Soccer Buzz

A 1-0 victory over Guatemala, eh? Well, I guess it’s three points.

I’ll start off in complaining mode. Watching Guatemala play soccer is like watching Southern Illinois University play basketball this past NCAA season. Both teams play a style that constantly blurs (and often steps way over) the line of fair play, and they essentially dare officials to call every single infraction. Eventually, referees seemingly throw up their arms and say “I can’t call every single foul. That’s just how they play.” SIU parlayed this style into a 4 seed in the NCAA tournament and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen, and Guatemala was one defensive mistake away from taking a point from a much superior team. The style may be effective, but it sure doesn’t entertain anyone.

Referee Jose Pineda pretty much let Guatemala play this style. How can referees still not be aware of Carlos Ruiz’s little tricks (whack the defender and then fall down)? How could Leonel Noriega go 85 minutes without getting booked. Or perhaps you could ask why I would seem to expect competent officiating in this confederation after all these years.

Regardless, the United States needs to learn to adjust to this style because it won’t be the last time they see it. The best way to adjust is to simply score when they create opportunities. The US did create several scoring chances, especially in the first half but could only get one goal. Taylor Twellman did well to set up Clint Dempsey’s goal, but how could he not hit the target late in the first half when Landon Donovan sent in a near perfect cross? I cringed on that miss, not only because it would have nailed my 2-0 prediction, but also because those types of misses always reinvigorate the opposition. A goal there probably ends the game and could have opened the floodgates. As it happened, the Guatemalans looked like they just cheated death and played like they had nothing to lose.

On the bright side (relatively speaking), the US did not totally panic after Onyewu (who has to learn to defend without fouling) was sent off, and despite the nervous moments, they never let Guatemala seriously threaten Tim Howard’s goal.

Guatemala deserves credit for being willing to go forward after the US goal instead of continuing to bunker to maintain a solid goal differential. It was another good lesson for the US in terms of handling a team like Guatemala, but eventually, they will have to step on the throats of these teams.

US Soccer, Guatemala, Gold Cup, Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard, Taylor Twellman, Landon Donovan, Carlos Ruiz