Word: mcbrides
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...second half, Ghana had the luxury of sitting back and playing defense. With Italy leading the Czechs, a draw would be good enough. The U.S. didn't threaten much until the 65th minute, when center Brian McBride's short-post header bounced off the woodwork. Two minutes later Onyewu launched a header just over the bar. Arena brought on Eddie Johnson and Bobby Convey to boost the offense, but as a whole the Americans could not break down Ghana's back line...
...Although U.S. players, not surprisingly, were bitter about the penalty kick that cost them the game, they also acknowledged that they hadn't done enough to win. "We didn't do our job either," said McBride, alluding to referee Merk's decision. McBride spent much of the contest futilely chasing long balls kicked over his head from the back line. This will likely be the big centerman's last World Cup, but if the U.S. wants to qualify for the next one, they'd better produce a top flight striker, and soon, as McBride was operating alone for much...
...less than they started with, if you're keeping score) after Pablo Mastroeni and Eddie Pope were thrown out of the game for rough tackles. The Americans were thus forced to play a man short - Italy's Daniele DeRossi got the gate earlier for trying to rearrange Brian McBride's face with his elbow. McBride looked like a hockey player who took a stick in the mush, but he soldiered on as the U.S. played desperately to preserve the precious point that kept their hopes alive...
...Italy's own goal wasn't strange enough, soon after the night turned absolutely bizarre. In the 27th minute, Italy's Daniele De Rossi was tossed from the game for elbowing Brian McBride in the face - fortunately, McBride is used to these sorts of things. It meant, at the time, that the Italians would have to play a man short. But not for long. The U.S . continued to press , and in the 33rd minute Carlos Bocanegra went close with a shot. That was enough for Italian coach Marcelo Lippi, who withdrew stud striker Francesco Totti in the 35th minute...
...manpower shortage, the U.S. still managed to defend and attack in numbers. Arena inserted DaMarcus Beasley in the 62d minute, and the move almost paid off instantly: Beasley broke in from the left and put one past Italian keeper Gianluigi Buffon, but Mr. Larrionda disallowed the strike because McBride had been standing in an offside position. The American fans rained more cups - and euros - at the field...