Live from New York!

It's The US Men's National Team against Argentina! In front of 80,000 people the US hope to not get embarassed (again) by a superior team. Lots of questions follow this game. What to do about our coach, Bob Bradley? Where do we rank among International competition? Are we getting worse or better?

Game Commentary Live By the Minute here:

First Half:

1) Wow, you can't see the difference in the uniforms, light blue and white against white? Come on.

2) You can hear the 80,000 people! That's a serious crowd. Hopefully they won't be dissappointed by another loss.

3) So, it's 86 degrees, but on the pitch it's 115? Confused, but I can only imagine how bad that is.

4) So far, better than the other games. The US might have a lift with Donovan back. I still feel like it was a suspect injury, to get his 100th cap in front of Americans.

11) Dangerous moments. The D looks a little more solid tonight. I like Califf in over Bocanegra. But I would prefer to take Gooch out.

13) Slowing down here. US have a nice possession. Can this last?

15) Cherundolo blew a cross to Beasley, after a great buildup. That's why we have him in, for his offensive progress from the Defense?

15) On a break, I see Gooch walking back to cover?? If this guy ever meets me he can count on being B-Slapped! I can't understand why this linebacker starts in our center back role. Bob Bradley, any answers?

17) Free Kick should have been put away by Heinze. We could easily be down 1-0.

18) Free Kick for us, where's David Beckham? Oh yeah...

19) Gooch gets thrown (right) and the first yellow comes out to Argentina. Nothing on EJ's header. Good service from Landon.

19) Last second of 18th minute, Heath Pierce has a go... he should have found a pass.

20) Foul called, and there's an argentinian down. Head to head knock. Danny Califf is looking alright so far. He's much faster than Carlos Bocanegra, but Onyewu is a real weakness. Correction, player down but no foul called.

21) Gooch heads a ball down in the center asking for a Argentina goal. No, I don't like this guy.

25) Landon goes at them on a break, and makes contact, gets called for a dive. No card.

26) Pressure is on, the US are doing alright. Better than we expected. The home field may be a part of it.

28) Another lucky but amazing save by Tim Howard, on a break. Again, Gooch, our constant center back is no where to be found. He never has the center locked up.

29) Califf is called right in front of the box for his arms all over their striker. This is where we usually get scored on. Sportscenter!

30) Goes over the bar. Lucky.

31) Dempsey gets cracked again. He'll be sore tonight if he makes it through the game. His feet are quicker tonight than they have been lately.

32) Dempsey has a go, deflection, close to the back post. I was screaming, corner.

33) The defense handled a quick transition pretty well. Credit Beasley for coming back and grabbing the ball. - EJ offsides again.

34) Another phantom free kick for Argentina about 45 out.

35) Where's Freddy Adu, good question. JP asks the same thing in so many words.

35) Pierce has a crack from 18 out, near post, not bad.

36) Another nice save by Howard. We have to clear the ball better.

37) Good possession by the US. Nothing comes of it, but Argentina bottled us up pretty well.

38) Beasley again makes a great defensive play in keeping the striker from gaining possession.

39) Landon gets taken down from behind about 23 out, and no call. It hasn't been consistent from our officials.

40) A little break here, and almost through the first half, we've seen a better USMNT. Not enough to get a goal, but hey, we'll take improvement when we can find it.

41) Pierce bottles up the right striker again, he's been solid tonight.

41) EJ went in soft on a 50-50 and we lose possession. He needs to be accountable for that. No more freebies Ed.

43) Dempsey to Johnson, ok chance with a low header. Not too dangerous, but it's a decent opportunity.

44) Harkes says again that this game is about us "qualifying for World Cup". I can't take that kind of garbage. We aren't playing Argentina, Spain, and England to prepare to qualify. It's about improving, and becoming a legitimate contender on the world stage.

45) Steve Cherundolo makes a huge mistake. Gives the ball away in front of the 18.

45) Unbelievable open net save from Tim Howard. WOW! He might be the top keeper in the world right now. I'm not kidding.

Stoppage: Scary corner here.

Half.

Well for all of our complaining on BigSoccer, the Nats have been better tonight. Sure the score could be 2 or 3 to 0 right now, but Tim Howard has been stellar. Now, we'll see if this effort can last through the second half. I am still unhappy with Bradley's selection of Onyewu, and Eddie Johnson over Freddy Adu. I am pleased with Pearce, and Califf. Those have been good moves. And, if Tim Howard wasn't already booked up with Everton, he would getting lots of calls from overseas tomorrow. Everton fans must be watching with smiles.

Who, if any, will Bob Bradley sub in at the start of the half. I think Gooch could be taken out, as well as Eddie Johnson. A dangerous attacker like Freddy Adu would open up Landon Donovan, and might lead to a goal. Also, Maurice Edu for Pablo Maestroeni would be a decent move. Pablo hasn't made too much happen, and Maurice has been a good player in the center lately.

Quick Note: ESPN Classics need new sponsors. The Pure Sleep Snoring Commercial is giving me the creeps. I hate watching the throat vibrate. Yuck! This was an especially long halftime. I had time to take the trash out, and even make the bed. My wife might even kiss me when she gets home.

So, Bob Bradley put in Maurice Edu, but for Michael Bradley, not Pablo Maestroeni. I think Edu is a good addition, but MB was on tonight. Sure, against Spain he looked tired, but he looked good tonight. Maybe BB has been reading too many blogs and felt that pressure.

2nd Half:

46) Pearce made a great run, and nice cross. Almost had a good shot, but Donovan's shot took a bad deflection.

47) Gooch hit the corner off the cross bar. We moved it around, and get another corner. Close call.

48) Donovan got a good ball, and leans back as he takes a shot. Bummer.

49) We look stronger this half. Surely Donovan as hated as he is in NorCal, is very very vital to our team.

50) Lost ball by Edu, then EJ makes a slow and poor foul. He needs to get smarter. It looks like EJ grabbed Mascherano's balls. Yikes. Mascherano might be pissed.

51) Gooch is down field (out of position) and Tim Howard stops another open net. Aguero fell over Howard, and looks for the PK. Nothing doing. Again, Gooch needs to play his position, or be brought out.

54) Poor cross from Landon.

55) Pablo goes up the center awkwardly, is fouled, no call.

56) Good buildup by Argentina, Pearce takes someone down 29 yards out (thanks ESPN). Dangerous spot.

57) Mastroeni really looks like he is playing tonight because of his Argentinian heritage. The Rapids player is really out of his league here. Sorry Pablo.

59) PM blasts a ball to Damarcus Beasley way long from 50 out. Ruined possession. He follows it up with a poor tackle and Yellow Card. JP Dellecamera proudly notes, "that's his game". What a joke.

61) Another foul, 28 yards out. The US can't afford all these bad tackles. It is why we lose so many games. Freddy Adu comes in for Dempsey. Jay Demerit comes in for Oguchi Onyewu. Finally!!! Demerit should have played all these friendlies over Gooch.

63) Heath Pearce breaks up another play down the right. He looks like he should have had the spot long ago. He also slows down another possession, and Mascherano ends up swinging it around and out far from the goal.

65) Some subs from Argentina.

67) EJ takes a breakaway and looks to get injured. Argentina won't kick the ball out for him. Lots of whistles in the crowd. Looks to have banged up his ankle. He still should have done more with a one on one with the keeper. Again, Sasha Kljestan or Freddy Adu could have done more with it.

70) Donovan slows a breakaway, not sure why. Then Maurice Edu fould outside the box, another yellow card. And another freekick, this time 33 yards. Dangerous. Maybe one day we will learn to quit giving these kicks away.

71) Pablo Mastroeni gets red carded. Why? Don't know. Maybe they thought he was the guy who fouled on this play. It's tough to tell. On the replay it's very confusing. It seems to be a mistake on the foul called on Edu. Bad break for the US.

74) Seems like from Allen Hopkins report that Pablo said something to the ref to bother him. He got a second yellow after Edu's card, and that was the reason for the red. If he did, Mastroeni really needs to keep his head. Again, I don't think this was the right call.

75) Sacha Kljestan comes in for Eddie Johnson. Let's see what the Chivas USA player can bring.

76) Freddy Adu loses the ball twice as we gain possession. He needs to learn to clear the ball when necessary. Leads to another free kick. Nothing. Donovan recovers it, needs to run, pulls back. Poor choice.

77) They show the ref's name, I guess to remind us that he sucks. Haha. He's from El Salvador, and likely won't work again. Or shouldn't. You hear me FIFA?

78) Eddie Lewis comes in for Pearce. Hmm, who will switch back to D? Pearce deserves lots of credit for maintaining this Argentina team. EL might have a cross that we can put away. We'll see.

80) Great shot of the crowd, man you can hear them in Jersey tonight. Cheers to a better soccer crowd these days.

81) Wasted possession on a long ball to Landon. Cherundolo does well to keep a good cross out. On the short corner, Steve takes on their striker, and gets fouled. Well done.

83) Great work forward. Eddie Lewis had a nice cross.

84) Good opportunity on a foul. Free kick, Jay Demerit comes flyying through. Corner.

85) Another corner. We are playing well for 10 men. New York might be our new home stadium. Freddy Adu has a shot.

86) Tammy ate a pita chip while Landon Donovan gets cracked by Mascherano. LD is hurt. Freddy Adu gets in his face. Great to see the little guy fight for his boy! What a G. LD goes out limping. Tammy decides David Beckham should become an American citizen so he can play for us. A little naive but she's cute.

89) Freddy Adu goes at them. Good to see, makes one bad touch and loses the ball. Still like to see it from him. Tammy notes he's "adubag". ? Don't know.

90) Adu goes at them again. You'll see multiple guys come at Freddy each time. He commands attention. That's exciting for the future. It's pooring rain.

Stoppage: Frankie Hedjuk comes in after going 90 against the Quakes last night.

91) Sacha Kljestan has a shot, deflected. Corner.

94) Freddy Adu taken down from behind. Where's the card?? Come on. Freddy looks good by the way. Argentina is taking guys out now. Cherundolo takes the last hit. Game should wrap up in a moment.

95) Adu takes another nasty hit. This is wrong. Red cards should be flying. He's pissed. And he is looking like the future of our team! This is a great night for Adu.

Game. Overall this was a good accomplishment. 0-0 against the best team in the world is pretty good. Maybe this will save Bob Bradley's job. But I still have a problem with us waiting to put our best foot forward until we get home to the States. We should have played this way in England and Spain.