Ok, here is the latest. USA is officially in the WC!!!!!!
Mexico and Honduras at 14 points each will play for the 3rd spot in their next game at Honduras. I am not sure who goes in in case of a tie (I don't have the goal differential yet). It appears the Mexicans have another shot at redemption. I still can not believe Honduras choked in such grand fashion, they could have wrapped it up. I was all ready to watch the US game but then the bombs started falling so I had to switch it to Univision to watch the Mexico game in 2/3 of the screen with 1/3 of the screen showing Kabul at night.
As far as the red card shown to both players, I agree with it. It is certain that the Mexican player deserved the red. But, as you pointed out, they kept messing around after the play was called dead...the ref, by letting them all get their steam out by harmless showing, continuing to smile, taking his time to take the offending players to his side and calmly showing them both the red, well, I believe, he saved the game at that point, if the Mexicans went down by one they would become even more reckless from that point on, remember, refs' main goal is to manage the game...I think the ref did a great job today, he fell for some flops but not all, other than that he was always in control of the game. I still think the best two teams, CR and USA are in, the winner of Honduras and Mexico, I guess, deserves the next spot...it should be very interesting!
United States 2, Jamaica 1
By RONALD BLUM
AP Sports Writer
October 7, 2001
FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) -- The United States
clinched its fourth consecutive World Cup berth,
beating Jamaica 2-1 Sunday on Joe-Max
Moore's penalty kick in the 81st minute.
Combined with Mexico's scoreless tie at Costa
Rica and Trinidad and Tobago's 1-0 upset win at Honduras, the
Americans (5-3-1) assured themselves of finishing among the top three
nations in the North and Central American and Caribbean region.
The United States, coming off its first three-game losing streak in 29
years, didn't play well, squandering a lead Moore created with a goal on
a header in the third minute.
James Lawrence tied the score in the 14th when U.S. defenders stood in
the penalty area and beat goalkeeper Brad Friedel off a long throw-in.
But the United States got the crucial penalty kick when Claudio Reyna,
back from a groin injury, sent a pass into the penalty area to a streaking
Landon Donovan. Jamaica's Tyrone Marshall, who entered in the 63rd
minute, pulled him down with a sliding tackle and referee Rodolfo Sibrian
of El Salvador immediately pointed to the penalty spot.
Costa Rica (6-1-2), which clinched one of the region's three berths by
beating the Americans last month, is first with 20 points, followed by the
United States with 16. Mexico and Honduras both are 4-3-2 with 14
points, but they meet Nov. 11, so only one could overtake the
Americans.
The game, the first for the U.S. team since last month's terrorist attacks
on New York and Washington, began about 1 1/2 hours after the first
missiles were fired on Afghanistan.
It was unclear how many fans, who were given American flags when they
arrived at the stadium, were aware the military mission had begun. A
33-yard-wide American flag was displayed on the field for ``The
Star-Spangled Banner'' and Sam's Army, the team's fan club, unfurled a
20-yard flag in one end zone next to a huge banner that read:
``America/You'll Never Walk Alone/9-11-2001.''
For a change, the United States got a pro-American crowd, with most of
the fans wearing red as opposed to Jamaica's gold and green.
At first, it seemed as if the U.S. team would roll. Reyna took a restart and
sent the ball to Moore, who let it glance off his head and sent it past
goalkeeper Aaron Lawrence.
But sloppy defensive play cost the United States, just as it did in last
month's 3-2 loss to Honduras in Washington. James Lawrence got his
goal when he was left unmarked in the penalty area, chested down a long
throw-in and kicked the ball past goalkeeper Brad Friedel.
The Americans then looked disorganized for stretches, and complained to
linesmen about three offsides calls when they were breaking into the
goalarea.
Notes
Because of the attacks, ABC canceled its telecast of the game. Therewas
a chance ESPN would broadcast a tape Monday afternoon. |
