At the end of this one I was expecting to see a drunken Canadian fan try to run on the field so he could knock out the ref, Denmark style. Well, that didn’t happen…but who’s to say it wouldn’t have been deserved!
The U.S. controversially defeated a tough Canadian side 2-1 tonight, but if it wasn’t for a horrible offsides ruling four minutes into 2nd half extra time, we might have been talking about a Maple Leaf upset.
Here’s what went down: With just about a minute remaining in extra time, Canada was pushing up the field on one of its last rushes of the game. They forwarded a ball toward the middle of the penalty area where a group of U.S. defenders and Canadian striker Atiba Hutchinson vied for possession. Fullback Oguchi Onyewu’s got a head to it first but played it slightly behind him, landing right on the foot of Hutchinson. He went in alone and slid it past a sprawled Kasey Keller, into the back of the net.
Glory for Canada, eh? Nope. Mexican referee Benito Archundia, immediately waved it off and, shockingly, the line judge agreed, inciting arguing fits from the Canadian players. About a minute later it was all over and you couldn’t help but feel bad for the Canucks.
The U.S. wasn’t great, but played better than they did against Panama. All in all, they did just enough to win. In the early minutes, you got a sense that they weren’t taking their northern neighboors very seriously. Canada was winning the early balls and continued to until U.S. midfielder Frankie Hejduk scored a lucky goal off the post from the top of the box in the 39th minute, putting the them up 1-0.
Hejduk’s goal was the wake up call the Americans needed as they dominated for much of the rest of the half. Right before the break DeMarcus Beasley won a penalty after Canadian goalie Pat Onstad clipped his legs on a 50/50 loose ball to the right of his net. Landon Donovon took the kick and put it away for his 3rd goal of the tournament.
Canada got one back in the 76th minute from substitute Ian Hume making the last 10 minutes interesting–especially when Michael Bradley, a.k.a. the U.S. coach’ son, got red carded in the 89′th. The football wasn’t particularly pretty, but in the end the Americans got it done, albeit with little help from the ref.
So, it’s the U.S. and most likely Mexico (I don’t think anyone’s giving Guadalupe a chance tonight) in the Gold Cup final, which is basically the matchup everyone wanted from the beginning. The Americans have to tighten up considerably on defense if they expect to have a chance. They’ll be without Hejduk (suspended for too many yellows) and Bradley (suspended for tonight’s red) so head coach Bob Bradley has some thinking to do before Sunday’s final.
Some other notes:
- Congrats to Kasey Keller for earning his 100th cap tonight. It’ll be interesting if Bradley sticks him him or goes back to Tim Howard in the final
- Canada has not beaten the United States since 1985.
- This was Hejduk’ first goal in nearly 7 years
