USA vs. Guatemala

I am trying something new this post by writing the recap while I watch the game. I turned to ESPN at 8 and found my Angels were beating the Devil Rays which is awesome, but then I turned to Galavision and it looks like the lights are out. I watched on Galavision for awhile then just turned to ESPN and it is dark there too. It feels like I am watching film of a high school football game. They are in the 7th minute and no goals yet.
It looks like Tim Howard is in goal, then Bocanegra, Onyewu, Cherundolo, Pearce on the back line, Donovan playing the right side of midfield, Bradley, Masteroeni and Lewis as midfielders Dempsey and Ching as forwards. Thats a pretty typical lineup which is very experienced.
17' - Yellow Card on Cherundolo for throwing the ball down after it went out.
Heath Pearce is having trouble keeping up with Mario Rodriguez who has been working the left side of the US back line.
In the 23' it looks like the US isn't comfortable and Guatemala is playing well. Rodriguez has gotten in behind the US three times. It seems Guatemala just possesses the ball around the midfield line and then boots a ball over the top.
28' Rameriez and Dempsey get a yellow card for pushing and shoving each other. I can now see why Carlos Ruiz is such a dirty player - every Guatemala player plays like him.
34' Ruiz dives causing Masteroeni to get a yellow.
37' Huge strike from Contreras, Howard has to make a diving save, which he did.
Halftime - The US started to gain some momentum towards the end of the second half. The only changes I would make is to sub one or both of the outside defenders. On another note, Real Salt Lake Midfielder, Andy Williams scored the game tying goal against Canada for Jamaica. Pretty cool.
No changes to start the second half. I think Eddie Lewis needs to get pulled, he hasn't done anything productive.
50' Guatemala almost scores off a fast break from a turnover from Lewis.
The ref is calling a strange game, questionable calls on both sides.
54' Ruiz almost breaks through, but Howard came off his line quickly and got the ball.
56' Again Rodriguez is giving the US trouble, this time he missed it far post. When is the US going to get some quality shots.
58' Another shot from Freddy Thompson from distance, just missed wide. Tim Howard would have had it if it was on goal.
60' Cherundolo commits a stupid foul and gets his second yellow. He was getting abused by the opposing player and the ref wasn't calling it so it he reached out of frustration and the US is now down to 10 men. Frankie Hedjuk is warming up.
62' Eddie Lewis collides with a Guatemala player and both players are down having knocked heads. Lewis had a huge gash on his head with blood spilling out.
The player who hit Lewis got a red card so now Guatemala is down to 10 men.
Beasley is coming in with Hedjuk. Lewis is off the field, hurt. Dempsey and Lewis were brought off.
Howard shanks a clearance, that is his second shank of the match.
68' Donovan gives a nice ball into the box and Onyewu puts it on goal, but the keeper made a save.
69' GOOOOOAAAAALLLL. Bocanegra scores off a corner kick from Beasley. Bocanegra was completely unmarked, there wasn't a single player within 5 feet of him in any direction.
77' Guatemala is playing tough, they want it bad. Howard came up with a nice save to force a corner. Edu comes in for Masteroeni
The annoucer just said that the US has not won a World Cup Qualifer in Guatemala.
A save by Howard off the corner.
81' Tim Howard is down, Ruiz kicked him while he had the ball. Howard gets a yellow for not shaking Ruiz hand.
US with a key possession, held the ball very well and led to a foul by Guatemala which means more time wasting. So far there have been 7 yellow cards and 2 red cards.
88' Guatemala takes a desperation shot, misses wide left.
Howard shanks another backpass, that is his third.
I don't remember the last time Donovan had a touch on the ball.
4 minutes have been added.
The US looks very very very tired.
US WINS 1-0. Tim Howard is the man of the match for me. He made really good saves which saved us the game. That is the US first win in Guatemala in a World Cup Qualifying match. What a great game, my heart is beating a million miles an hour. I am glad the US beat Guatemala, they are such poor sports and poort soccer players. They all dive and are cheap and dirty. If you want an example of how their whole team plays, look at Carlos Ruiz, he sits on the bench for the Galaxy so maybe you won't be able to watch him. Look at his stuff from when he was with Dallas. The US now faces Cuba on Sept. 6.