The Weekend's, Good, Bad and Ugly

THE GOOD
Yeah, good that the USA won, but it was more than that. This is probably the best game between the two teams since the 2001 win in Columbus! What a game! You saw the best of what CONCACAF can be.Attacking flowing soccer ruled the day over the USA's usual, get behind the ball and counter, style that was the trademark of Bruce Arena's tenure.
Neither defense or keeper was allowed a minute to let down their guard. The game was physical but didn't resort to thuggery that is so often seen late in this match up. Mexico took it to the USA in the first half and remarkably the US took it to Mexico in the second half. Bob Bradley must have done a heck of a job in the locker room at halftime, and his sub of Ricardo Clark for Pablo Mastroeni was just what the team needed. Fielhaber's volley was certainly World class as was Mexico's young player Andres Guardado. I am not looking forward to facing him and Castillo in the future.
You have to give props to the ref who called a great game but let the boys play.
Here are the highlights:


THE BAD
DC united's loss to Real Salt Lake, who hadn't won a game all season. There isn't really much to say. Here's what the coach and Ben Olsen had to say:

D.C. UNITED HEAD COACH TOM SOEHN
"On any given day, anybody can win, and if you don't come out and do the little things that win ball games - the hustle and the 50-50 balls - you're going to be on the wrong side. If you do that your chances increase, and we didn't do that today."

D.C. UNITED MIDFIELDER BEN OLSEN
"It's not hard to figure out what happened. We came out soft and light and took them as if they were a last-place team, and they came out fighting for their lives. That's what you saw."


THE UGLY

Once again the Mexican players walk off the field without shaking hands or trading jerseys. It's a sad way to end what was an incredible game. Grant Wahl tried to educate us on this behavior in an article in Sports Illustrated. Wahl explains, "When I ask my friend, the journalist Miguel Ángel Briseño of Reforma, about it, he mentions the word ardido -- a sort of rageful pride or courage that's common among Mexican soccer players."..."It's not so much about the Americans (although that's certainly part of it) as it is about the way Mexican players treat all their most heated rivalries." Trying to give it a cultural spin does not change the fact that it is unsportsman like and unacceptable.
And Once again the Mexican Coach makes excuses about a loss. This time it was not having enough time to train together, topped off with "The better team did not win today." I like to believe in karma and I think if Mexico would start to "man up" to their losses they might have a chance to turn their slide around.