The Shin Guardian 22 players, 1 ball, high quality commentary

Real Salt Lake Midfielder, Rob Zombie enters game late in second half.

Final whistle. US played wonderful attacking football at times but dodgy defense brings up many questions. See you wednesday when they take on T&T

Extra Time: El Sal mounting serious attacks but nothing is coming from them. US defense is not helping. They need to not give the ball right back. El Sal are a much better side than their position in the table suggests.

Extra time now and El Sal get whistled for an off side. Good call but US living on the edge

89: WOW. Great play all around. Stu Holden muscles his way and wins the ball and sends a great cross that Torres heads powerfully and is AMAZINGLY saved by the El Sal keeper. He is called on up again to make another save of a Stu Holden cross.

87: GREAT save by Howard from a Reyes shot. Very good reflexes. Questions though off the US defense. Gooch and DeMerit are being missed a lot i think

84: US giving the ball up too easily. They’re playing a dangerous game. They need to be able to hold the ball up and kill games if they want to do well at the WC. Altidore off Torres on. Heard a lot about this guy but never seen him play.  Good chance for him to make an impression. He can do so by not giving up the ball easily. El Sal attacking coming in waves now.

82: Hmmm somehow i missed El Sal’s third substitution which happened about 8 minutes ago. Corrales in Quintanilla in.

80: US Substitution. Feilhaber out and Rob Zombie er i mean Beckerman in. Fans excited as local boy comes on.

77: Honduras up 2 goals against the Tobogans and are currently leading the group. This game has taken a slight step down from its frantic pace. US doing a good job of possession.

74: With Holden in, it looks like the US are going with a 4-1-4-1. This is a good move. Keep El Sal at bay and then send the powerful Altidore as the lone striker.

70: El Sal are doing everything right except the final ball which is ATROCIOUS. Davies down after being dispossessed in the box when he should have passed to the streaking Altidore (and by streaking i mean sprinting versus a Will Farrell “lets go streaking” thing). Davies injured and is being subbed out for Stu Holden. TSG headquarters erupting in excitement! Brothers high fiving and hugging!

69: US looking like Spain with their one two passing and deft touches…lovely to watch though no goals for it. El Sal still very dangerous on the counter. 20 minutes left. Should be a cracker…fingers hurting from so much typing

67: US playing attacking football which exposes their defense even more. Romero pass to Zelaya in the box but US defend well. Bradley needs to step up and help out the back 4 and they need to keep possession.

65: Dempsey makes a great run with the ball but sends a weak shot directly at the El Sal keepers knees. Should have done better

63: Great chance for El Sal comes to nothing when Castillo passes to no one instead of shooting. Worrying times for the US defense. Another substitution for El Sal as they go all out on attack. Flores off and Reyes on.

61: Jozy shows his inexperience and touches a ball when he was in the off side position. That could have been 3-1

I see one big issue with the US defense in that they are content to have the play come to them versus challenging the man on the ball. Case and point, right before the disallowed goal, an El Sal player was allowed all the time in the world with the ball as he stood there and looked for a player to pass too. That may work here but won;t at the WC.

57: GOAL DISALLOWED…They say offside but NO WAY was it offside. Altidore latches on to a beautiful through ball from Dempsey and slots it home. Make up call anyone? This was as onside as the first goal was offside. Nice finishing though

53: Spector has just sent in two lovely crosses. He was absent in the first half. Bradley off a quick free kick gets an open look at goal from outside the box but sends his effort WAY over. On the counter, Zelaya i believe wins a corner

50: Substitution for El Salvador – 6 Alvarez out for 8 Romero. Alvarez seems to have a hammy injury

47: Donovan with a crack of a shot that goes just over the bar

Brazil up 2-0 versus Argentina…Poor ol Diego…can you imagine a WC without Argentina…Mexico is going to have to play all out tonight against a solid Costa Rican side to avoid that playoff

46: Game is underway. SPOILER ALERT COMING UP IN 1 MINUTE

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That’s what I’m talking about…at least the last 15 minutes

It is fitting that this game is on ESPN Classic. As it has been a classic Summer of ’09 performance for the USMNT. Not classic in the sense that it was one for the ages, but in that the USMNT performed like they have all summer against inferior opponents. Control possession, misfire from 25-yards in on the attack, give up the first goal and weak wing back play. All followed by a couple of moments of brilliance.

Here are some quick thoughts on the first 45:

• Donovan is playing at a high level. He’s creating opportunities all over the field. Let’s hope he plays the second 45 just like the first 45.
• Speed kills…on both sides. Davies is really turning into an exciting player. Love seeing him just jet by players. El Salvador has their own burners up top and make me nervous
• Welcome back, Michael Bradley. Not sure if he is more confident with Benny or what, but he has stepped up and played well
• Wing backs for the US are struggling on defense, but are providing good support on the attack
• Dempsey fits the “classic” theme. He seems disinterested and is just throwing his body around, but is johnny-on-the-spot for the first goal
• Marshall and Boca seem to be holding up well in relief of the “A” central defense today. (surprising that Goodson didn’t even make the roster)
• Altidore showed his versatility this half…speed, post-up-ability, deft passing and, of course, the noggin knock
• The goal by El Sal was a debacle all-around for the back four and Howard.
• The officials settled down as well and a spectacular no-call on the Dempsey goal

As we’ve said all summer, let’s see how they come out of the locker room. Unless the back four get organized, 2 goals won’t win this.