Random Points from the Mexico Game

Like a lot of US fans, I am coming down after an engrossing couple of days in Columbus. Here are some random things that come to mind from the game:

-I was excited by our quick, one-touch passing for large stretches of the game. It was a little worrisome, though, that it wasn't coming from some of our younger players, such as Jozy and Rico, although you could argue they weren't given much time to do anything.

-Heath Pearce did the job defensively but was very wasteful with the ball.

-This was the largest U.S. supporters section ever to witness a home game.

-It would be hard to find someone I dislike more than Rafa Marquez.

-It would be hard to find anyone I love more than Frankie Hejduk or Michael Bradley.

-It was a wonderful feeling walking out winners 2-0, but I will likely first think of the march from the bar into the ensuing hail monsoon first when I think back on this game.

-Had a chance to say hi to a few of the players at the hotel after the game. We support a bunch of descent, friendly guys.

-Much props to US Soccer, who treated us very well through the ticketing process.

I'm gonna hit the sack feeling very fulfilled. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to such a glorious night.
Korey

USA v Mexico (World Cup Qualifier)
02/11/09 Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, OH

AO SCOUTING REPORT

The Big One

Put on your seatbelts, kids. It’s the match we’ve all been waiting for, US v Mexico WCQ in Columbus. Last time out, the mighty
yanks qualified for Germany with a sound 2-0 performance with goals from Steve Ralston and Damarcus Beasley. The US will expect
a similar result against a Mexican squad looking to avenge their lackluster pre-qualifying campaign. Mexican boss Sven Goran-Erikson
has done little right since joining with “El Tri” last year, and will need a miracle to bring down a US team brimming with confidence.
It has been said that if Sven can’t beat the US here, he will be out of a job. The US is coming off an 8-0-2 record against the Mexicans
on home soil since 2001, and the Mexicans will need something amazing to break down the US defense that has been brilliant in
recent outings.

The US has come off a solid qualifying campaign. Clearly, the Bocanegra-Onyewu backline has left little to the imagination, but will
surely be tested in Columbus. Dos Santos should get a run-out, and will put Gooch’s speed on trial. But who will start alongside
Michael Bradley in the heart of the midfield? Very likely Sacha Kljestan, after his hat-trick performance against Sweden, with Ching
and Dempsey up front. Bob Bradley clearly recognizes the magnitude of the match at hand, and has proved successful in the past.
No-one could forget Benny Feilhaber’s volley to seal the Gold Cup in 2006, and US fans will be looking to Bob Bradley to deliver once
again.

The US squad is as follows:

GK: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan
DEF: Carlos Bocanegra, Jonathon Bornstein, Danny Califf, Frankie Hejduk, Oguchi Onyewu, Heath Pearce
MID: Damarcus Beasley, Michael Bradley, Ricardo Clark, Sacha Kljestan, Robbie Rogers, Jose Francisco Torres, Marvel Wynne,
FOR: Josmer Altidore, Brian Ching, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan

Projected line-up:

T.Ho
Hejduk, Boca, Gooch, Pearce
Beasley, Bradley, Donovan, Kljestan
Dempsey, Ching

Make no mistake, this game has social, cultural, and political value along with the football. The US/Mexico rivalry surely ranks among
the top in the world. Therefore, expect an extremely tense atmosphere at Columbus Crew stadium on Wednesday. These 2
CONCACAF dominates have struggled to prove superiority for years, and will continue to forever. Anyone who is anyone will
appreciate what is at stake on Wednesday, bragging rights to the region that will content for 2010 in South Africa.

Expect a chilling occasion both on the pitch and off the pitch.

Full roster info below:
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Birthdate Caps/G Hometown Club
Altidore, Jozy F 6'1" 175 11/06/89 6/2 Boca Raton, Fla. Xerez C.D. (Spain)
Beasley, DaMarcus M 5'8" 145 05/24/82 82/17 Ft. Wayne, Ind. Glasgow Rangers (Scotland)
Bocanegra, Carlos D 6'0" 170 05/25/79 62/10 Alta Loma, Calif. Stade Rennais (France)
Bornstein, Jonathan D 5'9" 145 11/07/84 14/1 Los Alamitos, Calif. Chivas USA (MLS)
Bradley, Michael M 6'2" 175 07/31/87 25/3 Manhattan Beach, Calif. Borussia Mönchengladbach (Germ.)
Califf, Danny D 6'1" 175 03/17/80 22/1 Orange, Calif. FC Midtjylland (Denmark)
Ching, Brian F 6'1" 195 05/24/78 32/9 Haleiwa, Hawaii Houston Dynamo (MLS)
Clark, Ricardo M 5'10" 150 05/10/83 16/1 Jonesboro, Ga. Houston Dynamo (MLS)
Davies, Charlie F 5'10" 160 06/25/86 5/1 Manchester, N.H. Hammarby IF (Sweden)
Dempsey, Clint M 6'1" 170 03/09/83 46/13 Nacogdoches, Texas Fulham FC (England)
Donovan, Landon F 5'8" 150 03/04/82 105/37 Redlands, Calif. Bayern Munich (Germany)
Guzan, Brad GK 6'4" 210 09/09/84 11/0 Homer Glen, Ill. Aston Villa (England)
Hejduk, Frankie D 5'8" 155 08/05/74 81/6 Cardiff, Calif. Columbus Crew (MLS)
Howard, Tim GK 6'3" 210 03/06/79 35/0 North Brunswick, N.J. Everton FC (England)
Kljestan, Sacha M 6'1" 150 09/09/85 13/3 Huntington Beach, Calif. Chivas USA (MLS)
Onyewu, Oguchi D 6'4" 210 05/13/82 38/5 Olney, Md. Standard de Liege (Belgium)
Pearce, Heath D 5'10" 175 08/13/84 21/0 Modesto, Calif. Hansa Rostock (Germany)
Rogers, Robbie M 5'10" 165 05/12/87 1/0 Huntington Beach, Calif. Columbus Crew (MLS)
Torres, José Francisco M 5'7" 135 10/29/87 2/0 Longview, Texas Pachuca (Mexico)
Wynne, Marvell D 5'9" 170 05/08/86 2/0 Poway, Calif. Toronto FC (MLS)