US-China Recap

5:30- Welcome to Oakland. We're getting ready for U.S.-China. Bruce Arena has called up a mix and match squad. No Reyna, No Kirovski. Oh wait, does that Jovan guy still play anymore? I'm thinking 3-1 to the US. McHead needs to have a good game in his Nats return. His form at Preston has been iffy at best. Oh, and does ESPN ever change this theme music? I mean it's nice, but I've been listening to this for years.

5:31-Kill me now. Ty Keough is on match commentary.

5:36-Starters

US: Meola, Agoos, Berhalter, Llamosa, Pope, Armas, Beasley, Mathis, Olsen, Donovan, McBride
China: who cares?

5:37: Kickoff

5:38: The Chinese look like complete crap. They can't pass. Nevermind the fact that I don't know any of them. Olsen makes a good run after being spun free by Donovan. Corner by Agoos cleared.

5:39: Two quick misses by Armas and DaMarcus. The U.S. is piling on the pressure. A Chinese defender falls just to slow the flow.

5:41: China actually gets the ball.

5:43: Awful cross-field ball by Llamosa. Who gave him the right to pass?

5:44: Good one-two between Mathis and McBride. Great cross from Mathis cleared.

5:47: Pure longball from the U.S. Meola hits it near the Chinese 18, off of Donovan's heels. Olsen picks up the ball and passes wide to DMB who streaks in and puts in a poor ball behind his attackers which is cleared by the Chinese attackers.

5:49: Olsen works his magic again. Great ball to set Donovan free after a good challenge from McBride. Donovan tries the lob and misses badly. Not the best way to take that chance.

5:51: DMB and Mathis look to be out of touch with the game at this point. DMB especially looks out of his depth.

5:53: McHead looks to be on his game tonight. He sets DMB through into open space with no pressure. DMB misses wide to the far post.

5:54: No. 12 for China misses horribly from 12 yards away. He looked like Dan Stebbins (the Miami year) on that attempt.

5:57: McHead misses an open header off of a good Agoos corner. His passing is fine, but the finishing is still a bit off.

6:01: Cute little passing combination between Mathis and Donovan to allow Mathis a 25 yarder. Edwards has taken a clear liking to Donovan with bias on every touch.

6:04: GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL. LD sets McBride free with an ingenious little flick. McBride makes no mistake with a low shot to the far post.

6:08: The lads are playing too much over the top. Lots of longballs instead of the preferred throughballs.

6:12: Classic Ty-Edwards exchange
JE: Ty, tell us what an organized defense is
TY: A defense that is not able to be penetrated.

6:13: Gotta love how LD goes after the ball defensively. In that respect, he reminds me of Sunsing, as they both are tireless workers in causing trouble out of the back.

6:18: Paging the Chinese offense. Paging the Chinese offense.

6:19: If I'm Josh Wolff, I'm not digging the LD phenomenon.

6:20: Cheeky heel work by Mathis, Donovan and McBride. Olsen misses horribly with a volley after a DMB cross.

6:22: Donovan is set free by a Mathis scoop/chip. He handballs after an awful bounce.

6:23: Halftime

Quick Thoughts

• LD and McHead make a great combo
• Olsen is dangerous down the flanks. He looks to be in great form
• Back four is solid on defense due to lack of Chinese attack.
• You can tell Berhalter is a man without a club
• If I'm Joe-Max Moore, I'm not liking this game too much. I'm off my form, and now LD is breathing down my neck in addition to Razov.

6:40: 2nd half begins. The Chinese made a few subs. Not suprising considering how much they sucked. The U.S. makes a sub. Vanney on for Berhalter. Not surprising as Berhalter is not looking in good game shape.

6:41: GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL! Own goal from the Chinese. Pressure by LD causes a Chinese defender to kick it over his goalie's head. Are we sure they aren't a pub team?

6:42: Irony abounds in this one. Seconds before the goal, Edwards calls the Chinese defense a "cinder block".

6:43: Jack continues his bad night, alluding to Vanney's year-round "rock hard shape".

6:49: China finally shows some life. A Chinese corner is cleared off the line by Agoos. The US has problems clearing. That's a troubling letdown by the boys.

6:51: LD whacks a shot off the outside of the post. Good volley by LD.

7:04: Two subs for the U.S.-Mathis withdrawn for Zavagnin. Albright on for McHead. Mathis won't have loved his contribution to this match.

7:09: China scores. Whoop-de-do. Greg Vanney makes a horrible backpass and Meola was beaten to the ball by the scorer Qu Bo.

7:12: The U.S. play has decreased considerably since the start of the second half.

7:14: Zavagnin looks pretty slow out there.

7:17: I'm very glad to have Chris Armas at the end of a "close game"

7:20: Klein in for the industrious Olsen.

7:21: Edwards: "Olsen good to the last drop in this one". Horrible word choice.

7:24: LD just misses off of a great ball from Klein. Flashed over the bar.

7:26: The Chinese put on late pressure.

7:28: Match over. U.S. win 2-1 in a game that should have been at least twice that.

Subs
Vanney(5)
Zavagnin(6)
Albright(6)
Klein(7)

MOM: LD

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Conclusions

• LD has worked his way into the 18
• Mathis needs to stay in the game more.
• DMB needs some more seasoning, but the future is bright
• Berhalter needs a club and fast
• I'd like to see more consistency in attack, but the lads thoroughly dominated the 1st half, despite their disinterest in the 2nd half.
• China will not qualify for the 2002 World Cup. They are on par with Antigua, Barbados, etc.
• Jovan Kirovski will never put on a U.S. shirt again
• Consistency, Consistency, Consistency. We need it.
• Colombia will provide more of a test
• Why did we even bother with this game?