June 12, 2010 – The English commentator for ABC’s broadcast of Saturday’s Group C World Cup match said “Sometimes when you buy a ticket, you win the raffle”. This was how he summed up the goal scored by Clint Dempsey; a hopeful, long-range effort that somehow, inexplicably, proved too much to handle for English goalkeeper Robert Green. After blocking the bouncing shot with both hands, Green’s legs seemed to get caught underneath him, leaving him unable to follow the ball as it spun away and slowly dribbled into the net. What was perhaps one of the luckiest goals in World Cup history had pulled the US even with England and would ultimately earn the Americans a valuable 1-1 draw in their opening match of the tournament.
Things had not started well for the US in one of the most-anticipated matches in the history of American soccer. Looking slightly nervous and tentative in the opening moments of the game, England caught the US flat-footed from a throw in. Glen Johnson tossed the ball to teammate Frank Lampard Jr. in the center of the field. He in turn passed it up toward Wayne Rooney but the ball slipped passed him to Emile Heskey, who deftly laid it off for Steven Gerrard. The English Captain had run past his marker, Ricardo Clark, and calmly stuck the ball into the back of the net with the outside of his foot.
Unfortunately, this was not unusual territory for the Americans. Surrendering early goals to the powers of international soccer was nothing new for this team. Perhaps the experience of being down early prevented panic in the US ranks and allowed them to find their feet in the match. Within a couple of minutes of the restart, England’s James Milner was forced to chop down Steve Cherundolo with a hard foul after the lively fullback had gotten past him with a good first touch. In the 11th minute, Dempsey got a header on goal and two minutes later the US won a series of corner kicks that ultimately came to nothing.
The Americans were gaining confidence and again threatened England’s lead in the 19th minute when Landon Donovan was given the time and space to send a dangerous cross into the area. However, Jozy Altidore was only able to apply a glancing header to the ball with Dempsey trailing the play at the far post.
England responded immediately. Rooney got on the end of Green’s long goal kick and played the ball out wide for Aaron Lennon. The speedy winger drove into the area but his cross was cut out by the retreating Cherundolo when shooting might have been the better option.
In the 26th minute, Milner was cautioned for a second foul on Cherundolo. Oguchi Onyewu, who’d recovered sufficiently from knee surgery to start the match, headed Donovan’s resulting free kick wide of the target in heavy traffic.
A couple minutes later, England got forward on a counter attack and won a corner. The US defense struggled to clear the danger. England kept the pressure on and Johnson was able to send in a dangerous cross from the right. Tim Howard came out bravely to get a hand to the ball but he also caught the studs of Heskey in his ribs as the big, English striker stretched to get a foot on the ball. Howard stayed down for a long time in obvious pain. During the stoppage of play, England brought on Shawn Wright-Philips for Milner, who apparently hadn’t recovered fully from an illness that had kept him out of training earlier in the week.
The injury to Howard slowed the tempo of the match and not much happened for the next ten minutes. Both sides created a couple of half chances but it was starting to look like the game was heading toward halftime without further incident. Cherundolo was cautioned in the 39th minute for a professional foul on Wright-Philips. Then the US got back into the match in the most improbable way. The Americans won the ball in midfield and Dempsey dribbled toward the penalty area with the excellent Gerrard defending him closely. Clint tried a couple of spin moves but couldn’t shake the dogged, English Captain. I doubt Dempsey had much hope for his speculative, left-footed shot. He probably didn’t even stay forward to watch it elude Green and roll into the net. But roll in it did and the US were level.
England came back at the US almost instantly as Johnson cut in from the right to unleash a low, hard shot from the top of the US area. Howard did brilliantly to smother the fierce drive. In the 45th minute, Onyewu was forced to clear a cross out for a corner. Nothing came of the resulting set piece and the two sides went into the break on level terms.
England made another substitution at the start of the second half with Ledley King making way for Jamie Carragher in central defense. The Three Lions came out flying as play resumed and the US appeared a bit flustered. Jay DeMerit was cautioned for an intentional hand ball at midfield in the 48th minute. Four minutes later, Heskey came steaming in on the US penalty area. He unleashed a rocket of a shot but it went straight at the advancing Howard, who was able to hold on.
The Americans managed to weather the onslaught and gradually got back into the game. In the 60th minute Carragher was cautioned for cutting down the fleet-footed Robbie Findley. Five minutes later, Altidore picked up the ball on the left and ran at the veteran, English defender. Carragher couldn’t match Altidore’s pace and couldn’t foul for fear of being sent off for a second bookable offense. Jozy rounded Carragher, drove into the area and fired a low shot toward the near post. Green did well to get down to it and deflect the ball onto the upright. The rebound was eventually cleared after the US had come inches away from taking the lead.
DeMerit and Onyewu had done a good job of keeping Rooney in check but the English danger man was starting to find room to operate. In the 71st minute he headed wide of the target from a Steven Gerrard cross. Four minutes later Rooney’s shot from distance went narrowly wide. England was ratcheting up the pressure, looking for a winning goal. In the 76th minute, the amazing Howard stood his ground bravely to deflect a close-range shot from Wright-Philips out for a corner. The American goalkeeper was called into action again from the resulting set piece as he stuffed Rooney’s effort at the near post.
The game began to wind down at this point. Edson Buddle came on for Findley, who’d been booked in the 74th minute for a foul on Gerrard. England continued to push forward, looking for a winner but the US defense had an answer for all of England’s questions. Fabio Capello made one final roll of the dice in the 79th minute, bringing on the towering Peter Crouch for Heskey. It was no use. The US were able to hold on and earn a priceless, if fortuitous, draw.
While England will be cursing their luck, the American team will be in high spirits coming out of their first group match. The US overcame early adversity and proved that their defense can hold up against quality competition. Having faced their toughest group opponent, they have every reason to be confident heading into their next match against Slovenia on June 18th.
Player ratings for the US players follows (scored 1-10):
Tim Howard, goalkeeper (8): Not much he could have done on the goal and he was fantastic from then on, making numerous, vital saves. He showed great courage coming off his line against Heskey and great toughness to continue with what looked like a painful injury. Hopefully he’ll be ready to play against Slovenia (Man of the Match).
Oguchi Onyewu, central defender (7): The only thing more surprising to me than the fact that he started was how well he played. He must have been playing at about 75% during the build up to the World Cup because I never saw this performance coming. Strong in the air, quick enough on the ground, Gooch takes our back line to another level.
Jay DeMerit, central defender (7): While he was probably the least-talented player on the field he was determined not to be the least effective. By hook or by crook he kept Rooney in his pocket for most of the match as he made some crucial clearances as well. Perhaps could have avoided picking up the yellow card for a hand ball that could have seen him sent off by a different referee.
Steve Cherundolo, right fullback (8): It’s wonderful to see the most under-rated US player in top form for this tournament. He was again quick and dangerous going forward while playing even better defensively with several key interceptions. I loved watching him absolutely stuff Wright-Philips in the 55th minute. However, the yellow card he picked up against the same player is a concern.
Carlos Bocanegra, left fullback (6): A smart, steady performance from the captain, who did enough to deal with the pace of Aaron Lennon. As a result, he wasn’t able to get forward or distribute the ball much but he played well within the US defensive scheme.
Ricardo Clark, central midfielder (5): He let Gerrard get away from him for the opening goal and struggled to deal with the English Captain, who had a terrific game. However, he stuck at it and protected the back line as best he could.
Michael Bradley, central midfielder (6): With Donovan and Dempsey playing on the wings, the coach’s son will have to sit deep for the US in this tournament. He did this pretty well against world-class opposition in Gerrard and Lampard Jr.
Landon Donovan, winger (6): He was forced to defend more than he’s use to but America’s #10 still got forward to create problems for the English defense. His deliveries from set pieces and crosses were dangerous and he managed a couple of decent shots from distance too.
Clint Dempsey, winger (7): He got the goal of course but it was his defensive work, especially in the second half, that impressed me. He repeatedly joined Bocanegra on the flank to bottle up Aaron Lennon and kept running for the full 90 minutes.
Robbie Findley, striker (6): While he never really threatened the opponent’s goal, his mere presence kept the British defense honest. He made a couple of good runs and dropped back regularly to defend. Again, it would have been better if he could have avoided picking up a card.
Jozy Altidore, striker (6): Like Findley, his pace and power were concerns for England. Perhaps should have done better with his header in the first half. His drive into the area and near-post shot required an excellent save from Green just to push the ball onto the post.
Substitutes:
Edson Buddle, striker (6): Didn’t get many chances as it was all hands to the pumps by the time he came on for Findley. However, he did his part to preserve the point.
Stuart Holden, striker (6): He was only on briefly but his speed gave England something to worry about in the dying minutes of the match.
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