Commentary
Herculez spells relief for Klinsmann's men
- by Mike Woitalla @MikeWoitalla, Sep 12, 2012
The USA breathes much easier now after beating Jamaica, 1-0, thanks to Herculez Gomez's free kick in the 55th minute Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio.
Four days earlier, the
USA fell to Jamaica for the first time ever, giving the Jurgen Klinsmann's men just four points after three games in their six-game semifinal round. Now, with seven points, they face
Antigua & Barbuda (away) and Guatemala (home), so the Americans should cruise into the final round – the Hexagonal – of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. (Challengers
Guatemala and Jamaica will take points from each other in their October encounter; the top two teams advance.)
TALE OF TWO GAMES. The Reggae
Boyz’s 2-1 win in Kingston somehow failed to inspire confidence in the Reggae Boyz, who played scared – so meekly in fact in the first half it made it difficult to imagine how the USA
could ever have lost to this crew.
The Jamaicans made it easy for the Americans, but for its part the USA passed accurately and moved fluidly around the field. (ESPN2’s stat-keeper
put the U.S. first-half pass completion rate at 91 percent.) Klinsmann’s introduction into the midfield of the creative Graham Zusi and the sure-passing Jose
Torres helped enable the Americans to dominate possession, of which they had much less after both were subbed in the 72nd minute.
The return of attack-minded right back
Steve Cherundolo made a huge difference as he constantly unsettled the Jamaicans, while Danny Williams was a big improvement over defensive midfielder Kyle
Beckerman, for whom nothing went right in Kingston.
GOAL SHORTAGE. Frustrating was that the U.S. dominance in the first half -- in which they
outshot the Boyz 8-0 -- didn’t result in a goal. Zusi hit the top of the crossbar and forced a magnificent save from keeper Dwayne Miller. Cherundolo also forced a super save
from Miller, who deflected the effort onto the post. William’s 25-yard effort hit the inside of the post.
Not until Gomez’s free kick in the 55th minute did the Americans get
on the board. It was enough, of course, because of how feebly the Jamaicans attacked. But one thing Klinsmann hasn’t accomplished in his 13 months in charge is creating a high-scoring team.
Only three times in 18 games under Klinsmann has the USA scored more than one goal.
HAIL HERCULEZ. The 30-year-old may finally have job
security with the U.S. national team. Coming into the Tuesday’s games, his 15 appearances were spread over five years. He debuted for the “B” team Coach Bob Bradley
took to the 2007 Copa America while still a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy and played two games.
Leading the Mexican league in scoring in 2010 – tied with Javier
“Chicharito” Hernandez, then with Chivas Guadalajara – brought Gomez back in the fold and he came off the bench twice and started once at the 2010 World Cup.
Gomez, now with Santos Laguna, got his first call from Klinsmann in May and scored in a 4-1 loss to Brazil. He scored in the USA’s first 2012 World Cup qualifier, a 3-1 win over Antigua &
Barbuda, and set up Dempsey’s goal in last Friday’s 2-1 loss. His goal on Tuesday marked his fifth for the USA.
Great goal Herc!! And even better hustle..as always. You really we huge in putting them on their heals!!!!
THANK YOU!
Recall when Herc was forced to play midfield in MLS ? Coaching is better now in MLS , though still could be much better. Herc is a well rounded center forward, better than anyone in thè pool
His role will be energy off the bench in '14. Just like with his club. We do not need plodding forwards who cannot run off the ball
We need two more guys with brains and better than average speed such as Herc and another guy with true physical hold up skills like Lenhart or sapong to step up
Great goal? How about a huge gaffe by a keeper who had made three brilliant saves in the first half.
Yea Herc's goal was a fortunate goalie blunder but was still well taken. His first free kick was better but missed. It was good to see he was given the responsability of taking these and he deserved it. Its a shame MLS could not find a spot for him. Hercules and Torres have cemented spots on this team. I think we will see them start in 2014. Hercules is our best forward at the moment.
Great win USA.Why such a difference from Fri? Susi,Torres,Cherundolo,Bocanegra and Williams instead of Beckerman and Edu.Although I still prefer to see Edu ahead of Jones.
The one detail of the match that sticks out like a sore thumb is how a team can function like a well oiled machine in every way imaginable...short of finding the net,of course...for 55 minutes then to a man they figure the match is over and settle in to play out the clock for 35 long minutes. I can accept perhaps one or two individuals slacking off but an entire team doing so baffles me,
Well, we got the result and that's what matters! Torres' performance was sufficient, but for those who believe he is the answer, it's going to depend on Bradley's return, and the formation Klinsmann sticks with. The continuing elephant in the room, is the unwillingness of our midfield to go forward and our wing-players not even giving us a hint that they want to take defenders on 1 v 1 !! Where is our American courage and ingenuity out there? I would much rather have players with Shea's bravado and desire to cause havoc for defenders down our wings, than the constant probe and passback, probe and knock it laterally. PLEASE, SOMEONE WORK TO GET FOULED IN DANGEROUS AREAS!! Sorry, lost it there a bit....