Fellas, that was the happpiest and most rewarding day of my football supporting life (Since Jamerson's goal). Many days before sweating. Great networking on the forum leading to a fantastic Trini posse that smartlly chose to show up at Puente de Oro II in the Silver Spring area (Wheaton) of Maryland. Good facilities and surprisingly tolerant wetbacks who took their defeat graciously (many actually were Salvadoreans) and shook our hands. Good to meet up with Uprising, Doc and many others.
In that rollercoaster frenzy, what struck me was the tactical brilliance of Beenie and the quality selection from the beginning. At first I was worried when the screen line-up showed Wolfe and others but when the team was shown and their positions seen, I was so happy.
I was praying for Sancho in central defense, Spann at right back (midfielder with ball skills converted to defense), Carlos at right midfield for the crosses (no suprise) but having many defensive duties with Spann, and Latapy separated far Carlos high up on the left, sucking defense away from middle, pulling 2-3 men at times as Latas just mesmerized them with ball skills. Whitley, Birch mixing it up in the middle. Stern up front and Yorke initially up front with him. What was interesting was the dynamic nature of positions, how Latapay was switched around, how Yorke moved up and back. Jack was brimming with shot stopping confidence and coming off his line better. Sancho looked like a friggin' Brazilian defensive general as if he owned the damn field. Awesome. Everybody shooting bullets on target, ball skills, chest trapping and corners looking neat and well oiled, Birch scrambling and winning back balls and the Guatemalan showpiece midfield was neutralized.
When things were dicey I knew we would be ok as we were creating several opportunities with our formation while trying to keep defensive shape.
It was nice to see the Guats watching us with repect and coming to shake our hands admitting that we deserved to win. They watched Latas and I could see the awe in their faces as replay after replay was shown of his moves from the left, right and zoom cameras.
Thanks to Flex and Tallman for helping magic moments to be felt in numerous bars in pockets all over the US and in T&T and in other far away places.
Also, on Telemundo, saw the US put a 2-0 cutarse on Mexicio with a goal contribution by that malnourished pain in the backside Beasley. More importantly Costa Rica humiliated Panama 3-0 in Panama. I was hoping that Panama would beat CR for our sake . Watching the game, it was interesting to note the very intimidating frenzied atmosphere (all red) in Panama. Looks like more than 40,000 ram. Panama was all over Costa Rica initially, with the crowd giving the players a frenzied adrenaline rush but I could sense CRs more mature, refined look. Panama was playing hungrily but CR always seemed to sense that there willl be a time and place to counter as Panama recklessly threw everything forward. When CR struck they did it with a precision that was just on a different level. Deadly. They are dangerous finishers even from a 20-25 yd distance but Panama's naivete in the back made them look good too. Panama's dangerous striker Tejada messed up badly, something like Stern when he was going through a bad patch and if he had finished properly Panama would have won with 4 goals or more. CR eat some yellow cards though and their coach took off one of them to preseve him.
Well, here are the standings from the FIFA website with important "goals for", and "goal difference". Got to keep on scoring goals and improving our goal difference in case we end up on the same points. Good to see that Panama is becoming hopeless. But still have to play them carefully in Panama. Forumites, feel free to create scenarios in the points after the following matches
Groups & Standings
Team MP W D L GF GA Pts
USA 7 6 0 1 14 3 18
Mexico 7 5 1 1 11 5 16
Costa Rica 7 3 1 3 9 11 10
Guatemala 7 2 1 4 11 12 7
Trinidad and Tobago 7 2 1 4 7 12 7
Panama 7 0 2 5 4 13 2
Now, to come: (Home team mentioned first)
Set 7th: Mexico vs Panama
Costa Rica vs T&T Guatemala vs USA
Oct 8th: Panama vs T&T
Costa Rica vs USA
Maxico vs Guatemala
Oct 12th: T&T vs Mexico
Guatemala vs Costa Rica
USA vs Panama
All I can say is that it would be really nice if we can squeeze out a win in Costa Rica as the possible permutations are nerve racking as the end draws near. Trust me, the same worries haunt the others. USA (now qualified) please send a serious side to Costa Rica.