USA/Italy recap and more...

For 45+ minutes on Monday afternoon (minus a few minutes after Ricardo Clark's red card), it appeared the USA might actually knock off the defending World Cup champions, who remain one of the most powerful teams on the planet (#4 in FIFA's latest rankings)... That was, until Italy coach Marcello Lippi introduced young New Jersey-born (and raised) Giuseppe Rossi. The 22-year-old's two clinical finishes first drew doubt into the US squad---even Italy's hard-tackling midfielder Gennaro Gatusso said it changed the game---, then finished them off.

Fatigue could easily be blamed---the US put up one hell of a fight against a far better team, especially down a man for all but the opening 34 minutes. For a second consecutive match against the Italians (the last one being in the group stage of the '06 World Cup), the Yanks managed to find a way to play an inspired game, playing at a level above themselves, despite the man disadvantage (in Germany's red card fest, the US held on for a 1-1 tie (the only game the Italians didn't win in the tournament), playing 9 v 10 after Mastroeni and Pope were sent off (along with Italy's other goalscorer from Monday, Daniele Di Rossi).

Bob Bradley prepared his squad adequately for this one and made all the right moves off the bench (trying to bring on fresh legs, while trying to avoid losing much in quality). One has to wonder what the result would've been if Ricardo Clark hadn't been sent off with a very harsh red card---yes, it was a foul...yes, it was late...yes, it was careless...but at this stage, for that foul, a yellow card is far more appropriate.

A huge bright spot for the US in this one? Jozy Altidore. The young striker (also raised in New Jersey), played a mature, composed game. His penalty kick was well earned---a bit embellished, but very well earned (he did get both kicked and held, and likely wouldn't have gotten the call if he didn't flop). He held the ball well, and seemed the shake off the rust he had shown in the pair of World Cup qualifiers earlier this month.

Another bright spot---Jermaine Jones. He didn't play in this one, didn't make the bench. In fact, he's never featured in a US squad. So why's he a bright spot? Well, he may just be the one that didn't get away (unlike Rossi, who proved to be the one that got away, opting to play for Italy instead of the US). The Schalke midfielder, who has appeared in 3 friendlies for the German National Team, has decided to represent the United States from here on out. New FIFA laws allow a player to switch allegiance, as long as he hasn't played in anything beyond a friendly with the full national team---Jones holds a US passport (his father was born in the US), and was limited to those 3 friendlies, making him eligible to join the Yanks. Welcome aboard.

One other point---this has to have been the most players on the field in an international match from the great (yes, I said great) state of New Jersey since the John Harkes-Tab Ramos-Tony Meola era. Like Harkes, Ramos, and Meola, all three hail from northern New Jersey (all 3 from the 90's were from Kearny, while Rossi was raised in Tenafly, Altidore in Newark, and US 'keeper Tim Howard is from North Brunswick).



The Red Bulls have brought Bouna Coundoul in for a trial after yet another loss. The Bronx native shouldn't be a total surprise---he is a local and out of contract after failing to find a team in Europe (he left Colorado after they acquired Matt Pickens to sure up the nets)...but signing him would only serve to raise more questions for a team that's already pretty much in crisis. One of the few spots that couldn't really be considered weak this season would be the goalkeeping in the Big Apple---just look at Danny Cepero's performance this past week if you need evidence (his performance was surely worthy of consideration for a rare feat---MLS Player of the Week coming from a losing team). The two goals scored against New York came on the rebound of a penalty kick saved by Cepero (watch the replay---Toronto had the first 3 players into the box...that's the goalkeeper's fault how?), and off the rebound of a beautiful toe poke save by Cepero (stopping Vitti on a 35-yd breakaway). Cepero's performance both Saturday night and this season warrants the starting position, which would move Jon Conway (and his six-figure salary) to the bench. There are only two goalkeepers on the Bulls roster, so it's hard to imagine either 'keeper being released, especially since Coundoul is an experienced starter (starting 51 of the 52 matches he's played---his first appearance coming only 10 mins. into a game to replace an injured Joe Cannon) who'll likely demand a six-figure salary himself. Releasing Cepero leaves two six-figure 'keepers on the roster, while releasing Conway acknowledges that Cepero is the better 'keeper...and either puts your better 'keeper on the bench, or your new six-figure signing on the bench. Just doesn't make much sense.

Of course, not making sense is right up New York's alley right now. Juan Carlos Osorio, head coach, New York Red Bulls---these words in the same sentence - without the word "fired" - is simply mindblowing at this point. This downward spiral is set to continue into Saturday night's home match against Seattle, a match that Red Bull fans can only hope is Osorio's last stand---you never want to see your team lose, but New York just isn't headed in the right direction with Osorio at the helm. We've reached the halfway point of the season, and it would take at least 30 points in the 2nd half of the season just to consider a playoff spot---that's something along the lines of a 9-3-3 record.