US does its job and beats Trinidad

Brian Ching and Eddie Johnson notched goals on either side of the halftime whistle to lead the US to a 2-0 win. The victory gives the US six points in group play and sole possession of first place. The US dominated the ball and could have scored several more if not for the efforts of Trinidadian ‘keeper Jan Michael Williams.

USA 2, Trinidad & Tobago 0

09/JUN/2007- Only one player that started in the United States’ opening win against Guatemala was on the field to begin the game today against Trinidad and Tobago. Head Coach Bob Bradley went with a decidedly different look, especially at the back starting Frank Simek, Jay Demerit, Michael Parkhurst and Jonathan Spector. The quartet had a grand total of 10 caps collectively coming into today’s match. While there were a few anxious moments in front of the US net on the day, Trinidad rarely tested ‘keeper Kasey Keller.

It wasn’t the US defense that was expected to be under pressure in today’s contest though, and true to form, the US was on the attack immediately. In the fourth minute, Steve Ralston won the ball on the right wing and dribbled into the penalty area. Ralston slotted a cross along the ground for Brian Ching, whose point blank effort slammed into the chest of a well positioned Jan Michael Williams.

Williams needed to come up big again seconds later. Trinidad turned the ball over in midfield, and the US quickly countered. Ching was sprung loose in the area and this time from the left side played the ball along the carpet across the face of goal. Eddie Johnson ran onto the ball, but his shot was slightly deflected and saved by Williams.

A scary moment suspended the match for about 5 minutes when Thomas Nickcolson had to be carried off on a stretcher. Nickcolson got injured when he went up to challenge Ching for a header in the box. Nickcolson was injured on the collision and lost consciousness, not waking up until en route to the hospital according to the Trinidad and Tobago press officer.

When play resumed, the US continued to press and five minutes later had another golden opportunity to take a lead. Jonathan Spector roamed forward from his left fullback position and slipped Ching in on a breakaway. Williams charged hard off of his line altering Ching’s shot which sailed high and wide of the target.

In the 27th minute, Justin Mapp stripped the ball off of Silvio Spain and cut into the penalty box. Mapp picked out Spector with a nice back pass, but the young defender failed to find the target with his shot.

Ching has the next chance less than a minute later, getting in behind the defense on a breakaway. Williams again was forced to make a big save to keep the score level at zero, but it was short lived.

Ching made up for his miss in the 29th minute. Justin Mapp sprinted past Spain on the left flank and cut into the box. With Ching streaking down the center channel, Mapp passed the ball through for Ching, and the Hawaiian just had to tap the ball home to open the scoring.

The outside backs continued to join in the attack, and this time is was Simek getting into the action down the right flank. On a quick counter in the 42nd minute, Simek broke down the right side of the field, and Ching picked him out with a pass. Simek dribbled into the area, but with a defender draped all over his back, missed wide of the post with his shot.

The US defense broke down a bit towards the end of the half and allowed a couple of late chances in stoppage time. The first came on a 40 yard freekick. Spain stepped up to take the kick, and to the surprise of most, went for goal. His effort skipped wide of the post, but served as a reminder that Trinidad wasn’t going to limp out of the match.

The second half continued with the same theme as the first half, as the US dominated possession. In the 54th minute, second half sub Landon Donovan created the second US goal.

The play originated in the US defensive third when Donovan jumped on a loose ball and broke out of the back. Donovan picked out Ching, who quickly gave the ball back to Donovan. Donovan raced in behind the Trinidad defense, and picked out Johnson who was running all alone at the back post, and just had to tap the ball into the empty net to double the advantage.

The game really bogged down in the midfield following the Johnson goal, as the US emptied its bench. The US continued to control the possession, but lacked any real creativity going forward. As the game wore on, the US seemed content to play out the remainder of the game tapping the ball around the midfield, making the occasional foray into the attacking third.

The US had one last chance in the game in the 87th minute. Donovan and Taylor Twellman worked a clever give and go in the penalty area that worked Donovan loose inside the area. Donovan got a touch to the ball, but Williams made yet another save for Trinidad to keep the score from getting out of hand.

Following Donovan’s effort, the match ended without any more incident. With the win, the US clinched a place in the quarterfinals and needs only a draw Tuesday night against El Salvador to win Group B.

STATISTICS:

2007.09.06: Carson, California USA; Home Depot Center (A: 27000 (Sellout)) TRINIDAD & TOBAGO – USA 0:2 (0:1) USA: Brian CHING (Justin MAPP) 29’, Eddie JOHNSON (Landon DONOVAN) 54’.

TRI: 21-Jan Michael Williams (GK), 2 – Romauld Aguillera, 5 -Keyeno Thomas, 6 -Thomas Nickcolson (24’: 8 – Kerry Baptiste), 11 - Andre Toussaint, 14 - Darryl Roberts, 15 - Andrei Pacheco (81’: 7 – Trent Noel), 16 - Silvio Spann, 17-Seon Power, 18-Densill Theobald (capt.), 20- Anthony Noriega (20’: 13 – Christon Baptiste) Booked: Thomas 51’, Pacheco 77’ TD: Wilhelmus RIJSBERGEN.

USA: 18 – Kasey Keller (GK) (capt.), 5-Benny Feilhaber (46’: 10 – Landon Donovan), 9 – Eddie Johnson (72’: 20 – Taylor Twellman), 11 – Brian Ching (65’: 6 - Michael Bradley), 12 – Jay Demerit, 14 – Steve Ralston, 15 – Frank Simek, 16 – Michael Parkhurst, 17 – Jonathan Spector, 19 – Ricardo Clark, 21 – Justin Mapp Booked: None TD: Bob BRADLEY.

Statistics/Estadísticas ()-Half TRI USA Goal Attempts/Tiros Totales 8 (5) 16 (11) Saves/Atajadas 6 (5) 2 (0) Fouls/Faltas 15 (7) 15 (10) Corners/Tiros de Esquina 4 (2) 0 (0) Offsides/Fuera de Lugar 7 (3) 8 (6).

R: Roberto Moreno (PAN) A1: Daniel Williamson (PAN) A2: Hiran Depico (CUB) FO: German Arredondo (MEX).

Miller Lite Player of the Match: Brian CHING (USA.

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Terra/Concacaf