US vs Costa Rica, Gold Cup

Okay, so I didn't write about US vs. Cuba last Saturday, but it's a pretty simple and understandable reason why I didn't: I missed it because I was in class. So this time, the US faced Costa Rica, who'd been stewing in their juices ever since they were beaten fairly robbed horribly by the snow back in March, so we were expecting them to be tough.

And tough they were. This match was scoreless for most of eighty-something minutes until, in the best play of the tournament so far, the US fought off a harrowing barrage off a corner kick from Costa Rica, cleared the ball, got it open and Landon Donovan sent a perfect pass to Brek Shea, who slotted the ball home to put the US over the Ticos.

There were moments when the US should have had a goal, but the Costa Ricans were challenge, and everyone knew that. There were times when the Costa Rican goalkeeper, to borrow a hockey term, was standing on his head to stop several great chances by the US. But their goalkeeper did come out of the penalty box and touched the ball with hands and instead of getting a red card, he got a yellow. I cannot see any way it can be justified.

On the other side of the pitch, Sean Johnson was just as amazing. He's the guy who blew the USA's chances to qualify for the Olympics last year, but with the Fire, he's been amazing. Here he showed he belongs with the USMNT, even if it's just in the short term. As for Brek Shea, the goalscorer, he's also been struggling, but a goal in international play works wonders for anyone.

The US will play El Salvador this Sunday at 2:30 central time from Baltimore. I look for the US to build off this win--which they technically didn't need--and make a run for the final. I won't make any predictions, so just stay tuned.