When you bleed red white and blue soccer, national team games are not a good time to hang out, or to watch if you are have time. They are circles on the calendar, events I plan my day around. World Cup qualifiers are like that, except magnified by five. This game was no different, except for the fact that it fell on the biggest party weekend of the year. I certainly enjoy a good party, and Chico for Labor Day is one of the biggest parties in the world, and it all revolves around floating down the river. Needless to say, when my friends suggested we float Saturday, I was adamant that we go Sunday because US soccer comes first. Of course, Sunday isn't a bad floating day either. Regardless, when 5pm Saturday rolled around, the TV was on ESPN classic for the critical world cup qualifier in Sandy Utah. 

The game got off to an interesting start, the US pressing forward often and early, then settling into a rhythm, if being inconsistent could be considered a rhythm. The US probed well but did not have a lot of good chances. Bradley's strike from distance was off frame, and the US struggled to take good shots. Then disaster struck. El Salvador got a goal against the run of play after a miserable clearance by Bornstien allowed a decent cross to be headed on frame, and as Marshall and Bocanegra were out of position, Spector did poorly with the cross and Tim Howard did uncharacteristically poorly and was beaten by a decent header at best that he really could have saved. The United States not only looked to be in peril of losing this game, but slipping out of qualifying position. The trend of giving up early goals that are not particularly deserved continued, and continues to be a thorn in Bob Bradley's side.

Fortunately, the goal sparked the United States almost immediately. Dempsey missed a great chance, and the joy rippled through the stands as Davies beat the keeper on the dribble and put the ball on frame and as it rolled goal bound, an El Salvador defender defied the inevitable and cleared the ball off the line, leaving Davies to rue another missed opportunity. Finally in the fortieth, Donovan delivered a picturesque cross that Dempsey ran onto and headed home after beating the offside trap. The US was back in business to the relief of everyone watching. Dempsey's run was perfect as all of the El Salvador defenders stepped, but Dempsey had come from the back of breaking group to guide his free header into the bottom corner.

Clearly the momentum had turned, and the possession and passing of the US was crisp and dangerous and El Salvador was on their heels. I was talking on the phone with Chamo as I celebrated Demps goal and told him that the US would score again before half. One minute into stoppage time, another spectacular ball from Landon Donovan, who was showing his class on the ball and as a winger, found Jozy Altidore for a header into the corner that put the US ahead. As he headed to the corner, Jozy and Charlie got their Stanky Leg on in the corner, like they had said they would do on twitter the day before. The truest expression of joy and relief that I felt was summed up in the text message I received from my brother that simply said "my man". These words express how so many of us feel about Jozy, and really the rest of the US squad, a young, exciting side that we have bonded with, a side that has potential and flair for the first time, a team that we can call our own and be proud to cheer for them. Again, Jozy had delivered in a critical spot, and Bob Bradley's decision to start Altidore was rewarded, as the end of the Brian Ching era looks to finally have begun. Such an exciting and dynamic strike partnership is what so many people have been waiting for.

Unfortunately, the half seemed to stall the US momentum, but quickly the sharp passing and aggressive runs returned. When Dempsey played Altidore through and Jozy finished into the bottom corner, it appeared the game was over. Unfortunately, the ref didn't see it the same way, and called a foul that was completely befuddling. After watching the replay multiple times, it was clear that Dempsey slid and won the ball, playing it forward to Altidore cleanly, and Altidore timed his run impressively, was onside and finished precisely into the corner. The only trend more worrisome then that of giving away early goals is the bias that international referees appear to have toward the US national team. In a game of this importance, a call that drastically alters a game in the way that this did is inexcusable and it is time that they face repercussions in the same terms that players do. What exactly this looks like I'm not sure, but CONCACAF has some serious issues to address in terms of refereeing.

The fact that the US did not put the nail in the coffin lead to more opportunities for both teams, as El Salvador seemingly abandoned playing defense altogether, which opened up the door for a chance that Dempsey should have buried as he broke in alone on goal, and Davies sashayed into the box multiple times, going down too easily in spots where even if he was fouled, he would have been able to stay up and continue with the play. After Davies got hacked at one point, he had to be taken off and was replaced by Stuart Holden. Kyle Beckerman and Jose Francisco Torres both entered, and Holden and Torres both impressed going forward, but the US struggled to hold possession late, and almost gave up a late goal in the eighty seventh, where Howard came up big. After three harrowing minutes of extra time where the US seemed to lack the ability to clear the ball out of their own box, the referee mercifully blew his whistle and the United States left gorgeous Rio Tinto Stadium with three points in what has become an incredibly tight four horse race in CONCACAF.

Chamo's Notes:

-The US defense, without Onyewu and Demerit, is poor. Boca was fine, but Marshall was terrible in my books. He played without shape, and was caught standing about three feet away from Boca too many times, including on the El Salvador goal.

-Torres needs more playing time, and soon. Even if you disregard the goal he almost scored (he took that header damn well, that was an amazing save), the kid knows how to control the ball. If Beckerman ever gets subbed on before Torres again I'll have a fit.

-Tim Howard is one of my favorite players on the USMNT, perhaps because I am a goalie and I can appreciate his talents. That said, he was caught in no-man's land on the goal, I'm not sure if it was over commitment to the right, or just poor positioning, but he jumped all the way across the goal, making it too easy for a player who wasn't even getting challenged for the ball.

Ratings:

USMNT:

Howard: 7  Tim made the most critical save of the night in the eighty seventh minute to preserve the win, but could have done better on the first goal. His distribution was generally excellent as usual and he did a good job with a bit of a patchwork back line.

Spector: 4.5  Got forward well and served multiple dangerous balls into the box. He needed to do better on the first goal as he cannot get beat that easily, especially against players that are smaller then he is.

Bocanegra: 7  Carlos stepped up, won balls in the middle, and solidified a defense that lacked both of its starting center backs. He still looked shaky on occasion and his positioning on the first goal was poor but he helped carry a back line that needed to clutch up.

Marshall: 6  Didn't impress, but played well enough as a fill in. Unsteady on the ball, he looked to clear first, but combined well with Bocanegra to get the all critical three points.

Bornstein: 3.5  His clearance in the first half negated what looked to be a decent performance. The first goal was primarily his fault, as his clearance was miserable, and he seemed to look to clear the ball instead of possess it and work it forward. He recovered well late on a couple through balls that were dangerous, but did not convince that he is the solution at left back.

Dempsey: 7  The impressively inconsistent Dempsey came up with the most critical goal in qualification as he buried his header to tie the game and completely shift momentum. He failed to bury three other opportunities though, and could have done more.

Bradley: 6.5  Back in his more defensive central midfield role, Bradley looked good as he came forward and is a threat from long range. Nothing incredibly impressive to note, but nothing negative either.

Feilhaber: 6.5 Benny's composure on the ball was impressive, but his passing wasn't quite as crisp as it needed to be and he slowed down late. Still a good change of pace for the US, and his creative play opened up holes in a tightly packed El Salvador defense.

Donovan: 8.5 The Constantly Offside man of the match, Donovan has elevated his game to a new level. When he isn't scoring, he is showing that his wing play is improving rapidly and that his free kicks have returned to the ultra dangerous state that they were two years ago. He contributes greatly to the danger that the US poses any squad from free kicks.

Davies: 6.5  Davies was unlucky not to score, and lucky not to get a yellow card at times when he went down easily in the box. His pace troubles teams, and he combined with Altidore really well.

Altidore: 8  His finishing was crisp, he got robbed by the referee of a good goal, and his composure and touch continue to impress. A bright future for what is currently the lesser half of the best strike partnership the US has seen in a long time.

Subs:

Holden: 6  Continues to be dangerous, his pace and work rate combined with his ability to serve incredibly dangerous balls has elevated his status to one of the first off the bench.

Beckerman: 4  Looked shaky, needed to get stuck in more. Likely will not feature in many more ties because of the depth at center mid, his inclusion was a nice shout out to the Real Salt Lake fans and a reward for his solid Gold Cup.

Torres: 6  Should have scored, and seems to have a calming presence on the field. I would like to see him get a shot partnered with Bradley in T&T.

The painful fact about these three points is how critical they really are, because both Honduras and Mexico won, and now Wednesday's game at T&T is another game where the US must get max points if they fancy a trip to South Africa next summer.