Well, it’s too late now - One all draw, with Korea missing a penalty in the first half and an open goal in the last few minutes…
Grim
It was a good match. deserved result.
I thought it was a good result for both sides. Good game all round.
Great save by the 'keeper on the penalty, BTW.
Twisty - how’s that leaderboard coming??
Grim
I was torn over this match. On the one hand, a surprisingly good US side that I’d like to see do well. On the other hand, an enthusiastic home side with definite football skills, and a Dutch coach (Guus Hiddink, former Dutch national coach, among other positions).
Since Guus Hiddink has already been promised a friggin’ statue for beating Poland - I’m NOT making this up! - I just wanna see the Koreans win the world cup altogether. I mean, I’m pretty sure they’ll just invade North Korea, wipe it clean, and offer it to Hiddink as a private estate. 
So, all in all, I can live with a draw.
I set my alarm to go off at 2:40am ET to watch the game. Foolishly sacrificing watching the U.S. goal live, by missing the first twenty minutes. Great game to watch. I don’t ask for a lot of scoring just some quality scoring chances. While lopsided, the game had plenty of those.
The U.S. goal-tender was clutch. He seemed to know everything that was going to happen five seconds before it did. The one goal Korea scored, he just watched because he knew he couldn’t reach it.
Still trying to educate myself on people’s names. Stupid American that only pays attention during the World Cup, but patriotic enough to watch in the middle of the night. 
Brad Freidel. Plays for Blackburn Rovers (IIRC) in the English Premier League.
I am quite happy we stole a point that I am not sure we deserved, but I would have liked to have stolen three points we REALLY didn’t deserve.
Friedel was HUGE! (Yes, Blackburn Rovers)
I stayed up and watched. Some observations:
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Brad Freidel’s performance was the best by any goalkeeper in the tournament so far. Period. That sound you just heard was Kasey Kellar picking out his official World Cup 2002 seat cushion for the rest of the tournament.
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Has anyone else ever done so much of nothing, except score the almost game-winning-goal, like Clint Mathis? I mean, for 99.9 percent of the time out there, he might as well have been picking dandelions. Then, WHAMMO! Then, nada again.
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Korea is as much an up-and-comer on the world scene as the U.S. They looked good, fast, and athletic. If they ever learn to finish better … Portugal may not have a cakewalk in the final day of group play.
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I was ready to declare Bruce Arena president, and DaMarcus Beasley God of the Football World, after the Portugal win. However, Arena’s decision not to substitute for defense near the end of the second half Monday, when his players were looking tired, slow and ragged, was a head-scratcher. And Beasley looked rather ordinary. The ups and downs of a youngster, I guess.
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It’s hard not to think “if only,” as the U.S. held that lead for so long into the game. But we shouldn’t be too discouraged, even though the boys were clearly outplayed by Korea. It’s results that count at this stage. And no one has played a game under more hostile conditions in this World Cup than the Americans did this morning. That stadium was positively scary.
This will be one of the more interesting groups, going into the final games. Come on, USA; give Poland all you’ve got! And beat Portugal, Korea! I’d like to see you make it, too.
I’m 99% sure the US are through. After today’s capitulation I can’t see Poland even playing for pride against the US. I would go so far as to say that it would be a surprise if the US didn’t win their final group match.
If the US top the group, who is the likely second round opponent? Croatia? Italy? Mexico?
I’ve been hearing Mexico.
While the U.S. would certainly respect them, and they’ve been having a great run, I don’t think the U.S. would fear them. The American team has a high level of familiarity with them, and has had some positive results in the recent past.
Could it be, a second-round win by the USA?!?!?
I guess we shouldn’t get too far ahead of ourselves.
I find it quite interesting that they may be a kind of unavoidable development curve for countries coming to the fore|:
First stage seems to be to find a good group of players and develop a system of play.
Then, a few years later, the team finds balance, stamina and, finally develops ability in the final 1/3 of the pitch i.e. goal scoring. This often comes as those players from stage one find places with European teams…kind of the finishing school.
…I think I’ve seen this before with several African countries. If the Asian countries and the US are to follow through in the years ahead, I’d guess it’s crucial to keep building depth into the squads and to get as many as possible playing in Europe – interesting though that some of the US players seem to be doing okay out of the US domestic league.
I wanted to add that while S. Korea, Japan and the US seem to be doing well (which is really nice), I’ve yet to see any of them play a tight game - they all play open, risky football all of the time, which is attractive but may also indicate tactical limitations.
Milo, lets not get ahead of ourselves indeed. Remember, the ole’ US of A is still held in such disreguard, soccer-wise, that playing for pride may be enough to lift any European team. I read a few remarks quoted from a Portugese newspaper (sorry, no link) that indicated quite clearly the writer’s own embarassment at being on the short end of a decision again the USA.
On the other hand, our boys have shown they some heart and some luck. Lets go, red, white and blue.
again=against, sorry.
again=against, sorry.
Well, even if the US loses to Poland, we’re still through if South Korea beats Portugal (hah!) or if Portugal really thumps South Korea. My guess for a second round oponent is Mexico, though Croatia is also a possibility. Conceivably, Mexico could even to do well enough against Italy that we’d get Italy if we won our group, in which case I’d rather we didn’t…
The US won’t lose to Poland. My GOD, that was some piss-poor defending today. Unworthy to the Polish third division, let alone a friggin’ world cup match. Dudek is a great goalie, but he’s learned that it’s a hell of a lot simpler with the Liverpool or Feyenoord defense in front of you.
Am I hallucinating, or did Friedel used to play at Liverpool as well?
Houllier must have been slapping his forehead yesterday
Yep. Galatasaray, Liverpool and Blackburn. Spot the ::coughGraemeSounesscough:: link.
I doubt Houllier is too upset; if he’d have trusted Souness’ signings, he’d still be lumbered with Torben Piechnik and Stig-Inge Bjornebye.