Stars and Stripes FC - USA vs. Guatemala, World Cup 2018 qualifying: Match CoverageHome of Brian, Brandi and Beerhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/38285/StarsAndBars_Fav.png2016-03-31T10:05:03-07:00http://www.starsandstripesfc.com/rss/stream/110916452016-03-31T10:05:03-07:002016-03-31T10:05:03-07:00USMNT vs. Guatemala: Man of the Match
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<figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>And the winner is... </p> <p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/united-states" class="sbn-auto-link">United States</a> Men's National Team went into Tuesday's <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/fifa-womens-world-cup" class="sbn-auto-link">World Cup</a> qualifier with Guatemala needing a win and they made no mistake in getting one. They completely dominated for 90 minutes as they should have. The got the job done and have put their qualifying campaign back on the right track after a bit of a worrisome result a few days prior raised some question marks.</p>
<p>In a 4-0 win, the player ratings for this match were a lot higher than they were on Friday, as you'd expect. After calculating the community's votes we have the results:</p>
<h3>Man of the Match - <span>Geoff Cameron</span>
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<p>According to the SSFC community, Tuesday's Man of the Match award belongs to Geoff Cameron. He took home the award in decisive fashion with an average player rating of 7.9, half of a rating point above his next closest competitor Clint Dempsey at 7.5. It's clear that the community believes that center back agrees with the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city" class="sbn-auto-link">Stoke City</a> man.</p>
<p>Here are the full results:</p>
<p>GK: <span>Brad Guzan</span> - 6.3</p>
<p>RB: <span>DeAndre Yedlin</span> - 7.0</p>
<p>CB: Geoff Cameron - 7.9</p>
<p>CB: Steve Birnbaum - 6.6</p>
<p>LB: <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/141638/edgar-castillo" class="sbn-auto-link">Edgar Castillo</a> - 5.3</p>
<p>CM: Kyle Beckerman - 6.8</p>
<p>CM: Graham Zusi - 6.9</p>
<p>CM: Michael Bradley - 7.2</p>
<p>RW: Gyasi Zardes - 5.4</p>
<p>ST: Clint Dempsey - 7.5</p>
<p>LW: Bobby Wood - 6.1</p>
<p>SUB: Jozy Altidore - 6.5</p>
<p>SUB: Ethan Finlay - 6.4</p>
<p>SUB: Christian Pulisic - 6.5</p>
https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2016/3/31/11335926/usa-vs-guatemala-world-cup-2018-qualifying-man-of-the-matchRob Usry2016-03-30T10:20:49-07:002016-03-30T10:20:49-07:00USA vs. Guatemala, WCQ: What We Learned
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<p>Clint Dempsey and Geoff Cameron gave us plenty to be excited about in Columbus.</p> <p>Today is a day to take a collective deep breath. The U.S. Men's National Team got the result it desperately needed. Was it a result both expected and demanded of the USMNT? Absolutely. But the pressure to get that result was unquestionably far higher than it ever needed to be.</p>
<p>Jürgen Klinsmann made five changes to his starting XI and overall, those changes worked, as the U.S. was dominant in a 4-0 victory vs. Guatemala. While we won't pretend that all is now rosy in USMNT-land, we can fairly say that the darkest scenario has been averted. Here's some of what we learned:</p>
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<h4>Clint Dempsey is still entirely indispensable</h4>
<p>At 33 years old, Clint Dempsey has no doubt heard calls for his role and minutes to be phased out, or even eliminated in the name of youth. Last night in Columbus we were reminded just how invaluable he still is to the USMNT. Once again, Dempsey set the tone early in a big game by scoring a big goal.</p>
<p>It was textbook Dempsey: not an artful goal, but built on instinct, opportunism, and sheer grit. He stealthily trailed the play, was in position to pounce, and powered a loose ball past the keeper quickly and decisively. Less than 12 minutes in, the ominous clouds hovering above the team had begun to part.</p>
<p>"How bad do you want it?" Dempsey asked rhetorically afterward. "How bad do you want to go to the World Cup? How bad do you want to continue progressing the game in the States? You've got to put it on your shoulders, man. You've got to represent your country with pride, and I think the boys did that tonight."</p>
<p>And shoulder it he did. That message was delivered to his teammates as he usually does it: with his actions. He may not be wearing the armband, but a motivated Clint Dempsey remains the emotional soul of the USMNT.</p>
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<h4>Geoff Cameron is the best American center back and it's really not close</h4>
<p>Versatility has long been a strength of Geoff Cameron's game. He's a very good right back, and has generally done well there when called upon. Cameron prefers to play centrally, either as a defensive midfielder, or as he did on Tuesday, as a center back. That also happens to be where he most consistently makes the greatest positive impact for the USMNT.</p>
<p>Cameron's influence in the middle of the field was evident early and often. Whether it was his dominance in the air, ability to create turnovers, or quick transitions with a key pass, Cameron's presence was impossible to miss.</p>
<p>You could almost overlook his fourth career USMNT goal and still rave about his performance. Unmarked or not, Cameron's danger on set pieces is could not be ignored either. When he put the U.S. up 2-0 in the 35th minute, the team was well on its way.</p>
<p>Certainly there are numerous good options in central defense: John Brooks, Matt Besler and Omar Gonzalez all offer varying degrees of confidence and experience. Surely it is a luxury that Geoff can so adeptly slot in elsewhere when needed. But any *first choice* lineup should have Geoff Cameron at center back.</p>
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<h4>DEFCON 1 is over; USMNT will (soon) advance</h4>
<p>The danger was real. A loss on Tuesday in Columbus would have all but ended the USMNT's 2018 World Cup plans. That's no hyperbole; qualification at that point would have required some unlikely outside help.</p>
<p>And after Friday night's debacle in Guatemala City, it didn't take a wild imagination to envision losing to the same team again four days later.</p>
<p>Thankfully, the fortress that is Columbus Crew Stadium held strong once again. The United States has still never lost there, improving to an 8-0-3 mark in the stadium's 17-year history. With one result, a smooth path to the Hex is now restored.</p>
<p>When World Cup Qualifying resumes in September, the USMNT could even advance with a round to spare. If the United States and Trinidad & Tobago each win their respective games, both will clinch advancement. The focus now shifts to Copa America, but that September visit to St. Vincent just got a heckuva lot more comfortable.</p>
https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2016/3/30/11328166/usa-vs-guatemala-world-cup-qualifying-recap-player-ratingsRoderick MacNeil2016-03-29T18:45:03-07:002016-03-29T18:45:03-07:00USMNT vs. Guatemala: Community Player Ratings
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<p>Your opinions, your ratings. </p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/united-states">United States</a>, in a must-win situation, did just that tonight against Guatemala. They dominated their fourth <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/fifa-womens-world-cup">World Cup</a> qualifying match to the tune of a 4-0 scoreline. The win will let everyone involved with U.S. Soccer breathe a huge sigh of relief and restore World Cup qualification expectations.</p>
<p>It was a comprehensive performance against a very poor team. It begs the question: How did they lose to this same exact team four days ago? Nevertheless, The win gives the U.S. seven points in their qualifying group and gives them control over their own destiny.</p>
<p>Instead of us getting on our high horse and telling you our player ratings, we feel it's a great idea to give you guys the forum to be heard. Below is a form for you to fill out rating each USMNT player that played it tonight's match. After a few days of community voting, we'll reveal the winner and who you voted Man of the Match. Please be as fair and unbiased as possible for best results.</p>
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https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2016/3/29/11320960/usa-vs-guatemala-world-cup-2018-qualifying-community-player-ratingsRob Usry2016-03-29T18:35:08-07:002016-03-29T18:35:08-07:00Video: Altidore hammers home the goal of the night
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<p>JOZY BACK!</p> <p>Still recovering from an injury that has sidelined him for all but one substitute appearance for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.wakingthered.com/">Toronto FC</a> this season in Major League Soccer, <span>Jozy Altidore</span> was called up by Jurgen Klinsmann for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/united-states">United States</a>, because he's desperate for anyone that can play forward. Altidore can do that.</p>
<p><span>Clint Dempsey</span> dribbled into the box but found himself with absolutely nowhere to go and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/colombia">Colombia's</a> goalkeeper in his face. A poor touch/pass found it's way into the path of Altidore, and the forward smashed it into the top corner to make it 4-0 and leave Guatemalans sad.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="es">⚽ | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eliminatorias?src=hash">#Eliminatorias</a>: 89' ¡Goooool! ¡Altidore anota el cuarto para <a href="https://twitter.com/ussoccer">@ussoccer</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USAvGUA?src=hash">#USAvGUA</a> <a href="https://t.co/PsBAuF3RKl">https://t.co/PsBAuF3RKl</a></p>
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/UnivisionSports/status/714983728661934080">March 30, 2016</a>
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<p>The goal moves Altidore up into a tie with Eric Wynalda for third place on US Soccer's all-time scoring list. At only 26 years old, Altidore will target passing Landon Donvan who sits in first place. Altidore is 22 goals behind Donovan. Will he pass the legend?</p>
https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2016/3/29/11328022/usmnt-guatemala-jozy-altidore-goal-videoPhillip Quinn2016-03-29T18:21:01-07:002016-03-29T18:21:01-07:00USMNT handle Guatemala with ease
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<figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The USMNT take care of business and relieve some pressure </p> <blockquote>
<p><b>USA 4 - </b>Dempsey 12' Cameron 35' Zusi 46' Altidore 88'</p>
<p><b>Guatemala 0</b></p>
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/united-states">United States</a> Men's National Team entered the night in a must-win situation against Guatemala and did just that. They took care of business against very poor opposition and restored everyone's hopes of World Cup qualification with a 4-0 win.</p>
<p>Both teams came out tentative in the opening 10 minutes until the USA took the game by the horns in the form of a <span>Clint Dempsey</span> goal. A long ball up to <span>Gyasi Zardes</span> in the box got nodded down into empty space and the USMNT's second all-time leading scorer latched onto it and lashed it past Paulo Motta for the opening goal of the match. One that the Americans desperately needed to get the pressure of needing to win off their shoulders.</p>
<p>The U.S. continued to pile on the pressure after the goal, dominating possession in the Guatemala end of the field. The visitors never looked comfortable to begin the match and they were forced to bunker behind the ball. The pressure finally paid off in the 35th minute when Geoff Cameron got on end of a <span>Michael Bradley</span> free kick and nodded it past Motta to give the USA a 2-0 lead. Bradley whipped in a great ball and the unmarked Cameron made no mistake and depositing it into the goal.</p>
<p>One more golden chance would fall the American's way as Bobby Wood found himself in acres of space in front of goal, but his effort on goal was weak and wide of goal. The teams would head into the locker room with the score 2-0 and the U.S. firmly in control.</p>
<p>Within 30 seconds of the second half beginning, the U.S. found themselves with a three-goal cushion. An attack down the right side from DeAndre Yedlin resulted in Gyasi Zardes fumbling a pass to <span>Graham Zusi</span> who struck a low shot into the net for the American's third goal of the night and to put the result out of question.</p>
<p>As the match wound down all that was left was to see out the rest of minutes without incident. Unfortunately that wouldn't be the case as Michael Bradley picked up a yellow card which will suspend him for the U.S.' next <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/fifa-womens-world-cup">World Cup</a> qualifier in September.</p>
<p>With ten minutes remaining, Jurgen Klinsmann subbed on 17-year-old Christian Pulisic for his USMNT debut. Appearing in World Cup qualifier officially cap-ties Pulisic to the USA.</p>
<p>In the final minutes of the match <span>Jozy Altidore</span> cleaned up a loose ball in front of goal to make it 4-0 for cosmetics. It was a much-needed convincing performance and one that will have many breathing a sigh of relief.</p>
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<h4>3 Quick Thoughts</h4>
<p> </p>
<ol>
<li><span>Where was this team on Friday? The pressure, the tactics, the confidence. It was all there when it had gone missing on the road. </span></li>
<li><span>Guatemala are an awful team and had no business winning on Friday.</span></li>
<li><span>PULISIC IS OURS! </span></li>
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https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2016/3/29/11327434/usa-vs-guatemala-world-cup-2018-qualifying-final-score-result-recapRob Usry2016-03-29T18:17:04-07:002016-03-29T18:17:04-07:00Pulisic cap-tied by USMNT
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<figcaption>Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>USA pulls one over on Croatia.</p> <p>In the 81st minute of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/united-states">United States</a>' romp over Guatemala, Jurgen Klinsmann used his <a href="https://twitter.com/ussoccer/status/714981168538656768">final substitution</a> to do something useful. That "something" is cap-tie <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthewall.com/">Borussia Dortmund</a> starlet Christian Pulisic to the Americans forever.</p>
<p>At the young of 17, Pulisic becomes the <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/714981430330269698">youngest player</a> to ever play in a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/fifa-womens-world-cup">World Cup</a> Qualifier for the United States. His future is extremely bright, and he's shown in moments with the BVB first team that he is certainly capable of playing at a high level. It will be interesting to watch how Klinsmann uses him over the next year as he continues his development at the club level.</p>
<p>While Pulisic has been very open to which national team he wanted to play for, Americans were sure to be panicking until the moment that he officially became cap-tied to the nation. Now, there's no longer any reason to panic. It's time for everyone to celebrate.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="es">PULISIC <a href="https://t.co/waGTdXisSa">pic.twitter.com/waGTdXisSa</a></p>
— Fear The Wall (@FearTheWall) <a href="https://twitter.com/FearTheWall/status/714981341016797184">March 30, 2016</a>
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https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2016/3/29/11327972/borussia-dortmund-starlet-christian-pulisic-cap-tied-by-the-unitedPhillip Quinn2016-03-29T17:44:56-07:002016-03-29T17:44:56-07:00Video: Zusi grabs the USA's third
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<p>Yikes.</p> <p>Sparing all viewers at home another Ian Darke rant "against modern football", <span>Graham Zusi</span> scored a goal mere seconds after the halftime whistle to officially put the fork in Guatemala. Down 3-0, the Guatemalans are throwing Carlos Ruiz's old bones on the field.</p>
<p>Deandre Yedlin played the ball into the box to <span>Gyasi Zardes</span>, and the <a href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">LA Galaxy</a> midfielder made a mess of the pass. Somehow, the ball ended up in the path of Zusi, and he easily scored for the third goal. Once again, atrocious defense from Guatemala leads to an easy goal for the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/united-states" class="sbn-auto-link">United States</a>.</p>
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<p>The assist is Zardes's second of the match, and the LA man has yet to really control a ball passed to his feet. We have to be approaching some sort of record here.</p>
<p>The only thing remaining in this match is when Christian Pulisic gets cap-tied.</p>
<p>It also must be reiterated that these two teams played four days ago, and Guatemala destroyed the United States.</p>
https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2016/3/29/11327826/usmnt-guatemala-graham-zusi-goal-videoPhillip Quinn2016-03-29T17:15:03-07:002016-03-29T17:15:03-07:00Video: Cameron header gives USA 2-0 lead
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<p>This game is over.</p> <p>This game is your reminder that Guatemala is actually bad at soccer. <span>Geoff Cameron</span> doubled the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/united-states">United States</a>' lead in the 35th minute. Meanwhile, the Guatemalans look completely helpless on the field.</p>
<p>Bobby Wood earned a free kick for the Americans after being fouled by Cristian Jimenez. The service in from Michael Bradley into the penalty area was perfect, and Cameron's completely unmarked, glancing header left no chance for Guatemalan goalkeeper Paulo Motta with no chance at the save.</p>
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<p lang="es" dir="ltr">⚽ | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eliminatorias?src=hash">#Eliminatorias</a>: 34' ¡Goooool! ¡Cameron anota el segundo para <a href="https://twitter.com/ussoccer">@ussoccer</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USAvGUA?src=hash">#USAvGUA</a> <a href="https://t.co/4dVsHfRZdx">https://t.co/4dVsHfRZdx</a></p>
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/UnivisionSports/status/714965860285218816">March 30, 2016</a>
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<p>Funny enough, Taylor Twellman quoted Jurgen Klinsmann that the reason for calling Graham Zusi into the national team on short notice (He was not named to the original roster.) was due to his ability to take set pieces. It's interesting that Zusi is on the field and not actually taking the set pieces. Who really knows why he's actually there.</p>
<p>This performance is what everyone expected down in Guatemala, because Guatemala is actually bad at soccer. This can't be emphasized enough.</p>
https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2016/3/29/11327712/usmnt-guatemala-geoff-cameron-goal-videoPhillip Quinn