Did anyone catch the “friendly” last night when Mexico’s national team traveled to Houston to take on their arch rivals, the US national team. What a game! There is nothing friendly about when the Americans and Mexicans get together on the pitch. Don’t get me wrong, both teams play with a lot of pride, honor and class. Sometimes I will some heated word exchanges and some pushing and shoving, but at the end of the game you can tell both sides respect each other.
Let me just say this though, the non-goal from Clint Dempsey WAS a goal. The refs called offsides yet Dempsey was behind at least two Mexican players when the ball went into the net. The game ended in a 2-2 tie and that non-goal should of been the difference. With that said, both teams played great and beyond my expectations.
There were a sell out last night at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas of 70,000 plus. Last year when the game was played in Glendale, Arizona, there were more than 62,000 at that game. (I was there and I lost my voice) The announcers for last nights broadcast on ESPN2 said that the game had a World Cup feel. The crowd was about 80% Mexican fans, just like it was in Glendale.
There is a lot to be excited about with the US national team. They have oodles of young talent and enough veterans to be a thorn in any teams side for years to come. Players like midfielder Landon Donovan and goalkeeper Tim Howard are great leaders who these youngsters can look up to.
The US national team’s young talent is for real. Keep your eyes on striker Josmer Altidore. This kid is 18 year-old and he is incredible. Altidore got his first international goal with the big boys last night and looked good against a strong Mexican team. Altidore played the whole game and got a lot of good experience. Freddy Adu played a little, but he wasn’t much of a factor in this game. The coaches son Michael Bradley and Benny Feilhaber control the ball really well in the midfield position and will be good for a long time. Defender and captain Carlos Bocanegra along with Oguchi Onyewu play great defense. This is a good team and I expect them to do much better in the World Cup in 2010 in South Africa.
2 Comments
February 8, 2008 at 2:34 am
We got away lucky with the draw. Read the Player analysis, let me know if you agree.
http://crazyfootiefanatics.blogspot.com/
February 9, 2008 at 2:41 am
My bad, you did watch it, lol. Altidore is going to be a good one……You can throw in the towel for Freddy Adu, all hype, but can’t play.