Saturday, June 26, 2010

World Cup Thread: USA vs. Ghana, June 26, 11.30a

90 minutes of putzing around (okay, maybe it was a little bit more than that), followed by one glorious minute of productivity, vaulted USA into the second round against Ghana. And today we see if our boys can follow the five-point blueprint to success and advance to the quarterfinals, where we would meet the winner of this morning's Uruguay / South Korea match.

GO USA!

photo: Sohn/AP

90 comments:

Kyle Baker said...

Got a cracker going in the first game today. URU 1 - 1 KOR

Nostradamus said...

Beautiful second goal for URU.

Kyle Baker said...

what a bender!

Kyle Baker said...

screw you victorino! oh wait, wrong victorino. #URU

Kyle Baker said...

high drama. squeaky bum time for the s koreans.

Nostradamus said...

This one doesn't mind if you throw at his head.

Kyle Baker said...

not a lot of urgency from the south koreans...they know this is a knockout match, right?

Nostradamus said...

The second goal really seemed to deflate them, didn't it?

From Conembol play-in to the round of 8. Well played.

Kyle Baker said...

Coffee...sweet coffee.

Kyle Baker said...

Revision: Actually not really strong. But strong enough. #URU

Steve Sax said...

That's funny, Dusty; I was just commenting to mrs Sax how I regretted leaving my coffee at home...

Nostradamus said...

@db

Speaking objectively, it's still the weakest bracket. It may well be enough.

rbnlaw said...

I'll take a weak bracket anytime.
Weak coffee; never!

I'll be in Torrance for this one, watching rbnlawIII (daughter #3) play her little heart out on the basketball court.

Kyle Baker said...

At Sbux loading up. Then off to bathe the dog. All of this is hard work, and I'll probably hit the gin to lay a pre-game foundation before heading to the Ravine.

Paul said...

Oh man. I actually had a nigtmare of the Dodgers screwing up. I usually don't have nightmares about my sports teams unless it is playoff time.

I need to make a sbux run asap.

Not sure what the giant man eating shark with leg warmers represents in my dream but it kept me from screaming at the Dodgers.

Paul said...

Damn I wish I was in No Cal right now Pete's coffee sounds real good.

MR.F said...

So I started adding "interests" on my facebook page. I'm surprised there is no "SoSG" page.

Josh S. said...

Paul: I had a similar nightmare a while back. In the dream, I said, "Oh my God, they're shitting in their own hats!" I still don't know what that means.

Kyle Baker said...

Coffee: check
Clean dog: check

I've got my snark face on now.

Kyle Baker said...

Howard
Cherundolo
DeMerit
Bocanegra (C)
Bornstein
Donovan
Bradley
Clark
Dempsey
Findley
Altidore

Kyle Baker said...

^ Not that I know who a couple of those guys are, even

Kyle Baker said...

Ghana:

Kingson
Mensah
Mensah
Sarpei
Pantsil
Boateng
Annan
Gyan
Asamoah
Ayew
Inkoom

Kyle Baker said...

^ Not that I know who most of those guys are, even

Kyle Baker said...

Pantsil got me a ton of fantasy points last year when he played in defense for Fulham.

Best Ghanian around is injured and not on the squad: Chelsea's Michael Essien.

Prince-Boateng had a pretty solid year in the Premiership and is in good form.

MR.F said...

Thanks for the background info, DB.

Kyle Baker said...

Sure, Mr F.

I'm unaware if the Mensahs are related.

When Iceland play, sometimes there are 6 or 7 Gudjohnsens on the pitch at once with more on the bench. And only two are directly related.

Kyle Baker said...

Predictions, anyone?

MR.F said...

I'm a poor prognosticator.

Nostradamus said...

"The euphoria in Pretoria" gets a grudging nod of approval.

Kyle Baker said...

@Mr F

Pity.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I hope the US can kick the ball into the net at some point today.

Kyle Baker said...

Tennis skirts just keep getting shorter and shorter.

Nostradamus said...

@MLASF

I would only qualify that in that I hope it's not their own.

Nostradamus said...

@db

Give it a few years, it'll be just a sports bra with a fringe.

Kyle Baker said...

Watching the match in Spanish...love the energy of the announcers.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Aw fuck.

Nostradamus said...

Early goals, early goals.

Kyle Baker said...

Early beers, early beers.

Josh S. said...

Man, I barely know anything about the sport and even I know that was shitty defense.

I guess they want to make every match dramatic.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I wonder how Rasheed Wallace would fare at soccer.

World record for red cards, probably.

Kyle Baker said...

The Big Dog and Mick Jagger hanging out watching the match.

Kyle Baker said...

@MLASF

My Premiership team (Chelsea) has a midfielder Jon Obi Mikel who may have worse discipline problems that Rasheed Wallace. He canNOT stay on the pitch. Nigeria missed him during its 2010 WC run.

Kyle Baker said...

It's all gone quiet over here.

Kyle Baker said...

A better pass and GHA would be up 2-0. These lads come strapped.

Kyle Baker said...

where u watching, mr c?

Josh S. said...

I'm still here. Just watching.

Altidore kinda sucks, huh?

Kyle Baker said...

that clark guy is who really sux. us manager made move to get him the fuck off. i think us supporters were questioning why clark started in the first place.

Nostradamus said...

Still here, dusty. Pretty lackluster performance from the Yanks, so far.

Nostradamus said...

...and on the sofa, Dusty!

Kyle Baker said...

GHA midfield is incredible. They are holding well, passing well...

Kyle Baker said...

@Mr C

Me, too. I'm mean I'm on my sofa, not yours.

Firestone DBA....mmmmmm

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I get so sick of that cliche, "the other team wants it more."

Nostradamus said...

Yikes.

Josh S. said...

Tim Howard has Tourette's. You do not want him yelling at you.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Altidore needs to start passing.

Kyle Baker said...

Here's an old Tim Howard chant from his ManU days. You lads use it wisely:

Timmy Howard
F**k Off
He plays in our net
F**k Off
Timmy Howard
F**k Off
He's got Tourette's

ManU fans not that creative, I know. Here's another:

Tim Timminy Tim Timminy
Tim Tim Teroo
We've got Tim Howard and he says f**k you!

Kyle Baker said...

Univision feed missed the 2nd half kick. How hard is it?

Kyle Baker said...

Moral dilemma:

My beer isn't as cold as it needs to be (how I know this without the benefit of a beer window and turning-blue technology is just a miracle). It's a Firestone DBA. I have an ice cold Sam Adams glass that would cool the beer down nicely.

Will it cause some sort of celestial disturbance if I pour the Firestone into a Sam Adams glass? Help!

Kyle Baker said...

Unclear when this was taken...I assume last night?

'81 Dodgers reunion

http://mlb.mlb.com/social/hitpix/index.jsp?blast=benplatt.mlb&page_num=0&photoid=2858

MSB URL:

http://tinyurl.com/2cbkut4

Nostradamus said...

Finally!!!!!!!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

GOAL!!!

Josh S. said...

WOO! HOORAY FOR LUCK!!!

Josh S. said...

Extra innings!

Nostradamus said...

Free footy!

Steve Sax said...

Extra time...the tension!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Aw fuck again.

Nostradamus said...

Ouch.

Josh S. said...

NO!

Hate the goal, but love the celebration dance.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

So will the U.S. score in the second half of extra time?

Kyle Baker said...

Shit, I almost forgot I need to get ready and get out to the Yard for the game!

*tries to remember where tickets are*

Nostradamus said...

Lots of standing around.

NicJ said...

i have a feeling the wrong yanks are going to be winning the games im watching today.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Does second half mojo work for the second half of extra time?

NicJ said...

If Ghana goes on to win the game i dont think those commercials they show in the US to help feed children for just pennies a day are going to be as effective for a while.

NicJ said...

Ghana has a pretty good strategy of getting the lead and then faking injuries to stall and break rhythm

Kyle Baker said...

@Nic

That's pretty much what every single soccer team does, ever, throughout history. Not pretty, but everyone employs it as a tactic.

Nostradamus said...

Paul Pierce is taking notes.

NicJ said...

maybe the dodger should do that today when they get a lead and just wait for it to rain.

Kyle Baker said...

Hah!

Yeah just stall until the rainy season in November.

NicJ said...

or we could just shut the lights off like the angels did.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

GOD FUCKING DAMMIT

NicJ said...

Time to switch to my auxiliary team then.

GO ORANJE!!

Nostradamus said...

Don't like the result, but Ghana deserved the win.

NicJ said...

Ghana always gets all the breaks.

Kyle Baker said...

You're on a roll, Nic. That's funny.
It's like:

Ghana: imperialist swine!

NicJ said...

Serves the USA right for spending all its time working on infrastructure rather than soccer, Er football.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Wait, Ghana isn't an imperialist nation?

I guess I owe that man an apology.

Josh S. said...

Hmmm...looking at who's left on this side of the bracket, I think I'm going to apply a "Go with who beat ya" approach.

GO BLACK STARS!

(Still pulling for ESP and ENG on the other side.)

Steve Sax said...

I'm canceling our summer trip to Ghana, those frickin' cheaters.

rbnlaw said...

Well, don't have to watch that DVR recording now.

Go Engerland! Go Niederland!
Good luck, Chile.