From the U.S. perspective, that was mildly disturbing. It’s one thing for the young attackers to hesitate just a bit too much. It’s another for the anointed defense of the future to be at sea on every set piece. Bill Hamid makes a convenient scapegoat, but the center backs -- both with big-time clubs and getting experience on loan -- have to be better.
A good cheer as the whistle blows.
90 min +4: Walters and Moore argue about something.
This can’t be argued:
Cíara Walsh (@ciarawalsh610)We were by far the better the team, deserved that win 💪 serious performance tonight 🔥🔥 #COYBIG #IREvUSA
June 2, 2018
90 min +3: Have we seen an indication of stoppage time? Doesn’t matter. Ireland are killing it well.
90 min +1: Weah and Sargent pass back and forth in the box, unable to come up with a good shot.
McClean shreds the U.S. center backs, and the substitute Alan Judge practically takes the ball from his foot to rip it into the top of the net despite Hamid’s touch.
88 min: This time, Ireland take the free kick backwards and float in a harmless cross. The U.S. center backs struggle to flick it to a safe position.
Maybe it’s just experience, but the U.S. set-piece defense has been abysmal.
87 min: Shaq Moore announces his presence with a truly unnecessary foul on Daryl Horgan, who had just played a harmless cross.
The free kick from the flank will be retaken because the ref wanted to book Joe Corona for an elbow to the chest.
84 min: Another cross from the impressive O’Dowda, collected by Hamid.
Hard to see a late winner here. I write that knowing I will, through the rules of Murphy’s Law or karma, ensure that a winner will be scored.
Another sub: Joe Corona replaces Weston McKennie, prompting a soliloquy on the lack of solidarity pay from Taylor Twellman on behalf of FC Dallas, which got nothing when McKennie went overseas.
For Ireland, Harry Arter of Bournemouth replaces Jeff Hendrick.
On the goal (the one that counted), Graeme Thorn writes: “As soon as the US defenders cross behind the goal-line, they’re considered to be on the line itself for offside purposes, so Burke wasn’t offside when the shot came in. I can’t tell from the replay whether he actually touched it before the ball crossed the line, though.”
There were indeed a couple of American defenders so far out of the play that they could write a Yelp review of a nearby pub.
Debuts
For the USA, Luca de la Torre of Fulham replaces Rubin.
For Ireland, Enda Stephens replaces Shane Duffy.
76 min: Half-chance for Weston McKennie against a curiously passive Irish defense. A good first touch sets him up for a shot from 15 yards, which he hits with pace but straight at the keeper.
75 min: Hamid snares a McClean cross with an attacker lurking.
Unlucky Darragh Lenihan ...
Eoin Harmon (@Eoin_Harmon)Lenihan could've had a brace! A team-mate and a justified offside call have done in the centre-back! #COYBIG
June 2, 2018
FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland)
Darragh Lenihan - the first Meath man to make a senior international appearance! #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/vrq0sceVmH
June 2, 2018
Debut for Shaq Moore, the La Liga-based defender. He comes into the game along with Josh Sargent, the striker based in Germany. Two young prospects entering in the 70th minute with the USA reeling in Dublin.
U.S. defensive woes. No matter how much blame you give to the rusty Bill Hamid, whose move to Denmark has not panned out, the USA will have other options in goal.
Should U.S. fans be more concerned by the alleged center-back tandem of the future, Carter-Vickers and Miazga? They were poor on the goal and shaky at several more points today.
Irish free kick, and Lenihan heads the ball past Hamid. He was offside.
66 min: Half-chances for the USA. Wood has a tame shot saved. Weah shoots high.
Here’s the Irish goal -- Burke may well have been offside. Or he may have been over the line. A call would’ve been harsh, and the USA were justly punished:
eir Sport (@eirSport)WATCH:@ShamrockRovers man Graham Burke bags his first International goal to make it 1-1 at the Aviva!
June 2, 2018
It's probably the easiest goal he's scored this season, but what a moment for the 24 year old!#IRLUSA #COYBIG #LOI pic.twitter.com/zi2sYRFjOd
63 min: CHANCE -- Walters makes a nice move at the top of the box and has the goal at his mercy but fires wide.
62 min: Well, it’s all getting interesting now, as the phenom Weah (yes, George is his father) turns sharply and forces a save.
DEBUT for Tim Parker, formerly of Vancouver and now of the New York Red Bulls. He replaces the unimpressive Carter-Vickers.
60 min: Corner kick to the USA. Trapp delivers, no one’s there, the ball is played back to midfield and awkwardly headed back to Hamid.
Again, see the disclaimer, but I’m not sure what Hamid should’ve done differently on the goal other than shove three of his teammates out of the way.
Lenihan was the substitute for John O’Shea in the first half, and Ireland have just made another -- Daryl Horgan of Preston North End replaces the possible scorer Burke.
Ireland takes the corner kick back 30 yards. The ball is then played into the box, where about five people (mostly American) shelter Bill Hamid from the ball, taking him beyond the post. Lenihan fires into a nearly empty net, but Burke may have gotten the last touch. (And if so, he might have been offside.)
56 min: McClean’s cross hits Carter-Vickers in the torso, and the big defender didn’t enjoy that. Corner kick for the home side, and ...
55 min: This association football match desperately needs a substitution or four.
Trivia time:
Paul Carr (@PaulCarrTM)The referee for today's Ireland-USMNT game is Andrew Dallas, son of Hugh Dallas, who reffed this 2002 World Cup game: pic.twitter.com/IbR5jrlOMj
June 2, 2018
Funny things found on Twitter:
Darren Leathley (@DarrenLeathley)Irish tips: 'the match' is always without context. It may mean:
May 19, 2018
Football (association)
Football (Gaelic)
Rugby
Cricket (recent addition)
Wedding
50 min: Wood causes the Irish backline all sorts of problems. The USA wind up with possession, and they painstakingly work the ball backward to Hamid.
49 min: Yellow card. Meh. Tyler Adams and Callum O’Dowda each slide a bit recklessly for a ball at midfield. O’Dowda gets the worst of it, so Adams gets the card.
47 min: Wil Trapp fouls Jon Walters, adding more gray hair to the Irish forward’s head. McClean then tries his stepover skills against the unimpressed Yedlin.
46 min: And, to the surprise of ESPN, the second half is underway.
The goal ...
Big mistakes all the way around the Irish defense, and Wood makes them pay.
U.S. Soccer MNT (@ussoccer_mnt)
🗣Bobbbb
June 2, 2018
🗣Beeeee
🗣Wooood@MattMiazga3 with the flick on, @BobbyS_Wood with the finish! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/trvEGb0nkM
Want to chat? Email [email protected] or yell on Twitter @duresport
Halftime: Not the most impressive half from the USA, but they won’t complain about having a 1-0 lead away.
A free kick from near midfield, Rubio Rubin wins the header, and nobody marks Bobby Wood, who reaches out his foot on the 6-yard line to poach a goal.
Ireland will have something to sort out at halftime, which starts ... now.