U-20 Championships: U.S. vs. Germany [R]

[Thow]

I debated doing a new thread for this, but I figured, what the heck! The game has just kicked off on FSC. It's the final game of the second round. The U.S. is currently in a three-way tie with Germany and Argentina at three points. Egypt sits at the bottom of the group without any points. Here is the U.S. starting XI:
Freddy Adu
Chad Barrett
Benny Feilhaber
Hunter Freeman
Eddie Gaven
Patrick Ianni
Sammy Ochoa
Nathan Sturgis
Quentin Westberg
Marvell Wynne
Greg Dalby

The biggest news from the U.S. camp was the Jonathon Spector, the Manchester United defender, failed a fitness test and isn't available today. He'll likely be ready for the Egypt game on Friday, if the United States need him.

[AreliusII]

My computer is too slow today to launch MatchTracker. Please keep us updated...

[huntingfool12]

Is this site running active x on it?

[Thow]

Originally Posted by AreliusII

My computer is too slow today to launch MatchTracker. Please keep us updated...

It's been a lively opening 15 minutes or so to the match. It's been an evenly matched affair between two good sides. Sammy Ochoa, who plays in Mexico, just had a penalty appeal turned down. Looked like a good shoulder barge from the German defender. At the other end, a German winger sends an outstanding low cross into the six-yard box. It's well cut out by Nathan Sturgis.

Score remains 0-0 after 20 minutes.

[Thow]

The U-S-A chant goes up in the Dutch stadium, much to the annoyance of every European watching the game (God, I love being an American!) I'm guessing that some of the Dutch supporters joined into the chant, just to spite their bitter rival Germany. :p

It looks to me that the U.S. has had the better of the play in the first half hour, though Germany has looked quite dangerous on the counter attack. About five minutes, Freddy Adu sent a free kick from 30 yards off the line toward the far post, and Eddie Gaven almost got onto the end of it. Surely any sort of effort on frame would've been a goal for the States.

This has been a really aesthetically pleasing match, as have most of these U-20 games. If you get the chance, it's really quite good soccer.

[edaw33]

41.08 and gavin is getting some great shots but still no score.

[huntingfool12]

Man i wish i wasn't at work right now. With the way are younger team is looking lately it looks like we are going to have some pretty good players to keep on building are national team with.

[Jose Luis Luviano]

Thanks, everybody!

[Thow]

Germany somehow avoids going at least 1-0 down. Great, great through ball from Freddy Adu on the edge of the 18-yardd box springs Eddie Gaven free and his shot is palmed away from the 'keeper. Gaven gets clearly pulled down by a German defender when he goes for the ensuing loose ball near the end line, but the referee won't have any of it. Even the English commentator grudgingly says it should've been a penalty.

More good work from the U.S. leading up to halftime. Marcel Schuon has been outstanding in defense for the Germans. The United States might really regret not getting at least one goal in the opening 45 minutes.

Corner kick just before halftime for the Americans...it's cleared by Germany and that should probably do it.

Halftime score: 0-0

[Thow]

Opening five minutes of the second half sees more dominance from the United States. Freddy Adu, Gaven, and Ochoa have each played really well in attack for the Americans.

They really need to turn this dominance into an empirical advantage. I don't want to sound like, "I told you so, but.........."

By the way, Adu just send another great chip toward Ochoa at the far post.