Guadeloupe versus United States – Gold Cup: First half review
Unites States took on Guadeloupe on 15th of June, 2011 at Livestrong http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Panama-c2978 were looking
to bounce back against Guadeloupe who were bottom of group C table when the match kicked off. It was http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michael-Bradley-c25275 in the midfield area whereas
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jozy-Altidore-c19634 in attack.
This setup worked well for U.S.A who seldom allowed http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Guadeloupe-c2911 to dwell on the ball. United States’ dominance meant that they created a host of goal scoring chances in the first half, first of which fell to Clint Dempsey in the
6th minute. The Fulham midfielder took on his marker and then blitzed a thunderous shot at Guadeloupe’s goalkeeper, Grandel. However, the young shot stopper was on his toes sooner than Dempsey had anticipated as he tipped the ball away from danger.
Regardless disaster struck for Guadeloupe in the 7th minute when Jozy Altidore found space just outside their penalty area. The young American target-man didn’t need an invitation to shoot as he produced a fiery shot
which left Grandel in its wake. Altidore’s shot defeated Grandel all ends up as the score line reached one nil at Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas. In front of their home crowd, United States maintained control of the match till the dying stages of the first
half.
In the 24th minute, Dempsey had a brilliant chance to add to his team’s lead when he was played in by United States’ midfield. The attacking midfielder found himself in space in the Guadeloupe penalty area but somehow
he managed to direct his header wide of the mark as the score line remained at one nil in favour of the home team.
In the 26th minute, Guadeloupe made their first change of the match as a reaction to United States’ midfield dominance. It was http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Loïc-Loval-c22398 who was replaced with Cedric Collet as Guadeloupe looked to hit the hosts on the
counter attack. Just before the half time whistle in the 45th minute, Dempsey had another chance to get his first goal of the encounter but this time the Fulham man found the ball on his left foot rather than his favoured right one and as a result
he managed to skew the ball wide of the Guadeloupe goal as the first half came to an end with the score line at one nil.
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