Thought this might be fun and this game is really big given Ghana over the Czech Republic earlier - what a game!

4:35 - the first yellow. I agree with Franz Beckenbauer that the Cup has been lousy with yellow cards. I really feel like I haven’t seen so many yellows in so many matches.

8:30 - Onyewu really wants a yellow. He’s a big guy, but he’s got to learn to use that without fouling. Also, I’m kind of rooting for him as a fellow Nigerian.

11:11 - I love having HD. It really makes the game even more beautiful. 

12:00 - b.s. on the foul on Cherundolo. Thank goodness the Italians couldn’t convert.

14:50 - the US couldn’t convert that free kick, but getting a corner started that great oppoturnity for Convey. Shooting early and often is the key for the US.

17:40 - great look by Dempsey.  I love that the US is keeping play in the Italian defensive end. So much better than the Czech game.

21:40 - oh! nice finish by Gilardino. I guess I spoke too soon about the US dominating. Not scoring first isn’t a good sign for the US. Of course, Daruma never scores first and we usually win, so . . .

26:40 - ouch! own goals suck! so unlucky. Poor Zaccardo.

27:45 - a red card! this early! poor Brian “bloody face” McBride there, but two lucky breaks in a row. This is exactly the little help the US needs. Hope they don’t blow it.

30:14 - this feels familiar to soemthing I’ve said before in other contexts (clears throat), but just because you’re up a man doesn’t mean you don’t have to play defense.  

32:05 - nice corner by the US. 

33:15 - Does the fact that US’s bus not have its team name on it make it easier to spot? Don’t all the buses look the same? I’m just asking.

39:50 - It seems that teams get off-sides on the US a lot. I wonder how much of it is the trap and how much is teams feel they can take a lot of offensive chances versus the US. 

41:20 - Mastroeni’s shot’s just a shade too high! Pretty though. Love to see more of that. A step back and it dips under the cross bar.

42:23 - nice little set of passes between Donovan and Reyna etc. This is so much better than the last game. Really creating opportunities.

44:05 - That’s brilliant Mastroeni’s late tackle gets him a red card. Not at all a red card foul. That’s not at all consistent foul-calling. Unforunately, there goes the numbers advantage before the US fully capitalized.

45:00 - Convey’s making some nice runs. Hopefully, he keeps it up in the second half and someone actually converts on his crosses.  

Ah, half time. That kind of ended on a down note, but holding on to the tie - and maybe going ahead? - is a real possibility for the US.  

I’m never going to get tired of those Adidas Jose + 10 ads. 

But, I really am sick of those AIG ads. Whatever bouncing soccer ball pimping insurance, investments and retirement. Boring even if you sponsor Man U. 

46:03 son of a . . . ! Eddie Pope got a second yellow and is out of the game. 10 v. 9. Also Marcelo Balboa is so mad. It’s hilarious.  

48:32 - on the replay, um, totally no foul by McBride. I hate the whole there must be a foul if someone hits the ground. Dave Eggers has a good piece on this excerpted in Slate. (Scroll down to the section on “flopping.”)

50:25 - I love how they put the team names on the balls. It’s so cute. 

51:23 - Thank Jesus for crossbars.  

55:55 - Matt made the great observation that the US needs to get Italy to get another red card . . . or two. “It was pretty competitive when Italy was down a man.” 

57:25 - Claudio Reyna did a great job of tackling (without fouling or creating the perception thereof), but too bad his shot was wide. He’s always been on of my favorite players.

60:20 - Perrotta’s shot, thankfully for the US, just high. Whatever on the handball in the box on Italy a minute ago - that happens a million times.

61:48 - Beasley for Dempsey? I thought Dempsey was playing ok.  

62:43 - Nice pass from Donovan to McBride, too bad Brian shanked it left.

63:11 - clear Italian off-side, but what took the ref so long to blow the whistle? 

64:23 - OH MY GOD! nice shot from beasley, but alas, off-side! good call, but stupid of brian mcbride to block the keeper and interfere.

67:47 - Zambrotta’s shot was scary, but thankfully wide. Good pressure if poorly timed leg block by Donovan 

69:37 -  what is that? yellow card number 375 today? This reminds me of the occassional ggwsl ref who thinks that girls shouldn’t play rough and call fouls on everything.

72:08 - Best save from Kasey Keller all night. One hand knocking out a high volley. 

78:40 - another nice Keller save.

86:14 - nice defensive clear by Onyewu. Very dangerous Italy chance.

88:52 - (parts of) the crowd are chanting “USA! USA!” We really need a cool song.

90:00 a draw, the US stays alive, despite playing most of the second half down a man.

I’m not sure the value of the live-blogging experiment. It was fun and interesting, but it’s hard to blog and watch at the same time! Also, it’s totally reactionary without context, so I’m not sure how it reads.

Posted on Saturday, June 17th, 2006 at 12:09 pm in Sports.
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