WHEN YOU'VE GOT A LIVELY BALL...:

U.S. Beats Algeria by Peppering Goal (Carl Bialik, 6/23/10, WSJ)

The U.S. earned its 1-0 victory over Algeria on Wednesday before Landon Donovan’s goal in extra time, and not just because a goal was waved off in the first half on a highly questionable offsides call. The Americans had 10 shots on Algeria’s goal that weren’t waved off, compared to just four for Algeria — continuing a welcome trend for U.S. backers in which their team has ranked among the most active in the World Cup inputting shots on target. That marks a break from the U.S.’s disastrous 2006 World Cup, when it ranked last in shots on goal per game, according to FIFA.

The U.S.’s 10 shots tied for fifth-most of any team in the first 40 games of the tournament. Portugal had the most in a game, with 13 shots on goal, seven of them scores, against North Korea. The seven teams other than the U.S. to shoot on target 10 times or more in a game all scored at least twice, and averaged 3.3 goals per game.

...few decent central defenders, shaky goalies, and teams conceding the middle of the field so they can defend the back, why wouldn't you shoot more?

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 23, 2010 5:58 PM