Apologies for the delay, but as Biggy promised I have delivered my match report. Besides the enormous trouble I had finding a consistent feed that didn’t make all the players look the same (I was convinced Bocanegra was called for the handball, not Holden and they don’t look remotely alike) I have to admit even I found the match entertaining. It was so riveting for me because it managed to prove every single point I see wrong with the USMNT, all the while managing to keep Biggy from wallowing in pain for the rest of the year if they had failed to clinch a berth to Africa.

The US was AWFUL in this match. In fact they were so bad; the only thing that saved them from even more ridicule was that the match wasn’t televised. I will at least give them this, Honduras is not the easiest place to play, especially given the enormous security concerns and the like. Still, if this is the team that is supposed to even make a run at getting out of the group stages of the World Cup there is much work to be done.

The first half should have seen Honduras up at a minimum 3-2 if both teams finished their chances. That two for the US would have been if both of their measly two shots in the half went in and at least in the case of the Davies opportunity it absolutely should have been put away. I have yet to see any stats from the game, but I would be surprised if it said the US had any more than 30% possession over the course of the first 45. Here’s a list of issues that arose:

1. There are yet again no clear answers at either outside back position. Bornstein and Spector were torched all night and Spector, who is usually so good in the attacking half, didn’t venture forward once.
2. The lack of playing time Donatello/Gooch is getting at AC Milan is showing. He routinely misplaced his passes and looked uncertain whenever he won a ball, though he did better on clearances than his counterpart Boca.
3. If Holden hadn’t played one of the most immaculate balls I have seen with my two eyes I would have completely forgotten both he and Donovan were on the pitch.
4. Both Rico and Bradley were atrocious. I really want to see a Torres/Jones or Jones/Edu combination, and throw out both of the current regulars. Bradley and Rico have NO IDEA what they are doing when they are outpaced and outclassed by a side, and they proved that Saturday as they ran around in circles and played terrible balls into the middle of nowhere all night
5. I’ll get to Casey later.

Still, despite a half that seemed to never leave the US 18 yard box, they managed to emerge unscathed and keep the opportunity for a result open.

I’m not going to lie, when Honduras finally scored in the 51st I though it was over. Only because I thought the rest of the game would continue in the fashion the first 51 minutes had. Obviously I was mistaken, but de Leon’s free kick was a peach and I won’t hear any of the US complaints about a dive, it was an awful lunge from a player who is obviously out of form.

Here’s the Casey rant. There are two sides to the first goal. I take nothing away from his second, he took that one well, but I have issues with the first. As a goalkeeper, I have little respect for players that go in elbows first on me. I have watched replay after replay, and there is no doubt in my mind that goal should not have stood and Casey should have been given yellow. Yes, it is a 50-50 ball. Yes, it’s well done to stay involved in the play. No, there is no excuse for lifting an elbow on a player who cannot protect himself. In the middle of the pitch everyone does it, but a goalkeeper uses his arms to get to the ball and cannot protect against the flying extremities of players flying in at them. For that I hold little respect for Connor Casey.

Donovan had a great free kick to cushion the US lead, but defensive frailties were apparent again and were it not for an incredibly astute linesman the game could have been 3-3 before the now infamous pk.

On to Pavon. Oh Pavon…. Why de Leon was not given the spot kick is beyond me, but the second Pavon took one step I knew it was over. Both Costly and Pavon were off stride all match, despite consistently torturing the US back line, both couldn’t finish. Pavon proved that point only minutes later when he scorched his open header from three yards out well over the goal.

While it was a tense final few minutes, I must congratulate the USMNT on clinching their berth next summer. I must warn them though, they will not be so lucky against the world’s elite.

USMNT Match Ratings

Howard 6 – Second goal he got caught in no-man’s land, but he made numerous saves to keep the US at 0-0 going into the half. Not his greatest performance, but certainly not his worst.

Bornstein 4 – I don’t know what’s worse, Bradley’s faith that Bornstein can turn it around and give a positive performance, or that no one else has managed to take advantage of a spot that is so blatantly up for grabs on the team. He couldn’t keep up with any of the Honduras players, which he proved with his yellow card he received after annihilating a streaking winger who was well on his way past the left-back.

Onyewu 5 – Off form. Simple as that. Showed why he is so necessary on the back line, but needs to get some play time before next summer or it will be a debacle for the team.

Bocanegra 5 – I simply don’t trust him back there anymore. Demerit needs to return from injury, because Boca simply isn’t an option.

Spector 3.5 – The worst performance the young West Ham defender has given, in my opinion. Pace and passing were both issues here, as the flanks were routinely used by the Honduran’s.

Holden 5 – A rating he receives almost exclusively due to the amazing cross he sent to Davies in the first half. Other than that Holden did little to question why Dempsey is there instead of him. Dempsey doesn’t defend, but Holden didn’t much either. Unlucky on the handball.

Donovan 6 – A well struck free kick as well as a nicely weighted pass to Casey for his second, but Donovan was surprisingly absent for long stretches of this match. Normally even when the US is having issues he shines. Not this time.

Clark/Bradley 3.5 – This is a combo rating, because they were one and the same. There was no shape in the middle, no distribution from the middle, and certainly no defensive help from the middle Honduras set up shop inside the US 18. It will be interesting to see what changes once Jones is healthy.

Davies 4 – Just not the same player when you can’t utilize his speed. Absolutely atrocious miss first half, should have done better with the initial header, but should have had no problem with the rebound from four yards out. You don’t have to rip the net son.

Casey 6 – His second half performance saved him. First half he was awful. Lost the ball, kicked it out of bounds and ran with no purpose. Still, his two goal second half performance will live in the memories of many US fans, though I will still question the first one.

(none of the subs had enough time or impact to warrant a rating)