Australia v USA - Warm-up Match

Good lord, another fantastic goal. 6-1, Robben.

 

Just caught that Elia goal, terrific.

Aussies don't look good thus far and the US aren't looking much better. Shocking defending by Dempsey considering that he was never shy from diving in while defending set pieces when he was in MLS. For the forwards, Robbie Findley is doing his best Eddie Johnson impression by ignoring the fact that he's the fastest guy on the pitch and then blowing a wide open chance, while Buddle is the anti-Johnson. I'd like to see Buddle with Gomez or Altidore (not happening) in the second half so he can play with a proper forward who is worth defending today. I'd also like to see Michael Bradley do something today. I had to ask my brother if he was even playing. On the bright side, what that has meant for them is that they're getting wide, particularly with Cherundolo.

And while I'm typing this, Robben makes it 6. Terrific finish.

Marcus Hahnemann comes in to go in goal. I think that's the only US sub.

 

Australia has thrown on Valeri a defensive mid, for Cahill an attacking mid.

 

It's a much more open game than I expected.

Australia are sending far more men forward, far more often than usual.

Word before the match was that we were going to try to work on our attack this match, rather than our defence.

 

Another miss by Kennedy!

 

I hate to say this guys, but Robben has just gone down with an injury... Fuck.

 

Hate to keep mentioning other games, but you guys might be interested. South Africa lead Denmark 1-0 thanks to a Mphela goal. Haven't been watching the game though.

 

Robben has been subbed off. It does not look good for him or the Dutch.

 

Keepers on both sides are having good games.

 

Bornstein is in, USA is now playing 12 v. 10.

 

I hope they won't be using this scoreboard graphic for the World Cup! Makes me feel like I'm in the 90s.

 

FT, 2-1.

 

Satelite feed went down here, what's going on?

 

Don't know? Everything stayed normal for me.

 

This is the worst I've seen Australia play for quite some time.

Hopefully it's the wakeup call they needed before the real stuff starts.

 

I love it when he does stuff:

Gomez in MLS:


Gomez everywhere else:


Herculez makes it 3-1 and the match is over.

Not much to say here. Buddle may start and be a pretty imposing frontline for the US with Altidore, though I don't think Terry and the other will be too worried. Cherundolo may have earned himself the start on the right to go with Bocanegra on the left and DeMerit and Onyewu in the middle, though Goodson is making a hard charge. Bradley will start in the midfield, though he didn't really exist today, despite the praise of John Harkes. Dempsey was going through the motions today and could use a wake-up call, though starting Holden against England isn't the way to do it.

 

Also worth noting that Clark and Beasley walked off clutching their hamstrings.

 

And Bornstein didn't fuck it all up too badly, which is his equivalent to Buddle's two goals.

 

I fucking hate USA.

 

What! We conceeded another? Damn!

Oh well, staring at Mel McLaughlin (the host of the Australian coverage) makes things better.