Let the next round begin!

Saturday, June 26, 2010 

Match 49
Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth - Port Elizabeth Stadium
Uruguay 2 – 1 South Korea
Place watched:  The Brick, Kansas City, MO

With the United States playing at 1:30pm, Central Time, I wanted to get as close to the Power & Light District as possible.  Early estimates were coming in that 6,000+ people would be making their way down to Kansas City’s entertainment district, and I wanted to get there early.  The Brick is a great place to hang out, have a meal and a drink, and (today, anyway) watch a good soccer match.

This game had a lot of offensive action as neither side was content to sit back and wait for something good to happen.  Korea pressed deep into the Uruguay end, but a counter attack gave Uruguay a 1 – 0 lead.

In the second half, Mother Nature decided to make things interesting.  Torrential rains and high winds added an unpredictability aspect to the match.  Increased pressure by the South Koreans paid off just after the hour mark, knotting the match at a goal apiece.  But it would not stay that way for long.

With just 10 minutes remaining in regulation, Uruguay struck back.  Luis Suarez scored his second goal of the match to send Uruguay to the Quarter-finals.

Now it was on to the Power & Light!



Match 50
Rustenburg  - Royal Bafokeng Stadium
USA 1 – 2 Ghana
Place watched:  KC Live in the Power & Light District, Kansas City, MO

The United States had not advanced to the knock-out phase at a World Cup since 2002.  In that Cup, they beat Mexico to advance to the Quarter-finals, where they lost to Germany.  They had already achieved more than they had 4 years earlier, but wanted to go further than in 2002.  Today was the next step.

In keeping with the rich tradition of this World Cup, the US gave up a goal in the 5th minute.  Another complete disaster!  The large crowd at KC Live fell silent, and Ghana closed down space and pressured the Yanks all over the field.  Chances in the first half were few and far between.

The second half provided a spark of hope, however.  The US had made 2 changes before the second half started with Maurice Edu replacing Ricardo Clark in the 31st minute and Benny Feilhaber replacing Robbie Findley at the half.  Edu for Clark was more or less a straight swap with Edu providing more solidity, but Feilhaber’s addition moved Clint Dempsey up top.

The new dynamic produced results.

Two good early chances were saved by Ghana keeper Richard Kingson, then Clint Dempsey was fouled in the penalty box after a great move beat 2 defenders.  Landon Donovan stepped to the spot and coolly put the ball in the net to even the score.

Donovan’s goal rejuvenated the US and they continued to assault the Ghanan defense.  Additional chances were saved by Kingson, and the game moved to extra time.  It was like starting a new game.

And, since it felt like a brand new game, the US conceded a goal almost immediately.  It was the first time the opposition had scored after the 13th minute in this World Cup.  Giving up that goal had a devastating effect on the team and on those of us gathered at KC Live.  It took several minutes to shake off the effects of the goal.

By then, Ghana had settled in comfortably behind the ball.  At all times, they kept 10 or even 11 men defending.  It would be almost impossible to break down that style of defense, and the United States didn’t.

Walking out of there felt like I had been vomited on… again.