CONCACAF Hexagonal Update

Schedule/Results:

Date	Home	Score (H)	Score (A)	Away	Hex Game
4-Jun	Jamaica	0	1	Mexico	6
7-Jun	Costa Rica	1	0	Honduras	4
7-Jun	Jamaica	1	2	United States	4
7-Jun	Panama	0	0	Mexico	4
11-Jun	Honduras	2	0	Jamaica	5
11-Jun	Mexico	0	0	Costa Rica	5
11-Jun	United States	2	0	Panama	5
18-Jun	Costa Rica			Panama	6
18-Jun	United States			Honduras	6

Updated Table:

Hex	GP	W	D	L	GD	GF	GA	Pnt	Pts/15	Pts/20
United States	5	3	1	1	3	6	3	10	15	21
Costa Rica	5	2	2	1	2	5	3	8	15	19
Mexico	6	1	5	0	1	3	2	8	9	16
Honduras	5	2	1	2	0	6	6	7	13	16
Panama	5	1	3	1	0	5	5	6	11	15
Jamaica	6	0	2	4	-6	2	8	2	7	10

For a discussion of the Pts/15 and Pts/20 columns, see the After 1 game report

The Games:
Jamaica finished off a disastrous June with their 3rd loss in 3 games, effectively ending their chances to qualify for Brazil 2014 with a 2-0 road loss to Honduras.

Mexico completed their 3rd home match of the Hex, and they earned the same 0-0 draw they earned in their other 2 home losses. Thanks to ESPN, I was able to see the last 30 minutes of this match. During that time, Costa Rica was in their defensive shell, and Mexico was desperately trying to crack their defense. However, the way they tried to do it was...well, American. Lots and lots of balls played to the outside, then crossed in hoping to find a Mexico head in the sea of bodies inside the 18 yard line.

That's not Mexico's strength. There was very little (if any) attacks up the middle with quick passes or give-and-go's. That's what has made Mexico so dangerous in the past, and the absence of this offense was striking. Mexico now moves on to the Confederations Cup, and barring a miraculous turnaround that ends with at least a finals berth in this tournament, Mexico will have a new coach by their next qualifier in September.

As for the United States, the news is mostly good. Yes, they got their 3 points at home with a 2-0 win over Panama. Yes, Jozy Altidore continued his torrid run of play with another goal. Yes, Michael Bradley continued to show his importance to this team by controlling play. And yes, the US carried play throughout this game (save the final 10 minutes), something they did not do under previous coach Bob Bradley.

This might be me being too hard on the national team, but I was left wanting a bit more. I thought that the entire first half was full of US possession, but nothing ever came of it. Altidore's goal was set up beautifully by Bradley and Fabian Johnson, but it came against the run of play. The sustained possession never really converted into serious threatening chances outside of one Bradley shot that was unfortunately blocked by teammate Clint Dempsey.

The second half was much better, and Geoff Cameron's gorgeous ball to Eddie Johnson's perfectly timed run gave the USA some breathing room. The sustained offense was better this half, leading to more dangerous chances on the Panama net. Then with about 10 minutes left in the match, the US retreated into a shell about 20 yards from their net. This allowed Panama plenty of chances for crosses and shots on the US net, and it's only through much luck and occasional brilliance from keeper Tim Howard that Panama didn't get on the scoreboard. After how the Germany and Jamaica games ended, it's disappointing to see that the US failed to make any late-game strategy changes.

Grades (on a 1-10 scale):
Tim Howard - 7  Was his usual strong self all night, culminating in a great jump off his line to deny a Panama forward who had gotten in behind the defense.
DaMarcus Beasley - 6  Another solid game at left back (not his natural position). This grade would be higher except for the stupid yellow card he took at the end of the match, disqualifying him from the USA's next match.
Omar Gonzalez - 5.5  Solid for most of the night, but lost a Panama player behind him in stoppage time that should have led to a goal had Howard not saved his bacon.
Matt Besler - 6.5  Solid all night. Good job distributing the ball, did a great job covering for Brad Evans all night.
Brad Evans - 4  Not a good night from Evans. Did fine with the ball at his feet, but was beaten far too often by his man, leading to cross or shot opportunities where his teammates had to bail him out. A big step back for the "Evans as our right back solution" train.
Geoff Cameron - 7  Did a great job as a defensive midfielder alongside Bradley. And his long ball delivery on Eddie Johnson's goal was tremendous. Jermaine Jones should not be simply handed this job back when he gets healthy.
Michael Bradley - 8  Best player on the field. Controlled play well, was all over the place as usual, and picked his spots brilliantly, including his choice to attack in the first half that led to Altidore's goal. The best news, in the sea of yellow cards handed out at the end of the game, Bradley avoided one and thus will be available for the Honduras game.
Fabian Johnson - 6  Great delivery on Altidore's goal. But most of his other crosses were off all night.
Clint Dempsey - 6.5  He'd like that rebound attempt back that he bounced over the crossbar. He was bullied for much of the night and didn't have his usual impact in the attacking half of the field.
Eddie Johnson - 6.5  Terrific run and finish on his goal, but again, his crosses left much to be desired on the night.
Jozy Altidore - 7.5  Scored his 3rd goal in as many games, and earned a penalty that was (incorrectly) not given. To his credit, rather than go into a funk he got fired up and scored his goal a minute or two later. Did well in his usual holding forward role, though some of his passes weren't up to snuff.

Subs
Joe Corona - NR 
Brad Davis - NR
Stuart Holden - NR
None of the subs were put on with enough time to make any sort of assessment.

Coach
Jurgen Klinsmann - 6  The US continued to control play against their non-Mexico CONCACAF opponents (as they should), and both of his (forced) lineup switches worked out beautifully (Cameron and Eddie Johnson, who combined on the second goal). But 1) the US changed how they played for the final 10-15 minutes, and it almost led to another late goal, and 2) Why wait so late to make any substitution? An injection of fresh legs wouldn't have helped anywhere with a 2-0 lead? Or better yet, taking off someone to avoid them picking up a cheap yellow card to cause them to miss the next game (as there were a half-dozen players in this situation)?

Quick Hex Math: 
Since 1998, 7 teams (not including the US this year have accumulated at least 10 points in the Hex after 5 games.

• 6 qualified (the lone exception? Costa Rica in 2010, who scored only 4 points in their final 5 games, finished 4th, and lost to Uruguay in a playoff)
• 4 won the group (meaning the group winner ALWAYS had at least 10 points after 5 games)
• Those 7 teams averaged 19.7 points at the end of qualification.