LiveBlog: USA vs. Morocco

May 23rd, 2006 | by: Peter |

USA dropped by the Moroccans, 1-0 after a goal by Midihi in the 89th minute. Ugly game, but maybe you found a bright spot. Discuss the game and leave your comments. Thanks for hanging out while I tried to keep up with the action.
–Peter

Final: Morocco: 1 US: 0

93:55 Bobby Convey just misses. Moroccan fans go quiet.

92:34 Moroccan fans chanting USA! USA! Classic.

90:00 ESPN blames the heat and the fresh legs of Moubarki. Give me a break.

89:40 Midihi pops it over Keller after a nice touch from Moubarki.

89:34 Goal Morocco!

89:15 Still not much action to report other than Landon Donovan’s hairline receded during that last Penalty Kick.

86:23 “Landon Donovan changes his socks at half-time,” ESPN reports. Too bad ESPN doesn’t change their reporters.

84:15 Great sign on TV just now. “Holy Moly, what a Goalie.” We’re planning our “Eepers, Jeepers, what a Keeper” sign for the USA v Czech Republic game.

82:45 Consecutive chances for the USA a demonstration of ineptitude.

78:40 Donovan kicks linesman. Ball’s that way Chief.

74:48 ESPN apologizes for the US team not being ready. We appreciate the gesture but this is still hard to watch.

73:00 Bob just paused the Tivo and no one here knows how to speed it up. Live-Blogging now tape-delayed. My apologies.

70:00 No score. Game almost recognizable as football.

68:00 Close up shot of Kasey Keller shows him bored, eating Granola bar in goal.

67:25 ESPN finally injects some hyperbole into the game. We’ve been WAITING.

64:40 DMB is down, but Eddie Johnson can get UP.

60:00 Landon Donovan on Eddie Johnson. (Beach interview #3) “If Eddie Johnson scores more goals than anyone else, he’s got a legitimate shot at the golden boot award.”

59:40 Eddie Johnson in for Wolff. I’m sorry to see him go, but I would have really liked to see him play.

56:39 Onyewu grabs some helpless Moroccan and nearly lands on him. I’d stay down if I were him too. Free kick deflects off Onyewu and nearly pops.

52:55 Four cups of experience couldn’t get Kasey Keller to that ball. Oh who am I kidding, I love the Bald one. ESPN finally found a rowdy fan to put a camera on.

51:20 Shot on goal. Total uhmm… Pandemonium?

48:20 Canadian referee swallows whistle on handball. Trusted ESPN replay reveals that ref was right. Maybe Canada will get a ref in the World Cup one day.

45:20 US stepping up in the first 20 seconds after what was probably a stern half-time lecture. “Stop falling down!” Arena said.

45:00 Halftime. 0-0. Not exactly a heartening performance by the USA team if you ask me. But I love the Landon Donovan beach interviews. Share your thoughts on the first half. I’ll be back for the 2nd half momentarily.

42:00 If Onyewu were any bigger that shot might have left the stadium.

38:49 Still 0-0 but USA’s got a commanding lead in the important”Players knocked down” statistic.

36:58 Another yellow card for Morocco, they can’t STILL be angry about the portrayal of Casablanca? Can they?

33:48 McBride with a long shot, seems like they’re trying to be a bit fancy.

27:03 O’Brien just keeps delivering balls. Look for him to lead the team in creative hairstyles once the WC actually starts.

26:00 I just had some pretty serious novocaine at the dentist, but it still stings that USA v Angola is a closed door scrimmage.

24:13 Beasley to McBride shot on goal. Reyna would have made that one.

20:00 DMB looks fine after his ankle injury a few days ago.

15:55 Mastroeni in, Reyna out with a strained right hamstring. Fastest diagnosis since O’brien’s upcoming bruised achilles tendon.

13:50 Talk of injuries, Arena will probably play ALL of his BEST players hurt tonight for a typically American show of toughness. I support that decision.

11:27 Not exactly the most athletic play by McBride. Czech team not exactly intimidated by that one.

9:40 Nice little ball from O’Brien. Too bad the Uber-Moroccan goalie was there.

6:35 Morocco’s really brought out the brute squad tonight. Free kick for Reyna looks like it was lost in the sun.

5:05 Morocco foot to Wolff’s face. Wolff finally gets into the action, his first in years.

2:00 Obrien’s down. Lasted longer than expected. Announcer: Best thing about that, he got up quickly.

00:00 It’s a partial sellout tonight and we’re underway. Ugly glare off the pitch, makes the Moroccan jerseys pretty effective camouflage… Interesting strategy.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but there have been more USA world cup commercials in the last five minutes than the last 50 years.

Current count: Beer commercials: 5. Insightful comments from our commentators: 0

This just in: Painful-to-watch TV show “Around the Horn” reports that Tele-Evangelist Pat Robertson can leg-press 2,000 pounds.

I think U2’s Bono just made me go misty-eyed during a world cup commercial. If I get emotional over the next 90 minutes that commercial’s to blame.

Tv’s on, no mention of the match yet. Friends don’t let friends watch daytime cable sports talk shows.

Starting lineups were just announced The US Starting Lineup

USA World Cup Team Blog RSS Feed

Cajun Nick

In preparation for tonight’s match, I just went over to the US Soccer official site and saw for the first time the Nike production featuring Clint Dempsey, aka Deuce.

Deuce and company have put together a little rap, Don’t Tread On This, to go along with Nike’s ad campaign. Here is the link: http://www.ussoccer.com/sights/index.jsp_videoGallery-128-1.html

I’m no afficiando of rap music, so I’ll let some others be the judge of its quality.

I’ve got two questions:
1) Other than being some sort of promotional thing for Nike, will this actually be released for radio play?
2) Did that guy actually say, “I’ll cross-over like the great (?) Clint Dempsey”?
Cajun Nick

Sorry, Peter. I meant to post my previous comments on the “Cold Pizza” entry.
http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2006/croatia-crush-austria-in-world-cup-tune-up.html Croatia Crush Austria in World Cup Tune Up – FIFA World Cup 2006 – World Cup 2006 Blog

[...] Ivan Klasnic scored a pair of first half goals to life Croatia past Austria 4-1 in a friendly played in Vienna. Marko Babic and Bosko Balaban added the other goals as Croatia looked solid in a tune up for the World Cup. The 42-ranked Austria team was short on experience and mustered a lone goal by Andreas Ivanschitz in the 14th minute. The most impressive thing about this is that blog read Marco nailed the score with his prediction. We’ll be asking Marco for World Cup betting advice for sure. In action earlier today, South Korea tied Senegal 1-1. In a few more hours the US take on Morocco. Join us for a LiveBlog during the match. Fancy a flutter? Free £25 Bet on World Cup 2006 Category: World Cup 2006, Group F, Friendlies Tags: Croatia, Austria, friendlies, Ivan Klasnic, Marko Babic, Basko Balaban, Andreas Ivanschitz, Tag Index « Goleo: No. 1 Hit Recording Artist | Home | If you found “Croatia Crush Austria in World Cup Tune Up” useful or interesting, please share it with others by bookmarking it at the following sites: .wp-notable img {border: none;margin-left:5px;} Leave a Reply [...]
DaveS

Looking forward to seeing how this team does. BA has picked a very offensive minded team. Come on US!
Sam

Nothing like a crap ESPN show to get you fired up for a night of soccer.
Sam

U2 World Cup commercial. Now we’re talking.
Razzle

Go USA! Woooooo yeaaaah!!

Ok ok its just a friendly, I gotta calm down. Breathe … breathe.
Go USA!!

*grin*
Sam

JP and Harkes announcing this game. Time to turn down the volume.
DaveS

WOW, a US Joga Bonita commercial. Haven’t seen that one before. Very cool.

“The world no longer wants to play you”
http://tunisia.worldcupblog.org/group-h/usa-vs-morocco.html USA vs. MOROCCO – FIFA World Cup 2006 – Tunisia World Cup Team Blog

[...] I am about to watch USA play Morocco in a friendly. This is a very interesting game for fans of USA and Tunisia. [...]
DaveS

O’Brien down 2 minutes into the game. That is his longest healthy stretch in years.
DaveS

Wolff gets a boot in the face. Between Wolff and JOB I can’t see them both making it to halftime.
Joe P

Just started watching. What an interesting lineup. Should see some attack in this game.
Bob

Reyna holding his hamsting 13 minutes into the game. That would be a disaster if he gets hurt.
DaveS

F***. We can’t afford to lose Reyna. Ugh. This is bad
Kapcro

Looks like Reyna’s done for the day.
DaveS

US not looking great so far. Too bunched in the middle of the field. Without Reyna in there JOB needs to be the distributor.
DaveS

McBride poor strike in the 25th minute. First shot on goal. US needs to get more offense out of this lineup.
DaveS

Good God ESPN sucks donkey’s ass.
Sam

Canadian referee joking around with Morocco players. Give Cherundulo a card for nothing.
Kapcro

We’re looking at 0-0 halftime.
Ralph

Team looks like shit. No forward play at all.
Sam

Card shown to Morocco in 37th minute. Game is more physical than I’d like to see a friendly at this point.
Kapcro

Mo wants to take down #5.Beasley working, others standing around.
Sam

O’Brien has to change the way he runs. WTF are they talking about?
Claudio

Sucks to see Reyna go out with an injury. I don’t think the guy is someone you can count on in Germany.
Sam

Nice bit of acting by Morocco playing. Shoot him like a horse.
Kapcro

Blah!
Sam

Shit first half
Kapcro

What was that 3 shots on goal by US?
Cajun Nick

The way the Americans are playing, it looks like the boys are just trying to get out of the US without injury … oops, too late.

Let’s hope Claudio just wanted to catch the Heat-Pistons semi-final and isn’t really hurt.
Kapcro

Are we watching an MLS game? That injury could hamper him throughout the cup, doesn’t look good.
Sam

The US can’t play without Reyna. This doesn’t look good.
Cajun Nick

So, who’s actually playing well?

I like DMB’s work rate.
Johnny O has got his touch back.
Gibbs has done some decent defending down the left-hand side.
I think that Pablo has done well since coming on.

I don’t even want to get started on what’s not going well.
Let’s Go Yanks!

I’m not near a TV – any world on Reyna’s condition? This is horrible.
LiLi

Can someone give me a rundown of who has what cards?
Sam

O’Brien is having a nice game. DMB is showing good movement. I like what I am seeing out of O in the back
Sam

Reyna tweaked his hamstring. It is being called a strained hamstring. He pulled up lame about 15 minutes into the game.

As for cards, only Cherundulo so far I think.
ETucker

O’Brien looks good.

If Reyna is hurt, at least we have Masrtoeni as a replacement (he is not a good, but he does have great tackling skills).

I want to see Eddie Johnson, who has more goals in 10 games than Josh Wolff has in 10 years.
LiLi

Is Boussoufa in as the striker for Morocco? (nowhere near a TV, sorry!)
Kapcro

Didn’t Mo get a yellow also.
DaveS

O’Brien taken out at half. Good move by BA. Got to keep the fragile guys off the picth.
DaveS

Lili – Moubarek Boussoufa is playing in the midfield.
Kapcro

Looks like playground game.
LiLi

Thanks Dave
DaveS

Lil- Here’s the lineups

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=196001&cc=5901
Sam

US starting to play better but still this game is shite. They need to move around the midfield more.
LiLi

Ooo, even better, and it lists the cards too.
Sam

Johnson misses the header on the corner. Best opportunity yet.
Sam

Boussoufa out El Moubarki in.
Kapcro

What is the US gonna do against teams that can score? 0-0
Bob

Somewhere Italy and Czech Republic are smiling right now.
ETucker

Johnson had a header saved on a corner against Germany. We have to bury those chances if we want to have a chance of advancing past the group stage.

I hate to say it, but this group looks like a bunch of spoiled kids who have been told they’re good. We lack any edge whatsoever.
Kapcro

‘Fraid so Bob
LiLi

Also may have trouble vs. teams that are actually using their best players. Morocco is missing Mokhtari and Zairi, among others.
Sam

ETucker – You’re right. They think they can just show up and win. This team needs to work harder. Outside of DMB I am not seeing the effort tonight.
Kapcro

This effort might get them #3 at FIFA.
Sam

Johnson should go back to scoring against Real Salt Lake.
ETucker

DMB and Cherundolo are the only notables. Although O’Brien did have a few nice passes.

And of course, Donovan broke in alone on a goalie and blew it, ala Quarterfinals vs. Germany in 2002
DaveS

Its like the US suddenly woke up and realized they should win this game.
Kapcro

Looks like they fell asleep again.
Kapcro

That takes care ofmit.
DaveS

Shit. Nice lose boys.
LiLi

Oh geez. I’m in Morocco, and I bet on the US. I think I might hide tomorrow from shame.
Kapcro

Worse than Blah.
JohnnyA

Thanks Cherundolo, why not give it to Keller?
ETucker

This is a nice wake-up call after the Charleston Battery scrimmages. I just wish we were playing other decent teams….
Razzle

Shit – lost to a second (third?) string Morocco. Not good not good.

Is there enough time to give Ronaldinho citizenship?
Kapcro

US has a chance for three losses before the WC starts.
Karl

Why do they hate their fans so much?
ETucker

Hey-

is it just me, or did the starting formation 4-2-1-3, remind anyone else of the Argentine 3-3-1-3 formation that sucked ass in Japan/Koraa 02?

The only difference is that instead of putting all the pressure on Juan Sebastian Veron, an international all star playing in Europe at the time, we have Landon Donovan, who regularly disappears in MLS games.

I am going to be mad if Sampson-esque formation tomfoolery costs us a trip to the second round (or at least a respectable showing)

And lets not forget how the 4-3-3 worked in the Azteca last time we used it…
Karl

The world no longer wants to play us: they love to paly us.
Kapcro

Could they please ask the Germans to cool the fields when the US plays according to ESPN the heat bothers them!
Razzle

My grandma has better hammies than Reyna.
Cajun Nick

Just a couple of technical questions:

1) Don’t the US shorts look like they’re on the wrong way with that stripe running down the back of the left leg?
2) Was that a zit on Kasey’s lip?
Cajun Nick

Listen, gang, I’ve got the real scoop:

Mastermind Il Bruce wanted the game to be close at the end to force the boys to really step it up in the last 10 minutes.

Also, he wanted the US to lose 1-0 going into the next two friendlies, to force the boys to have to scrap together a few “points” in the next two matches – just like what’ll happen in Germany.
Cajun Nick

One word – UNINSPIRING!
matt

ouch. please say this was a ploy to be able to sneak up on italy.
Cajun Nick

Well, rather than focus on the negative, I’ll reflect on the positive:

1) USA MVP DMB
2) Bobby Convey impressed me.
3) Good to take John O’Brien off; he did well in the 1st half.
4) This was not the opening match of the World Cup.
Mirage

I really regret spending all that time watching the match.I was really excited about the match.Half way through the 1st half I was falling asleep.I’m going back to the playstation. At least there US have a chance…
Kapcro

Good news Cajun, mistakenly I thought they played like crap for 90 minutes. Sneaking up on Latvia and Venezuela, tricky. What a football mind, those Brazilians better watch out. Now that I know the strategy I can peacefully wait for the next two friendlies.
Cajun Nick

I think that ETucker said it best: the US lack edge tonight. They didn’t look like a team that had something to prove. Maybe they are buying into the Madison Ave hype.

And, the worst part is that it’s not like we were cocky, or over-confident. We simply looked like we didn’t care. Now, I know that the players will say that they did care, but I didn’t see that.

Bruce Arena isn’t one to spin a lot of garbage, so I’m looking forward to his comments following this match.
Cajun Nick

Kapcro,

Don’t worry about the heat in Germany. ESPN will blame jet lag, or time difference, or some other irrelevant factor that applies to just about every other team there.

BTW, keep up the good comments.
Kapcro

How do you write off an embarassing loss to Morocco when you are supposedly among the top ten teams in the WC. Let’s see what happens against Latvia. The excuses for this one will fall mostly on deaf ears.
Cajun Nick

There are no excuses, just reasons. Actually, 1 reason – poor finishing.

The one insightful thing I heard all night on from the ESPN commentators came from Harkes.

When Landon muffed his attempt on goal, Harkes noted that a true striker would have smashed the shot, not tried to chip it.

Definitely poor finishing, with a lack of authority tonight.
Kapcro

Cajun, a pattern is emerging in the US play and I hope it turns around before the WC starts or otherwise there’s going to be alot more lauging the those FIFA rankings. Enjoyed the comentary.
italiano

i am very happy since now i am almost sure italy will not only dominate but will kick USas A$$

so if anyone hopes that USA gets anywhere close to getting past the first round remember… italy is better and czech republic will definetly show the US that they should stick to baseball and basketball … also football because if you havent noticed those sports are only played in this country much love
Jeff

Italiano you are retarded. Baseball is played all over Latin America and the Pacific Rim and basketball…a guy slotted to go in the top 5 in the NBA draft this year comes from YOUR country. The US didn’t even make the final in Olympic basketball last time around. How can you tell me that’s not a world sport?
Stuart

Classic! Next time you live-blog a US match, I’m turning the sound down on the TV, and setting up a screen reader on my PC to let you do the audio play-by-play.
depressed

ESPN sucks so badly, and so do their pathetic commentators. Why on earth would a company *choose* to air a bunch of drivel compared to the excellent and professional job done by the lads at the BBC?

I’ve tried watching several games so far, and its almost too painful to listen to.