Soccer Blogging

Nobody here cares, but the U.S. men's U-20 World Cup team is through to quarter-finals after a contentious match with Uruguay. The first 2/3 of the match was sloppily-played by the U.S., as the back surrendered too many free kicks and corners. The loss of Altidore to injury at the start of the 2nd half left the U.S. attack impotent for much of the game. Uruguay had a 1-0 lead until Freddy Adu's corner set up an Uruguayan own goal (although it surely would've been put in by Akpan if Cardaccio had let it go) in the 87th minute. In extra time, Michael Bradley, who had been mostly non-existent offensively to that point, finished another Adu corner service in the 107th minute for the winner.

It's the U-20s, not the true World Cup, but it's still impressive that the U.S. has dominated Poland, stunned and eliminated Brazil, and now defeated Uruguay to make their way to the quarter-finals.

Next up is Austria on the 14th, a game that the U.S. can win.