The USA through Edson Buddle’s brace and Herculez Gomez stoppage time goal broke Australia’s record of never losing when Tim Cahill scores.
As heartwarming as Buddle’s individual talent and Gomez’s opportunism on display was the flowing sequence of passes the US put together that resulted in Clint Dempsey almost scoring.
Counterattacking strength:
Check out the breakaway that begins in the 26th minute with the Socceroos pushing deep into US territory.
Jay De Merit gains possession and pushes it to Landon Donovan. Zip. Landon to Bradley. Zip. Bradley lays a long pass to Buddle coming back. Zip. Buddle relays it to the streaking Donovan. Zip. Donovan looks ahead sees space open and passes to Deuce. Zip. Deuce takes it down the left as Findley and Donovan arrive at the Socceroos door step. He has a great crack at goal but Schwarzer’s fantastic save denies him and the others.
Five slick passes in less than five seconds and the USA went from one end to the other in a flash all the action taking place in a narrow strip in the middle. It bodes well against teams like Algeria whose defense likes to come up, against England with a somewhat porous midfield and central defense, and possibly less so against Slovenia who are extremely well organized in the middle and back.
Steve Cherundolo:
An absolute on the money cross by the right back led to Buddle’s second goal. Cherundolo has to be pleased with this performance. England assistant Franco Baldini and David Beckham taking notes must have relayed their concerns to Capello where Ashley Cole will be charged with stopping this service.
Cherundolo reproduceinh this form against England will be very important because it keeps Cole preoccupied. Allowing less space and time for his potentially damaging forays up front.