SBNation.com - USA Vs. Antigua & Barbuda: USMNT Win 3-1https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46737/sbn-fave.png2012-06-08T21:44:26-04:00http://www.sbnation.com/rss/stream/28340052012-06-08T21:44:26-04:002012-06-08T21:44:26-04:00USA Vs. Antigua & Barbuda, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Final Score 3-1 USA As Hosts Flatter To Deceive
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<p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/united-states" class="sbn-auto-link">United States</a> put in a rather unimpressive performance in seeing off Antigua and Barbuda in their World Cup qualifying match in Tampa. The hosts should have absolutely demolished the minnows in a Floridian downpour, but were held to an unconvincing 3-1 victory instead, losing Jose Torres to a severe-looking ankle injury in the process..</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110903/carlos-bocanegra" class="sbn-auto-link">Carlos Bocanegra</a> opened the scoring with a toe-poke home following Molvin James' save from Hercules Gomez's header, and for a little while it seemed as though the floodgates would open. Slick moves from <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110933/clint-dempsey" class="sbn-auto-link">Clint Dempsey</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110920/michael-bradley" class="sbn-auto-link">Michael Bradley</a> cut open Antigua's back line, and it seemed as though the US would grab a hatful of goals before the end of the first half.</p>
<p>Instead, they only added one more, with Dempsey tacking on from the spot after <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110934/landon-donovan" class="sbn-auto-link">Landon Donovan</a> was brought down in the box. Incredibly, Antigua pulled a goal back after halftime when substitute Peter Byers finished low past <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110901/tim-howard" class="sbn-auto-link">Tim Howard</a>, but the two-goal cushion was restored thanks to Gomez, who took advantage of a very fortunate rebound to make it 3-1 in the 71st minute. The rest of the match (save for Torres' injury, which saw him stretchered off in the 57th minute) was prettttty awful.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2012/6/8/3073972/usa-vs-antigua-barbuda-2014-world-cup-final-scoreGraham MacAree2012-06-08T20:17:43-04:002012-06-08T20:17:43-04:00USA Vs. Antigua & Barbuda, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Halftime Score, USMNT Up 2-0
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<p>Here's the good news, if you're a fan of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/united-states">United States</a>: They are currently winning. Here's the bad news, if you are a fan of the United States: Everything else about this game is bad. Antigua and Barbuda are not a very good team and the majority of the squad is made up of U.S. third division players. They have a couple of okay guys from the English League Championship. They're hanging with the USMNT, but the Americans are up 2-0 at halftime.</p>
<p>Neither goal came from open play, which is what's particularly concerning. The first goal came early, on a corner kick, and was gifted to the U.S. with some shoddy marking. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/111388/herculez-gomez">Herculez Gomez</a> created it with a good header, which was saved, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110903/carlos-bocanegra">Carlos Bocanegra</a> punched in the rebound.</p>
<p>What followed was a long period of very inept play from the United States. In their defense, it's pouring rain, but rain doesn't cause you to forget how to make runs off the ball, or to forget that sometimes teams are supposed to kick the ball towards the goal. They were bad. Very, very bad.</p>
<p>Luckily, they got bailed out by an inane challenge just before the stroke of halftime. Donovan got hacked down hard from behind in the penalty area, and a penalty was given. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110933/clint-dempsey">Clint Dempsey</a> stepped up and buried it to double the United States lead.</p>
<p>So the U.S. is going to take three points from a World Cup qualifier, yes, but they haven't scored against open play against Antigua. Everything that the United States have done in their last two and a half matches indicates that they're going to have a tough time away to Guatemala on Tuesday.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2012/6/8/3073894/usa-vs-antigua-halftime-score-live-streaming-updates-2014-world-cup-qualifyingKim McCauley2012-06-08T19:43:28-04:002012-06-08T19:43:28-04:00USA Vs. Antigua & Barbuda, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Carlos Bocanegra Has USMNT Ahead
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<p>The rain is pouring down at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, but the USA won't mind - they've gone ahead early in their 2014 World Cup qualifier to Antigua and Barbuda thanks to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110903/carlos-bocanegra">Carlos Bocanegra</a>. The hosts managed to win a corner in the 8th minute, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110934/landon-donovan">Landon Donovan</a> waited patiently for Bocanegra to change his footwear before launching a nice delivery into the box.</p>
<p>Hercules Gomez got to the ball first, but his header was kept out well by Molvin James. Unfortunately for the visitors, he couldn't hold on to the wet ball, and Bocanega (who really should have been picked up by Lawson Robinson) was available to stab home under heavy pressure. So, it's 1-0, and the party is, most probably, just getting started. How many goals do we think the USA can get here. Six? Seven? <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110933/clint-dempsey">Clint Dempsey</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110920/michael-bradley">Michael Bradley</a> have both come reasonably close to making it 2-0 already, and it's probably only a matter of time before James is force to pick the ball out of the back of his net again.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2012/6/8/3073848/usa-vs-antigua-barbuda-2014-world-cup-qualifying-carlos-bocanegra-goalGraham MacAree2012-06-08T19:36:11-04:002012-06-08T19:36:11-04:00USA Vs. Antigua & Barbuda, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Match Underway
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<p>We're off and running in Florida, where the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/united-states">United States</a> men's national team is taking on minnows Antigua and Barbuda in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. The match ended up delayed for almost half an hour thanks to heavy rain, but apparently it's let up enough to let us get going, which means we've now officially been introduced to <a target="new" href="http://twitpic.com/9u9uak">Quentin Griffith's hair</a>, which may or may not be a good thing.</p>
<p>Should we expect much from Antigua today? In a word, no. They did well just to get to this stage, and the US should absolutely wipe them out. So far they haven't done much out-wiping, however - it's been a pretty tentative start from both teams. It goes without saying that the surface is playing very quickly, something that should probably benefit the United States, but as of yet we're yet to see any really fun, slick passing moves from Jurgen Klinnsman's men. Give it some time, though.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2012/6/8/3073740/usa-vs-antigua-barbuda-2014-world-cup-qualifying-match-underwayGraham MacAree2012-06-08T19:13:32-04:002012-06-08T19:13:32-04:00USA Vs. Antigua & Barbuda, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Start Delayed Due To Rain
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/united-states">United States</a> and Antigua and Barbuda are ready for their 2014 World Cup qualifier. That is for the World Cup of soccer, not water polo, even if the stadium looks like one better suited for swimming than running. </p>
<p>Rain has hammered the Tampa, Florida area for two days now and has left the pitch at Raymond James Stadium looking like a swamp. The two teams had to cancel their training session at the stadium yesterday because of the sloppy pitch and they will not warm up on the field prior to the match either. Now the match has been delayed, too, and will not kick off until 7:27 p.m. ET because of the soaked pitch.</p>
<p>The sloppy field should hurt the U.S. and slow them down, but it shouldn't change the outcome of the match. They are so much better than Antigua and Barbuda that the worst pitch in the world couldn't slow them. Put them in a swamp or on dirt and the U.S. should cruise. It will make things uglier, though. And late.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2012/6/8/3073810/usa-vs-antigua-barbuda-2014-world-cup-qualifying-rain-start-time-delayedRyan Rosenblatt2012-06-08T18:26:34-04:002012-06-08T18:26:34-04:00USA Vs. Antigua & Barbuda, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Lineups
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<p>Finally, here we go. After 10 months of nothing but meaningless friendlies it's World Cup qualifying time for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/united-states">United States</a>. They are down in Tampa to take on Antigua and Barbuda, which is a gimme and will not be an interesting match, but it's finally a meaningful one! The Americans will take three points then turn their attention to Tuesday, when they play at Guatemala in their first real test of qualifying.</p>
<p>With <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/149729/fabian-johnson">Fabian Johnson</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/141638/edgar-castillo">Edgar Castillo</a> both out with injuries, Jurgen Klinsmann has turned to Jose Francisco Torres at left back. You can't criticize that because whoever he put there was not a good idea. Injuries have backed Klinsmann into a corner. Also of note is <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/111388/herculez-gomez">Herculez Gomez</a> starting over the still unfit <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110928/jozy-altidore">Jozy Altidore</a>, but that isn't really a shocker.</p>
<p><b>United States (4-3-2-1): </b>Tim Howard; <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110906/steve-cherundolo">Steve Cherundolo</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110908/clarence-goodson">Clarence Goodson</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110903/carlos-bocanegra">Carlos Bocanegra</a>, Jose Francisco Torres; <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110922/maurice-edu">Maurice Edu</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110920/michael-bradley">Michael Bradley</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/149731/jermaine-jones">Jermaine Jones</a>; <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110934/landon-donovan">Landon Donovan</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110933/clint-dempsey">Clint Dempsey</a>; Herculez Gomez.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2012/6/8/3073726/usa-vs-antigua-2014-world-cup-qualifying-live-updates-lineupsRyan Rosenblatt2012-06-08T15:24:03-04:002012-06-08T15:24:03-04:00USA Vs. Antigua & Barbuda, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Apparently Anyone Can Play Left Back
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/149729/fabian-johnson">Fabian Johnson</a> unlikely to play due to injury? No problem. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/141638/edgar-castillo">Edgar Castillo</a> unlikely to play due to injury? No problem.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/united-states">United States</a> is getting ready to take on Antigua and Barbuda in their 2014 World Cup qualifying opener and all looks good. They are fit and have an easy opener. Well, that is except for left back, where the U.S. is out of options after Johnson and Castillo have gone down.</p>
<p>That means that <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110903/carlos-bocanegra">Carlos Bocanegra</a> will have to slide out wide or someone will have to play very out of position. That could be <span>Geoff Cameron</span> or more likely, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110906/steve-cherundolo">Steve Cherundolo</a> or Michael Parkhurst. That sounds awful, but Jurgen Klinsmann isn't worried. Should we be concerned that he's not?</p>
<p>"We always have left backs. Anybody can play left back," Klinsmann said on Thursday.</p>
<p>Um, Jurgen, more than a decade of left back-less play from the Americans says otherwise. You can't play Antigua and Barbuda forever.</p>
<p><i>Make sure to keep tabs on the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2012/6/7/3069964/usa-vs-antigua-2012-2014-world-cup-qualifying-live-streaming-updates-score-time-tv-channel-usmnt" target="_blank">USA vs. Antigua Barbuda StoryStream</a> for all of your preview, live and post-match coverage of the Americans' first 2014 World Cup qualifier..</i></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2012/6/8/3072988/usa-vs-antigua-barbuda-2014-world-cup-qualifying-previewRyan Rosenblatt2012-06-08T09:30:15-04:002012-06-08T09:30:15-04:00USA Vs. Antigua & Barbuda Preview, 2014 World Cup Qualifying: Game Time, TV Schedule & More
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<p>This one is pretty simple. Either the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/united-states">United States</a> beat Antigua and Barbuda on Friday night or they just give up. This one has to be a win and it should be a dominating one at that. The pitch at Raymond James Stadium is a mess, but that and pretty much anything else cannot be an excuse. Antigua and Barbuda should have no chance.</p>
<p>Friday night will be the start of World Cup qualifying for the U.S., which assuming they qualify for the final round of qualifying, will stretch 16 matches. The good and bad of the friendlies is now irrelevant. It is all about results and booking a place in the 2014 World Cup.</p>
<p>The Americans' scoreless draw against Canada on Sunday, like the rest of the friendlies, can be tossed out the windows, but there are still things to learn from it. That match made it pretty clear that Clarence Goodson will start at center back, but there are still other questions. Jozy Altidore's fitness is still up in the air so he may not start and Jurgen Klinsmann will have to reconsider his midfield, namely Jose Francisco Torres over Maurice Edu, after the shoddy performance against the Canadians.</p>
<p>The 90 minutes in Tampa will kick off the third round of World Cup qualifying, which is comprised of three four-team groups in which the top two teams in each group advance to the final round. The final round, called the hexagonal because it has six teams, will see the top three teams qualify for the World Cup and the fourth place team go to a two-legged playoff for the final spot in Brazil.</p>
<p>After picking up an expected three points against Antigua and Barbuda, the U.S. will turn its attention to Guatemala, who they will play in Guatemala City on Tuesday. The Benna Boys may not present the Americans with much of a challenge, but the Guatemalans, and a raucous home crowd will.</p>
<p><b>Game Date/Time: </b>Friday, June 8, 7:11 p.m. ET</p>
<p><b>Venue: </b>Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida</p>
<p><b>TV: </b>ESPN (USA English), ESPN3 (USA Online), Galavision (USA Spanish)</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2012/6/8/3072288/usa-vs-antigua-2014-world-cup-qualifying-game-time-tv-coverage-usmntRyan Rosenblatt