World Cup Qualifying: USMNT v Guatemala - Do or Die

[War Machine Dawg]

Klinsmann with a 4-3-3 look tonight: Yedlin, Cameron, Birnbaum, Castillo; Beckerman, Zusi, Bradley; Wood, Dempsey, Zardes. Guzan in the net. First start for Birnbaum, but I like the move.

It's essentially win or miss the Wold Cup. Missing the WC would be a huge blow after the momentum the US has built for the program two years ago.

US with a real sense of urgency so far in the first 5+ minutes and really taking it to Guatemala.

[War Machine Dawg]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!! Clint Dempsey!!! 1-0 USA, 12' in. We NEEDED that one.

[War Machine Dawg]

Gotta give props to Gyasi Zardes. He made a nice run to stretch Guatemala's D. Long pass hits off his shoulder and falls right to Dempsey. And Cap drilled it home.

[War Machine Dawg]

Birnbaum takes a boot to the face, but stays in the game. Yedlin looking really good so far tonight.

[War Machine Dawg]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!! Geoff Cameron header from a Michael Bradley free kick in the 35'. 2-0 USA. We goin' to the World Cup!!!!

[War Machine Dawg]

HT US 2-0 Guatemala. Damn good first half. Early goal from Captain America and Cameron with another late in the half to add some cushion.

[War Machine Dawg]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! !!!!!!!!!! Graham Zusi!!!! 3-0 USA. Just 20 seconds into the second half.

[Shooter McGavin]

Zusi making Klinnsman look smart for starting him. Dempsey almost notched goal #4

[War Machine Dawg]

Zusi making Klinnsman look smart for starting him. Dempsey almost notched goal #4

Best lineup we've fielded in a while. Beckerman makes a big difference, too. Loving Yedlin at RB and Wood up front. I definitely want to see us get younger and faster, particularly in the midfield, but this group has been damn good.

Just need to find a left back now. Wonder if Ream or Cameron could move out there? That would open up a spot for Brooks or Miazga at CB, which might be our best overall back 4 - Yedlin, Birnbaum, Brooks/Miazga, and Ream/Cameron.

[War Machine Dawg]

First sub of the game: Wood out, Altidore in.

[War Machine Dawg]

Second sub: Zardes out, Ethan Finlay in. 70'

Next up should be Pulisic, 17 year old Dortmund player and Croatia target.

[War Machine Dawg]

Pretty soft yellow card on Bradley there, imo. And that yellow puts him out of the next match due to accumulation.

[Shooter McGavin]

Dumb yellow card by Bradley. I agree with Ian Darke's earlier statement about Yedlin. He's a much more polished player.

Off topic, Altidore is only 26? Seems like he should be about 36.

[War Machine Dawg]

Dumb yellow card by Bradley. I agree with Ian Darke's earlier statement about Yedlin. He's a much more polished player.

Off topic, Altidore is only 26? Seems like he should be about 36.

Definitely agree about Yedlin. Playing regularly for Sunderland has been huge for his development. And yeah, Altidore has been around forever, but he's barely in his prime years. We really need him to regain his form.

Final sub: Christian Pulisic in, Zusi out. Pulisic now capped to the US and unavailable for Croatia.

[War Machine Dawg]

Damn, terrible luck for Finlay. He was onside.

[War Machine Dawg]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!! Jozy Altidore! 4-0 US

[Shooter McGavin]

Jozy!!!!

[Dawg61]

This is a beatdown!! We definitely in the WC now?

[War Machine Dawg]

This is a beatdown!! We definitely in the WC now?

Basically. Tonight's win leapfrogged us into second ahead of Guatemala. Still 2 more matches left, but one is St. Vincent & the Grenadines which should almost definitely be 3 points. The other is Trinidad and Tobago, who are currently leading our group. 4 points from those 2 games will put us in for sure. Put it like this - ESPN's SPI has us at a 95% chance of getting in with a win tonight. So it would take an epic collapse for us to not qualify now.

[Shooter McGavin]

No but we took a big step closer tonight. All but assured to reach the hex now and have to finish in the top 3 there to get into the WC.

[War Machine Dawg]

Anyone going to watch the U-23s next? I really want to see some of the young guys like Morris and Miazga. They'll be the guys playing at the WC in '18.

[Dawg61]

Basically. Tonight's win leapfrogged us into second ahead of Guatemala. Still 2 more matches left, but one is St. Vincent & the Grenadines which should almost definitely be 3 points. The other is Trinidad and Tobago, who are currently leading our group. 4 points from those 2 games will put us in for sure. Put it like this - ESPN's SPI has us at a 95% chance of getting in with a win tonight. So it would take an epic collapse for us to not qualify now.

Alright glad to hear it! I like the new long sleeve look most are wearing. Why is the Olympic team different than our national team? Is that because we are having to play both in the same night so the WC takes top precedence? Why the **** would FIFA schedule both on the same night?

[Shooter McGavin]

Yes I'm going to watch. Could be a big big night for US soccer if we can pull this out too.

[Charlie_Sheen420]

Alright glad to hear it! I like the new long sleeve look most are wearing. Why is the Olympic team different than our national team? Is that because we are having to play both in the same night so the WC takes top precedence? Why the **** would FIFA schedule both on the same night?

Age limit, 23 years old and under for Olympics

[Shooter McGavin]

War Machine, what's the deal with Julian Green? Has he not developed like expected or do we have better players ahead of him on the U-23?

[War Machine Dawg]

War Machine, what's the deal with Julian Green? Has he not developed like expected or do we have better players ahead of him on the U-23?

Not real sure, I haven't paid much attention to the next crop of guys. Honestly, I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to soccer - only really started to get into it 2 years ago with the last WC. I'd guess probably a combination of development and better players ahead of him.

[War Machine Dawg]

Age limit, 23 years old and under for Olympics

This. Age limit for the Olympics. I'm actually in favor of it. Gives the younger kids a chance to develop and get crucial big tournament experience that would normally be gobbled up by the veterans.

[War Machine Dawg]

A quick Google search tells me Green is still with Bayern. He's barely played, though. His last match was a Champions League start in December. Played 62 minutes and was subbed off. He's still just 20, so there's plenty of time for him. He probably needs to go to a club where he can see regular minutes.

[Dawg61]

So apparently we get to bring 3 old guys to the Olympics so I'm guessing it'll be Dempsey, the Bald Alien and Gozan the goalie.

[Shooter McGavin]

Gotcha. I'm right there with you. I'm still learning the technical aspects of the game too.

[Shooter McGavin]

Colombia is putting a ton of pressure on us. Hopefully the defense holds and we can muster a counter attack and get a goal.

[War Machine Dawg]

Damn. Gotta clear that. But that should've been a miss. Colombia had a player in the right place at the right time.

Now we gotta win. 1-1 tie and Colombia gets the final Olympic spot.

[Dawg61]

Poor defense there that ball touched 4-5 defenders and nobody could clear it

[Dawg61]

Anddddd here comes the crybaby faking Colombians. This is what makes soccer unbearable at times.

[Charlie_Sheen420]

So apparently we get to bring 3 old guys to the Olympics so I'm guessing it'll be Dempsey, the Bald Alien and Gozan the goalie.

This team isn't going to the Olympics, Colombia is in control and has been since the start

[War Machine Dawg]

This team isn't going to the Olympics, Colombia is in control and has been since the start

Certainly appears that way. Need to pick it up in the second half. 1-0 isn't insurmountable.

[Dawg61]

Goalllllllllllllll 1-1

[War Machine Dawg]

Colombia own goal and we're level!!! Need one more goal to advance.

[Percho]

2 balls we could have won nobody went to. 2nd touch from golie and that long cross.