Delaney: The envelope, please
And the Academy Award goes to...... Oh, my it's the Salvador National Soccer team.......for best ensemble performance in an international match. The Salvadorans were convincing as an oft-injured unit in home field World Cup qualifying against the Americans.
I mean, I actually thought many of the El Salvador players were really hurt when they went to the turf, one after another, late in the second half Saturday night. El Salvador, what can you say? Moving. Uninhibited. But it wasn't a happy ending. The U.S. scored two late second-half goals to salvage a tie and maintain a points lead in World Cup qualifying.
Perhaps my sarcasm is unfair. The temperature in San Salvador was in the 70s and maybe all of the Salvador players were cramping? Starting goalie Miguel Montes left the game after going down a second time with cramps in his legs, according to a game release on ussoccer.com. These seemingly serious injuries - players rolling on the ground, faces contorted in pain yet reappearing - is an unfortunate part of the game's culture. The behavior disrupts the action and takes away from a physically demanding game.
The U.S. plays Trinidad & Tobago in another qualifying match Wednesday in Nashville.
I mean, I actually thought many of the El Salvador players were really hurt when they went to the turf, one after another, late in the second half Saturday night. El Salvador, what can you say? Moving. Uninhibited. But it wasn't a happy ending. The U.S. scored two late second-half goals to salvage a tie and maintain a points lead in World Cup qualifying.
Perhaps my sarcasm is unfair. The temperature in San Salvador was in the 70s and maybe all of the Salvador players were cramping? Starting goalie Miguel Montes left the game after going down a second time with cramps in his legs, according to a game release on ussoccer.com. These seemingly serious injuries - players rolling on the ground, faces contorted in pain yet reappearing - is an unfortunate part of the game's culture. The behavior disrupts the action and takes away from a physically demanding game.
The U.S. plays Trinidad & Tobago in another qualifying match Wednesday in Nashville.