Back on the Soccer Map: USA 2, Spain 0
Soccer June 24th. 2009, 4:32pm
Tim Howard was incredible in the net. The defense held an offensive machine – which, to be honest, is prone to choking in big spots – in check. Jozy’s first goal was a thing of beauty – it was one of the few times all game the US strung a series of passes together, and his brute strength to shield a defender, spin and fire, was nothing short of awesome.
Clint Dempsey added an insurance goal late when he collected a loose ball and poked it home. The Michael Bradley red card – it was bullshit – is devastating because he may have had the best tournament so far (if not him, then Donovan). Tremendous win. Regardless of the result against Brazil, this shocker has to be among the five best results in US soccer history. 
50 Responses to “Back on the Soccer Map: USA 2, Spain 0”
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June 24th, 2009 at 4:34 PM
The wikipedia page for “FIFA Confederations Cup” has USA vs. Brazil in the finals.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:36 PM
this brings to mind the expression, “holy shit”
June 24th, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Brazil is facing South Africa. For the S African team to beat Brazil would be an even greater upset.
Oh and let me just add:
AMERICA!!! F**K YEAH!!!!!
June 24th, 2009 at 4:36 PM
maybe if spain didn’t have ugly unis they would’ve won.
they should’ve let sergio suit up.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:37 PM
Donovan should be missing the final, should have gotten a second yellow for that dive at the end. Even though it’s meaningless at this point FIFA better take back Pique’s yellow. Fuck Landon Donovan.
Everyone else is cool with me though. Gooch earned himself a contract from someone not in Belgium with this performance.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:37 PM
I just love that we went toe-to-toe with Spain. We even threw the first few punches, took a few, and landed a few big ones. Sure the US was a tad lucky at times, but they were the better team out there today. Defensively so well organized, midfield for the most part held it’s own… I am pumped.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:38 PM
Timmy was a friggin’ beast!
June 24th, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Gooch earned himself a contract from someone not in Belgium with this performance.
Already signed with Fenerbahce of the Turkish SuperLeague.
Just me or are Gooch and DeMeritt a better central defense pairing than Gooch and Bocanegra?
Shame Bradley will miss the final. Him and Ricardo Clark are the midfield partnership we need to succeed.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:42 PM
I’m looking for a comparison for this game for those of us (myself included) who are soccer-impaired.
After reading Otter’s reply, I’m going with Boise State vs. Oklahoma
June 24th, 2009 at 4:42 PM
I liked the part where they scored the goals!
June 24th, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Agreed: Gooch was a monster.
Knee-jerk awards for the game:
Gooch – A
Bradley – A (until the red)
Donovan – A
Demeritt – A
June 24th, 2009 at 4:44 PM
I didn’t think that deal was official yet.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:45 PM
I’d say somewhere between Boise/Okla and Bama/Utah if you want to go that route…
June 24th, 2009 at 4:45 PM
wow, what a great result! Spain’s first loss in 15 internationals!
What was the key defensively? Moving up the line of confrontation and pressuring the mids?
June 24th, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Iniesta not playing
What about App State/Michigan as far as comparison goes, because the gulf there is a better representation I think.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:47 PM
It’s not.
I thought we played a good game, but there were alot of areas that can easily be improved. ie Demeritt and Boca should pass to a midfielder’s feet rather than boot the ball every time they recieve it.
We took one of our good chances, pounced on a mistake, and defended well as a group. That’s what you can do when you’re an athletic team.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Bama/Utah was not an upset. It was a team who had played a Charmin-soft schedule getting their proper comeuppance.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:49 PM
dont know that the mids were all that pressured … had some room to operate.
keys? tough middle defense throughout. spain never really had any breakaways. usa forwards kept coming back defensively, too
the goal by Jozy obv was huge and unexpected, and spain missed a few great opps from villa and torres.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Give me a break.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:50 PM
were fans in other arenas cheering spain losing? if not, then it’s not quite that level.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Fantastic game played by the US. First half was a bit shaky since Spain was dissecting our midfield with no problem. Bradley and clark tightened up and our attack was on point. We took people on, hustled, played smart and blocked a lot of shots. We were tidy and a bit lucky on the backline but the US was the better team today without a doubt. Great games from gooch, spector and boca. Glad to see boca play so well outside, it opens more possibilities in terms of personnel. Fielhaber was a great substitution, couln’t have been more timely and had more of an impact.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Too much smooth stuff in that game — Spain looked much more Boise Stateish than the US.
I think it’s more like a George Mason/UCONN thing, where the short, fat, slow guys find a way to get it done against a more talented team.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:51 PM
pretty sure they took care of the choke on their own.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Boise State vs. Oklahoma
Actually I’d go with Oregon State beating USC last season.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:53 PM
for comparisons sake, i would say US USSR. Perhaps im riding the high, but best case scenario goign into this game was a 1-0, 2-1 loss.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:54 PM
I went with Boise State because Utah kicked Alabama’s ass. App State went toe-to-toe with Michigan. Boise State had trouble keeping Oklahoma from going up and down the field, and they needed the breaks and a couple of lucky plays to win the game.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:55 PM
and bama/utah was a meaningless bowl game … this was … THE CONFEDERATIONS CUP!
/dont ask, no idea
June 24th, 2009 at 4:57 PM
ding ding we have our winner
June 24th, 2009 at 4:58 PM
That’s a pretty good one.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:58 PM
Right, because the SEC is “charmin-soft” while the Mountain West is brutal. Come the fuck on.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:58 PM
Watched the game, was entertained, got into it, happy the USA won.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Yup, agree. Now what?
June 24th, 2009 at 5:09 PM
I want to give a big FU to all those who thought the US was going to get crushed.
And I hope Oklahoma loses one of their first few games so we can get the idea of them being a top level team out of the way early this year.
/Big 12 is garbage unless they play themselves
June 24th, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Doing the other sports analogies:
I am thrilled with the victory. I just hope they’re not the 1985 Patriots, barely getting in the playoffs, shocking the crap out of Dan Marino’s Dolphins at their peak, but not realizing that the ‘85 Bears are waiting for them in the Super Bowl.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:12 PM
Hasheem Thabeet is being interviewed on ESPNews
He looks like a Huckstable kid.
/that’s all I wanted to say
June 24th, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Big Ben is right. After watching an amazing showdown featuring 2 Big 12 schools, why would anyone want to watch a game featuring only one amazing Big 12 school?
June 24th, 2009 at 5:19 PM
I was cheering in my office when dempsey hit the goal… boss not amused
June 24th, 2009 at 5:24 PM
Everything is relative, my man. I’d look like MJ if I went down to the local park and played some 12 year olds.
Okay, maybe not as good as MJ- more like Kobe. But you get my point.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:27 PM
Tell him to go sit on megan fox’s thumb
June 24th, 2009 at 5:31 PM
Bradley was getting a yellow anyway and that combined with the yellow against Egypt would have had him out I believe. Don’t think they reset after group play. Am I wrong on that?
Anyways I think the comparable upset is George Mason knocking off UConn. A great great moment. But then they got drubbed in theire next game. Now if they beat Spain AND Brazil then we can re-evaluate. Because that puts them into a whole different category.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:34 PM
@rs27
I think it does, becasue the US picked up a couple cards in the egypt game and i didn’t hear anyone talking about players missing the next game. I’m not entirely sure about. DIdn’t Jozy get one against egypt also?
June 24th, 2009 at 5:43 PM
I don’t think yellow’s carried over seeing that it was a semi-final. Only reason cards carry over from group stage for the WC last time was to make sure no player would get disqualified for the finals due to yellow cards. Stupid, I know, but whatever.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Altidore didn’t get a card in the Egypt game. I know in the World Cup the cards start over not sure about here.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:49 PM
Err, not WC, but UEFA cup.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:19 PM
just a solid result for the US o A makes me pumped up for the trip to SA im planning for the cup. sad that the stands looked rather empty.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:41 PM
USA USA USA USA
/Hacksaw Jim Duggan’d
Actually liked that we played an agressive pressing style rather than that sit back and protect your goal at all costs. Who knows we may even get a shot off against Brazil this time.
June 24th, 2009 at 7:19 PM
I played club soccer with Ricardo Clark. It is so awesome to see him play on the national team.
June 25th, 2009 at 12:22 AM
I’d put it more on the level of Chaminade’s upset of the Ralph Sampson-led UVA basketball team in 1982. I was at the ripe old age of 30, and a UVA fan, so I remember that game all to well.
June 25th, 2009 at 2:54 AM
Gods, post more on soccer here then!
June 25th, 2009 at 8:02 AM
late to the comments –
@mole – not having iniesta is a big deal but – villa/torres/fabergas/alonso/xavi shutout? shame on them they deserve to get beat.