USA vsBELGIUM

When USA takes on Belgium in the match tonqualify for the QF,the most talkedcabout person in the USA team is none Other than their great goalkeeper TIM HOWARD.the 35 year old veteran Goalkeeper of USA.The 6feet 3inches frame Goalkeeper has a reputation for Spectacular saves,Diving,leaping& punching the ball away which we have seen seen on several occasions in the recent match against Portugal in their 2-2 tie in the group matches. One would expect more of similar occasions in the crucial match against Belgium which incidentally is the door which might open for their entry into the Quarter Final since 1982. The very first minute of the match saw a tremendous save from the hero of USA Tim Howard when Belgium after snatching the ball from the USA player advanced to the goal area of US through the right wing & attempted strong close shot at the goal.It could have landed in disaster for USA but for a save by Howard by diverting the ball to border line ending up in a corner for Belgium.But no damage resulted.the 18th minute saw the USA player Cameron getting a Yellow Card but no serious damage was done again.Ashot at the 21st minute to the Belgium goal ,though a Good & Strong one could not find past the Belgium Goalkeeper whonalso did a fairly good save. A corner at the 24th minute went in vain to the side line without even enabling any attempt to score by the .Red Devils.Again two repeated corners 27th & 29th minute in favor of the Belgium could not find result The 31st minute saw a muscle pull for the US player Johnson who had to leave the field & in his place Yedlin had To take the field.This appeared to be a minor disaster for US Johnson being a frontline player.Incidentally Vincent Kompany whobwas a doubtful starter for Belgium survived a Groin injury &joined the team in the field to play earlier in the beginning.He did find a Yellow card imposing on him in the 41st minute.Another punching save from Tim Howard in the crucial 43rd minute of the match.A corner for USA in the 44 th minute went in vain.3 minutes extra time in the first half A 47th minute Corner for Belgium also went in vain & the first half of the match ended Goalless. Yet another crucial close save by punching the ball over the bar in the 48 th minute by The six footer Tim Howard. This could have resulted in a goal from the Belgium strong header & put USA in a damaging situation had it been some one else under thev bar other than Tim Howard. The match progressed without further damage to either side.However Belgium continued to dominate over USA with frequent attacks on the goal of USa.Notwithstanding constant instructions from Klinsman,the attacks from USA did not find any result except a good shot from close range to the Goal was eventually saved by the Belgium Goalkeeper in the 69 th Minute.. One open Chance for Belgium in the 75 th minute was once again saved with tremendous efficiency by the great Tim Howard by punching the ball to divert it over the border line.This was a sure Goal had it not been diverted by diving to the left by the great Goal keeper Tim. Though the attacks from USA was not as effective as desired by Klimsman the defense seemed doing their job fairly well.the 82nd minute's desperate corner & repeated one in the 83rd minute were defended well by the defenders without giving more tension to Tim Howard. Again 85 th minute corner wasted by Belgium.a corner for USA in the 86th minute did not find any use for USA. The advice of Klinsman that attacking is the Best form of Defense ,it seems has fallen into deaf ears perhaps due to the strong defense of Belgium. Again in the 90th minute yet another life saving attempt from Tim resulting in a corner for Belgium also did not turn into any use for Belgium. An open chance very close to the Goal post wasted by the UsA player by hitting over the bar in the crucial 94 th Minute of additional time.Thus the match is extended to the Extra half hour. Finally ,Belgium scored a fine goal in the 93rd minute by hitting the ball to the far end corner of the posts far away from the range of Tim Howard. Belgium leads 1-0 in the very 3rd minute of the extra time.27 minutes more to go during the duration of which USA will have to find an equalizer.yet another save from Tim in the 96 th minute. Klinsman roaming like a hurt tiger outside cursing himself . The 104th minute goal from Kukaku made the tally to 2-0 But a terrific move from USA found a return goal in the 107 th minute by Green flashing rays of hope for USA. But alas!an open chance in the very next minute fro Jones of USA turned out to be the worst shot which went wide Denying a God given chance for an equalizer. Belgium won 2-1 putting Klinsman & co and the blogger in a desperate situation awaiting next world cup in Russia in 2018. USA lost a glorious opportunity after 32 years . But their improvement in playing under the able guidance from Klinsman would be remembered for a longtime to come. Let us hope Klinsman does not quit after this unfortunate World cup for him as a coach. SreedharanMundanat Wednesday 2nd July 2014 04-16AM(IST) However again a ray of hope flashed in the