Holy Cow...Rodney Wallace is the hero for Costa Rica!

Okay I have been less than enthusiastic about Rodney Wallace on the Timbers' back line.  And I still think I'm right that he's not the man we need as outside defender. And I would be the first to admit that, as a defender,  he does get up there in the fray scoring goals.  But I am stunned to see that the US National team went down yesterday to Costa Rica on a goal headed in by Wallace in the second half.  In his first appearance for his country.  And I guess I'd have to just acknowledge that the guy did it well.  And good for him.   I hope that it perhaps will help him step up his play and his confidence ,  particularly if he stays with our home side.   One thing I love about the Game is that it's always full of surprises.  Atta Boy, Wallace!  

US Men v Mexico- First step in the Klinsmann era

The US Men's national team looked as ragged as you might expect with a handful of recent callups and newcomers as they took on El Tri for the first time after a thrashing last year.  The first half of the match was a demonstration of the Mexican structure and discipline.  The US had few chances and paid a price when poorly delivered balls went off target even a little as the southerners pressed hard.  Mexico was not shy about expressing themselves physically.  And their plusses netted them a beautifully executed goal,  a rotating shot around the marking defender, in the first half.   That being said,  the US team pulled up its socks in the second half,  played scrappy, and made substitutions that began to break down the Mexican defense.  The US had the best of the opportunities in the last thirty minutes and began to look more confident on the lovely goal that tied the match.  Most exasperating were the increasingly chippy fouls by players in green as the tide of play swung against them.   The culminating insult, however, came as the US had a breakaway, ball under control and Rogers outstripping his opponents, only to be pulled down with a flagrantly obvious shirt and shoulder grab by Torrado as Rogers broke free.   What should have been a red was only a lemon yellow card on the ensuing call,  and the US lost its best but not only opportunity to take home a win.  When looked at overall,  the match signalled that there are many great US players who can be called up to the national side, and that the US will be dribbling toward international success if the team plays with joy and passion.  Tonight gave us sparks of both.  

Portland Timbers wallop Los Angeles Galaxy 3-0

First off let's express the obvious.  The Timbers won a match 3-0 for the first time this season.  A resounding win.  The Timbers dimmed the stars of the class of the league, the vaunted Los Angeles Galaxy, and didn't look too stressed doing so.  The Timbers snapped the Galaxy's fourteen game streak of no losses.  Did I say resoundingly?The Rose City side proved thorny to the extreme for these cocky visitors.  I must cheer for Palmer and Chabala, whose solid presence at outside back has taken away all my anxiety about balls coming down the outside.  They were exemplary.  I must cheer for Coop who didn't get a goal  (there was one breakaway in the second half when he had the view and had muscled to the position but didn't take the shot) but who created much and made the visitors mark him hard all match.  Equally, cheers to Perlaza whose goal was excellent and earned.  And medals of valor to all the midfielders who scrapped their way into the game over and over.  Zizzo for his audacity and danger.  Chara for his energy and creative skills.  Brunnner and Horst on the back end. And Nagbe in the middle.  
All in all it was a reflection of what this team can do when they stop outthinking themselves.  When they recognize that they are as good as any team in the MLS when they hit their stride,  they'll be in the playoffs and scrapping toward the finals.   I loved tonight's match because they earned it.  I loved tonight's match because it should be a harbinger of a hot finish to the season.  We've got enough points that we can make our move.  Believe, Boys, believe.  

Women's World Cup 2011

What a great game.  Two teams playing with heart.  No easy answers to unravel a win.  Just struggle.  And hard challenges.   I would have been happy had either team won.   I know that being so close and not making the mark must be heartbreaking for some of the Americans but they scrapped their way through an epic game.   And I watched Japan play the Germans and thought that they were animated, transcendant because of their desire to give their country something joyful when so much has been horrific.  The commentators described one of the Japanese players as having lost four of her friends in the tsunami.   That kind of experience would steel you to give everything you had to striking a light in response.