US up 1-0 on Italy (soccer)

**CoeburnCane** · June 15th, 2009, 03:24 PM

Yeah, yeah, yeah...not an American sport, not really important...blah-blah-blah...but, Italy is the defending world champions, and one of the better teams in the world. The US has been struggling as of late, including a loss to Costa Rica in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

Halftime, and the US is up 1-0 thanks to a penalty kick drilled in by Landon Donovan.

Only bad news is Ricardo Clark got a red card around the 30 min mark, which puts the US a man down for the rest of the game. I doubt the US can hold up 10 vs. 11 against Italy for nearly 70 min's, but we'll see.

Wish I was home to watch this.

**Unchained** · June 15th, 2009, 03:54 PM

On any other day I'd be watching it,but I'm flipping over during commercials to take a peek. Virginia-Cal State Fullerton on the other ESPN in a git-r-done or you are done special at Omaha.

**CoeburnCane** · June 15th, 2009, 03:58 PM

1-1 all...Italy got an equalizer from one of their subs (Rossi) around the 60th minute. The ESPN guy writing this blog rundown says the US just can't pull a possession back and make a run to put some pressure on Italy and make them play D. Looks like 30 min's of hell for the US defense if they're gonna pull the draw. It'd take a special efford to get another goal and get the W going 10 on 11 against this bunch.

**CoeburnCane** · June 15th, 2009, 04:05 PM

2-1 Italy. Rossi nets another from about 35 yards out. This cat's on fire--the other goal was from about 30 yards out. Not looking good for the guys in red/white/blue.

**burton2019** · June 15th, 2009, 04:10 PM

beating the italians is hard enough, but for a squad like the americans being down a man isnt good at all....from what i could tell at least they are playing better...they looked horrible against costa rica

**CoeburnCane** · June 15th, 2009, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by burton2019

beating the italians is hard enough, but for a squad like the americans being down a man isnt good at all....from what i could tell at least they are playing better...they looked horrible against costa rica

Yeah--the blogger for ESPN wrote that the red card given to Clark was BS--should have been a yellow for sure, but it wasn't anywhere near bad enough for a red.

3-1 Italy final. Pirlo controlled the pace of the match, and Rossi added the goal-scoring spark as a sub in the 2nd half. I really would have liked to have seen what the US could have done had they not been a man down for nearly 70 minutes out of the 93 played.

**Biggin** · June 15th, 2009, 05:27 PM

the US cant compete with italy, italy has too much talent all over the field

we cant match messi or rossi

and i love soccer, it roped me in 2005 and ive been a huge fan ever since

**burton2019** · June 15th, 2009, 06:54 PM

messi plays for argentina doesnt he?

**1inStripes** · June 16th, 2009, 04:53 PM

The second goal was de rossi. Rossi got the 1st and 3rd goals. Not bad for an American playing for the Italians. The US played well, overall, but made a few stupid mistakes. Howard tried going across field and sent it OB. Just bad stuff. Donovan played well. I wouldn't say we can't play with Italy. Every match between the two teams has been close to the best of my recollection. The Italian D just wasn't pressured much after the US went down a man.

**1inStripes** · June 21st, 2009, 05:16 PM

The US caught a break today beating Egypt 3-0 and Brazil beating Italy by 3 to advance. That was definitely the toughest group. I think you could see a Brazil/US rematch in the final.