National camp, Steffen out with covid, and with Dest being injured against Canada, the lineup doesn’t have the depth as before.

Two articles stand out. ESPN: Link. CBS: Link.
 

patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
60,234
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Got go get 3 points or this window is a disaster. This team has bigger problems than just Berhalter being a mediocre (at best) coach. We've got the most talented group of players ever, and some of them have the same fight to the end mentality the older guys used to have. But some of the them just don't. How the 17 does a guy like Weston McKennie get kicked off the team for violating Covid protocols? His coach at Juventus has called him out before for being unprofessional. He needs to grow up quick. His selfishness could be the difference between qualifying and not qualifying.
 

o_1984Dawg

Redshirt
Feb 23, 2008
1,131
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Honestly at this point I would be relieved with a draw tonight. Just get out of there without giving up more ground.

You're dead on about McKennie. It's just unreal. Incredibly disappointing.
 

Maroon Eagle

All-American
May 24, 2006
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Unfortunately, a draw means we give up even more ground. We need a win to be ahead of the average points pace.
 

patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
60,234
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I think we're in for a long and disappointing Octagon. I think we'll ultimately qualify, but this team has problems. The talent is there, but still very young and is just now learning what a hellhole playing on the road in Central America is. And the coach is a lackey brother of a former high ranking US Soccer executive who is completely unqualified for the job. At this point, I won't be too disappointed with a draw. Which would still put us behind the worst pace we've ever had since the Hexagon/Octagon format was introduced, which was 4 years ago when we failed to qualify. Long term, winning the Nations League and Gold Cup this summer may have been the worst thing to happen for this team since it relieved any heat Burhalter may have been under.
 

o_1984Dawg

Redshirt
Feb 23, 2008
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A draw at Honduras is fine. It's not lost ground. It'll be one of the 3 or 4 toughest matches we have. And it would keep a key competitor from getting 3 points at home. The first two games are the problem.
 

Maroon Eagle

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May 24, 2006
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3-4-1-2?

[FONT="]Looks like a 3-4-1-2 for the US with Sands as a D-mid and Pulisic playing behind Sargent and Pepi.— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) September 9, 2021 [/FONT]
 

patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
60,234
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As a standalone, sure a draw at Honduras isn't a big deal. But coming off of draws at El Salvador and home vs Canada, it puts us well behind the 8-ball to qualify.
 

Maroon Eagle

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May 24, 2006
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Right. And Canada beat El Salvador at home. Panama and Mexico drew too.

After three matches:
Mexico has 7 points
Panama & Canada each have 5 points.

Costa Rica & Jamaica are tied 1 apiece in the second half.
 

Maroon Eagle

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May 24, 2006
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And Adams at right.

He had a good game at central on Sunday.

Sigh.

1-0 at the Half. It could have been worse.
 

Faustdog

All-Conference
Jun 4, 2007
4,173
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That first half was an embarrassment. We can’t string together two passes, much less three. Honduras is taking our lunch money.
 

Irondawg

Senior
Dec 2, 2007
2,946
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I can’t watch the game either but in prior matches I’ve been pretty appalled at our lack of passing ability.

Honestly the B team in the Gold Cup looked at lot better at creating opportunities up front.
 

Maroon Eagle

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[FONT="]SO BACK!!!! SOCCER COUNTRY 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/zGGPhxH8oE— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 9, 2021

[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#8899A6][FONT="]RICARDO PEPI!!! NEVER A DOUBT. AMERICAAAAAA 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/egQqPp3bAa— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 9, 2021 [/FONT]
[FONT="]

[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#8899A6][FONT="]RICARDO PEPI FINDS BRENDEN AARONSON FOR THE @USMNT'S THIRD 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/q7wCIu6SaV— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 9, 2021 [/FONT]
 

Maroon Eagle

All-American
May 24, 2006
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4-1 — Final

Lletget with the final goal of the match.

[FONT="]SEBASTIAN LLETGET MAKES IT FOUR 💥 pic.twitter.com/d7nCb78tAZ— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 9, 2021 [/FONT]
 
Last edited:

Maroon Eagle

All-American
May 24, 2006
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Lletget’s goal moves the US into third place in The Octagon— getting the advantage over Panama on goals scored. Canada is second due to away goals.

View attachment 21679

Next USMNT match is October 7 versus Jamaica at Austin.
 

FlotownDawg

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Aug 30, 2012
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That graphic is wrong and has been updated on Wikipedia. The US is in second in the group due to away goals over Canada. We have four away goals (the four in Honduras) while Canada has one (the one against us in Nashville). Lleget’s goal in the final minute moved us up from fourth to second in the group. We need to make some hay in this next window with two home games and not having to play Mexico. Seven points is a must.
 

Maroon Eagle

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May 24, 2006
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Hmm. Wikipedia still lists the US in third. It now says though Canada is second due to Head to Head away goals but I’ll look again later and maybe see if I can see a list of tiebreakers.

You’d think that ESPN would have something but their app only goes through the first two matches.

Fox Sports has nothing.

The Concacaf site has Canada in second. US is in third.
 

FlotownDawg

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Aug 30, 2012
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If it’s head to head away goals, then Canada would be ahead. If it’s regular away goals, we would be. Perhaps the list I looked at was wrong. Not sure what the full list of tiebreakers are.
 

patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
60,234
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Yep. Looks like I went to bed too early. Crazy result. 225 minutes with only 1 goal and then 4 in 45 on the road. That just saved our chances at qualifying.
 

horshack.sixpack

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Oct 30, 2012
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I had no idea who he was until I saw him in person in Dallas in July against LA. He got a hat trick that game. Youngest player in MLS history to do so. I was expecting a Galaxy blowout and got the exact opposite.
 

sfnsfn

Redshirt
Apr 3, 2020
61
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I had no idea who he was until I saw him in person in Dallas in July against LA. He got a hat trick that game. Youngest player in MLS history to do so. I was expecting a Galaxy blowout and got the exact opposite.


As an FCD fan, I've been tracking Pepi for a few years now. He's been playing so well the past few months that I'm shocked it took this long to give him playing time (with the USMNT).

I thought he deserved a shot with the USMNT last year just based on his potential combined with the lack of quality veteran players at his position. It would have been tragic to lose him to Mexico.
 

Maroon Eagle

All-American
May 24, 2006
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I saw that...

Wikipedia says:

Tiebreakers
In league format, the ranking of teams in each group is based on the following criteria (regulations Articles 20.4 and 20.6):[SUP][13][/SUP]

  1. Points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss)
  2. Overall goal difference
  3. Overall goals scored
  4. Points in matches between tied teams
  5. Goal difference in matches between tied teams
  6. Goals scored in matches between tied teams
  7. Away goals scored in matches between tied teams (if the tie is only between two teams in home-and-away league format)
  8. Fair play points
    • first yellow card: minus 1 point
    • indirect red card (second yellow card): minus 3 points
    • direct red card: minus 4 points
    • yellow card and direct red card: minus 5 points
  9. Drawing of lots by the FIFA Organising Committee

Link: Here.
 
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