I understand that there must be plenty of pressure, hostility, and adversity that go along with playing in Guatemala City. I get that; really I do, although I didn’t bother to pay $29.99 + tax to watch the U.S. give up a late goal (83’) to Guatemala on a set play that completely froze Tim Howard.
As far as I can tell, once again poor play in the backfield led to our undoing, as Fabian Johnson was badly beaten, pulled down a Guatemala attacker, the ultimately earned Guatemala a tie, and cost the U.S. two badly needed points.
The same thing more or less happened in the U.S. win over Antigua & Barbuda, with Oguchi Onyewu contributing to Antigua & Barbuda’s only goal.
With the top two teams advancing, the U.S. heads the table on goal differential in a weak Group 1 that also includes Jamaica. The U.S. heads to Jamaica September 7 and hosts the Reggae Boys September 11. These two games will ultimately decide if the U.S. advances, which will continue to be in question if the U.S. does not figure out the backfield over the summer.
