USA vs. Cuba

[Diegan]

If anybody cares, Cuba and the US are playing in a politically charged game here in 5 minutes. 2 Cubans have already defected, more are possible after the game. Anyways, they are employing a 4-3-3 which is pretty risky considering they will get blown away.

Anyways, US lineup has been released.

------------------Howard-----------------
------------------------------------------
Cherundolo---Onyewu-----Bocanegra---Pearce
------------------------Bradley------------
-----------Kljestan------------------------
--Dempsey----------------------------Beasely
--------------Donovan------------------
------------------------Ching-----------

That's as best I can describe it... US employing 4 attacking mids which is surprising seeing as how Bob likes to be defensive... hopefully this will be convincing.

[McNaka]

So.... uh.... how good is the Pearce guy?

I kinda feel bad for the Cuban players who haven't defected yet -- hate to say it, but it's kinda poor form to ditch the team before you even play. I mean, haven't they seen that football movie about escaping POWs ?

[Diegan]

Originally Posted by McNaka

So.... uh.... how good is the Pearce guy?

I kinda feel bad for the Cuban players who haven't defected yet -- hate to say it, but it's kinda poor form to ditch the team before you even play. I mean, haven't they seen that football movie about escaping POWs ?

He's pretty good, if inconsistent. He's fast as fuck and left footed, though. He plays in the 2. Bundesliga after his team got relegated last year (he was one of their better defenders before a spat with the old manager sent him to the bench). That's another thing, he tends to get into it with his manager which would not fly with WGS. Bradley froze him out for a good while before he reestablished himself over the dreadful Bornstein.

[McNaka]

Originally Posted by Diegan

He's pretty good, if inconsistent. He's fast as fuck and left footed, though. He plays in the 2. Bundesliga after his team got relegated last year (he was one of their better defenders before a spat with the old manager sent him to the bench). That's another thing, he tends to get into it with his manager which would not fly with WGS. Bradley froze him out for a good while before he reestablished himself over the dreadful Bornstein.

Damn. Kind of reminds me of Feilhaber.

[rendog67]

Diegan whats your thoughts on cuba as a country?

[Diegan]

Originally Posted by rendog67

Diegan whats your thoughts on cuba as a country?

You mean the national team? Nobody knows, they can't scout because Americans aren't allowed in and none of the guys play professionally. Saying that, they are very good and almost all of the guys who defect will have a job in MLS.

1-0 Beasely '10

Kljestan gets the ball, holds it for a run a slides it through for a racing Beasely who takes a touch and fires it over the left shoulder of the GK. Surprisingly solid finish for Da Beaze.

[Diegan]

Originally Posted by McNaka

Damn. Kind of reminds me of Feilhaber.

Feilhaber's a bitch. Anyways, I forgot to say that Boca has been playing LB for Rennes and supposedly has done very well and put in a very good shift for Rennes' 3-0 win over Lyon. I'm not sayin' anything, just sayin'...

[Diegan]

Beasely's hurt, can't see him staying on much longer. Hopefully we can see the young (20) Pachuca sensation Jose Francisco Torres. (And cap-tie him in the process )

And 2-0 Beasely '30.

Donovan with a beautiful long ball overthe cuban defense to Beaze who chests and finishes with his right foot.

And 2-1 Unstoppable WTF-kind of golazo from Cuba in '31. It's hard to be upset when it's such a crazy strike. No room, wasn't going anywhere, I can deal with that one.

[andrewhoha]

beasly gets a second and cuba scores as well on their first shot.

[Diegan]

Originally Posted by andrewhoha

beasly gets a second and cuba scores as well on their first shot.

That shot was fuckin crazy. He was literally standing flat footed and just hit it randomly with his foot. No way he meant it to go where it did. Was fun to watch knowing they won't win.

[andrewhoha]

yea lucky bounce for the lad... cant take it away from him... was a good finish.

[Diegan]

Cuban gets sent off, he's crying, feel sorry for him. Both yellows were fair, though. All the latin countries are so dirty, but the Cubans' sportsmanship is better than anybody's I've ever seen. They always are sorry for hard fouls, never complain, it's sad to see the guy go, it's obvious this game means a lot to him.

*edit* Second half, 3-1 Donovan scores '48 from a cross by Pearce. Simple tap in.

*edit* 4-1 Kljestan '62 Header from a set piece.

*edit* TORRES!!! and Altidore in the game now. Good, young players. And they combine to almost score less than 3 minutes after coming on.

*edit* 5-1 Altidore '87 Cuts inside, makes the defender fall, and hits it to the near side.

*edit* 6-1 Onyewu '89 Close range header powered to the back of the net.

[Belial]

Cuban soccer players missing in DC

Two members of Cuba’s national soccer team have gone missing during the team’s trip to Washington for a World Cup qualifying match, the team’s coach told reporters on Friday.

“It is always a problem for the Cuba team,” coach Reinhold Fanz told the Washington Post. “We have security, but you can’t handcuff them to their rooms.”
The Post identified the players as midfielder Pedro Faife, 24, and forward Reynier Alcantara, 26.


Defections have been a concern for Cuba when its sports teams travel abroad. In March, five soccer players went missing after the under-23 team played the U.S. in Tampa, Fla.

Blimey.

[HenrikBhoy]

whats defected ppl?

[Don Corleone]

Originally Posted by HenrikBhoy

whats defected ppl?

Disappeared from the team to go and live in the States. CONCACAF is a joke.