It was the most hyped game in U.S. soccer history. U.S.A. v England at the World Cup. And the U.S. team lived up to the hype, drawing 1-1 against the heavily favored English.
Before the game, the feeling was that for the U.S. to get something from the game they would need Tim Howard to paly really well and that they would need to get some luck. Well they got both of those things tonight.
But it did not look good for the U.S. when England went 1-0 up after only 4 minutes when Emile Heskey and Steven Gerrard carved open the U.S. defence and Gerrard scored from just inside the box.
But the U.S. settled down and Clark and Bradley started to boss the game in the midfield and the U.S. got themselves back into the game.
Then five minutes before half-time the U.S. got the lucky break they needed. Clint Dempsey’s 25-yard shot bounced twice and then squirmed out of the grasp of England goalkeeper Robert Green. It was a terrible goal from England’s standpoint, but it was that piece of luck that the U.S. needed.
England turned up the pressure in the second half and Howard had to make a great save from Heskey.
The U.S almost stole the game when Jozy Altidore speed away from Carragher and Green made a smart save to his right and the ball rebounded off the near post and clear.
England huffed and puffed the rest of the game but they could not get past the U.S. defense. Cherundolo, DeMerit, Onyewu, and Bocanegra were all terrific and if anyone got passed them, Howard was their to clean up.
Overall a great result for the U.S. and an unexpected point. But now the World Cup really starts for the U.S. The U.S. will be favorites against Slovenia and they need to get three points from that match if they are to progress to the next round.
A point against England does not mean anything if the U.S. cannot beat Slovenia.
