Preview

This match was set to take place in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, thanks to the unrest which broke out towards the end of El Salvador’s opening group stage qualifier at home to Costa Rica, when the referee was forced to abandon the game five minutes from time.FIFA subsequently deemed El Salvador to play their remaining three home qualifiers abroad. 

The race for a place at Italia ’90 was hotting up, and the attention would now turn towards the USMNT, as they were facing four straight matches in the CONCACAF group stage qualification. They were trailing Trinidad&Tobago by four points, but with three matches in hand, they would wish to surpass the south Caribbean outfit before their encounter in Port of Spain, a match which could easily become directly decisive for which team would eventually follow Costa Rica to the big showpiece. 

El Salvador were, along with Guatemala, out of contention, and appearing now for the second time in their makeshift home in neighbouring Honduras, the goalshy El Salvadorian outfit could’ve been forgiven for not putting up much of a fight. However, there were certainly political aspects to this fixture which would contribute to the game being one which the hosts would not want to lose. 

A win would take USA up to seven points, still two short of Trinidad&Tobago, but with two games in hand. A loss would be disastrous, with the trip to Trinidad&Tobago still to come. 

Pos	Team	Pl	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
1	Costa Rica	8	5	1	2	10	6	11
2	Trinidad&Tobago	7	3	3	1	7	4	9
3	USA	4	2	1	1	4	3	5
4	Guatemala	5	1	0	4	4	7	2
5	El Salvador	4	0	1	3	2	7	1

60 year old coach Conrado Miranda had returned for his fourth spell in charge of the El Salvadorian national team following the team’s indifferent showing so far in the qualification. Yugoslav coach Kiril Dojčinovski was their latest casualty, and this once again meant a proper overhaul to their starting line-up. After one point from the double header with Trinidad&Tobago back in July and August, El Salvador were out of contention for a place in next year’s World Cup, but with USA the opposition, motivation would probably still come easily. 

Since the 0-0 “home” draw against Trinidad&Tobago, only four players remained for this starting eleven: Goalkeeper Carlos Rivera, left-back Nelson Rivera, as well as midfielders Rugamas and Palacios Lozano. The lack of a common thread in the El Salvadorian team selections throughout this campaign is staggering, but was a consequence of the managerial changes. It is impossible to expect results when there is no consistency at management level. 

For the visiting US team, eight of the players who had started their previous qualifier, the 2-1 home win against Guatemala three months earlier, were starters again. Their very youthful set-up continued, with an average age of just above 23 for their eleven starters. They had even brought in a 20 year old goalkeeper, with Tony Meola coming in for David Vanole, who had kept goal for their three latest qualifiers. Their defensive trio was intact, with the skillful Hugo Pérez returning to the fold in midfield. Born in El Salvador, the 25 year old would add flair to their selection. Up top, Netherlands based striker Peter Vermes came in for his second start of the qualification campaign, with matchwinner from the 2-1 defeat of Guatemala, Eric Eichmann, giving way. 

With Trinidad&Tobago having been on a terrific four match run since USA’s last outing, winning three and drawing the other, the Americans had some catching up to do, trailing the South Caribbean outfit by four points. A win here was perhaps expected, but it was also more or less a necessity not to heap further pressure on themselves before their upcoming fixtures, with trips to Guatemala and indeed, crucially, Trinidad&Tobago still to come. 

The officiating trio are from Mexico, though we should hastily add that referee Edgardo Codesal, 38 years of age, was born in Uruguay and had only arrived in Mexico some nine years earlier. One of his linesmen, José Garza y Ochoa, would later the same year referee three matches in the final round of the Asian part of the World Cup qualification in Singapore. 

El Salvador (4-4-2)

Player	Notes	Age	Club
23 Carlos Rivera		30
2 Fredy Orellana		30
4 Nelson Rivera		27
6 Mauricio Alfaro		33
8 José Rugamas (c)		36
9 Julio Palacios Lozano		27
12 William Girón	21′	24
13 José María Rivas		31
15 Guillermo Ragazzone		33
18 Hugo Ventura		32
19 Joaquín Canales	sub 62′	26

Substitutes
14 Rodolfo Álfaro	on 62′	26

Manager: Conrado Miranda

USA (3-5-2)

Player	Notes	Age	Club
20 Tony Meola		20
2 Steve Trittschuh		24
4 Jimmy Banks		25
5 Mike Windischmann (c)		23
6 John Harkes		22
7 Tab Ramos	35′-40′ (?)	22
8 Brian Bliss		23
9 Peter Vermes	sub 80′	22
11 Hugo Pérez	81′	25
14 John Stollmeyer		26
16 Bruce Murray		23

Substitutes
10 Eric Eichmann	on 80, 89′

Manager: Bob Gansler

Tactical line-up

Match report

First half: 

The footage available from this match is a 45 minute long summary, of which approximately half an hour is from the opening half. We see the home side get the game under way in a very sparsely populated stadium in the Honduran capital through their front pair of José Rivas and Hugo Ventura. Their starting eleven included four players who had been part of their 1982 World Cup squad, among which skipper for the occasion, José Luis Rugamas, and his midfield colleague Mauricio Alfaro, as well as said striker Rivas, had received playing time in Spain. 

As is always the case when you are privy only to a cut version of any match without an on-screen clock, establishing a precise timeline of events isn’t straightforward. What we do see in the initial stages is an American team taking the game to the hosts. They look faster, stronger and more agile than the El Salvadorian team, which could be excused as their starting eleven is one with plenty of changes since their previous outing. Especially along their right hand channel do USA look enterprising, with Hugo Pérez and Tab Ramos coming up against left-back Nelson Rivera, whom we remember was sent off during the 1-0 loss in Costa Rica earlier in the qualification. The pair of Latin America born schemers are equipped with plenty of skill and vision. 

We are starting to become familiar with Bob Gansler’s USA team by now, and once again we see them in what is their customary 3-5-2 formation. The numbers combination may not be as conventional as they come with regards to how the players are positioned, and it is the midfield composition wich is the most intriguing one about this particular eleven. John Stollmeyer is, as usual, the one sitting at the base of their quintet, while Brian Bliss is the balancing act towards the left, where he is considerably deeper in his position than what is the case with the attacking Ramos along the right. All-action man John Harkes pops up everywhere, but his original position is inside left, while Pérez’ role originates from an inside right position. 

Tony Meola, who by Eurosport commentator Peter Brackley is described as ‘perhaps the most promising goalkeeper in USA’s footballing history’, is a big presence between the posts despite his tender age of 20. We are not fed the reason why he has come in for David Vanole, who had perhaps at times looked a bit over-confident when coming for high balls earlier in the qualification, but when we see Meola in real action for the first time, as El Salvador captain Rugamas strikes a ferocious free-kick from nearly 30 yards, he saves well in beating the ball away for a left wing corner for the hosts. It had been struck with great venom, and Meola was alert. 

The pair of forwards are Netherlands based Peter Vermes, who has completed 90 minutes in all of Volendam’s six Eredivisie matches so far in the season, scoring in a 1-1 draw away to Feyenoord, and Bruce Murray, who had scored with that superb volley in the win at home to Guatemala from Harkes’ cross. Murray has a lot of confidence and presence, and has probably been one of their best players in the qualification campaign hitherto. He has even looked capable when slotting into midfield. Vermes is more your typical power striker, though he’s yet to really get going in this qualification. They’re young and eager, and like the rest of the team have plenty of enthusiasm in their game. 

Despite their early dominance, USA do not carve out any clear cut opportunities, and Carlos Rivera, El Salvador’s fine goalkeeper, isn’t threatened in these stages. The first test either way is said free-kick from range which Meola masterfully saved, and from that flag kick captain Rugamos had an opportunity to swing at goal, and is just wide on the near post. The visitors could not let their guard down. El Salvador, despite having only obtained a solitary point from their first four matches, were no pushovers, and now two of their players with World Cup pedigree, Alfaro and Rugamas, were beginning to pull strings in midfield. 

Goalkeeper Carlos Rivera is remembered for having produced a fine display during their 1-0 loss in Costa Rica earlier in the qualification, and in particular showed his credentials on the line during that performance. He has a back four consisting of right-back William Girón, centre-backs Fredy Orellana and Guillermo Ragazzone, and left-back Nelson Rivera in front of him. The latter, who earned a red card in that loss in Costa Rica, is quite a rugged performer, and towards the halfway stage in the first half he had some interesting tussles with Ramos. At the centre, Orellana and Ragazzone were operating according to zonal principles, and came into contact with both American forwards in open play. Girón would be seen crossing the halfway line in support of players further up the field. 

Once they manage to play their way through the American press, which starts from strikers Vermes and Murray, the El Salvadorians show their ability to neatly stroke the ball around. They do wish to play their way out from the back, and 36 year old captain José Rugamas is instrumental in this phase of their game, as he often comes deep, splits the central defenders, and sees the full-backs move higher along both flanks. 33 year old Mauricio Alfaro has some of the same motives as his captain, although he rarely comes as deep in the build-up phase. Together they may not possess the mobility of some of the US midfielders, but their experience and streetsmartness is invaluable to this El Salvadorian set-up. 

The hosts’ right-sided midfielder is the powerfully built Julio Palacios Lozano. We don’t see him involved to a great extent. He is at times overlapped by the full-back behind him, and with the pair of forwards typically operating in the channels rather than as outright strikers, Palacios Lozano seems to struggle to find his place. To the left, the one year younger Joaquín ‘Kin’ Canales acts almost as a third forward. El Salvador do not operate with particular width along their left hand side. Canales and the experienced, agile José María Rivas interact to an extent in left sided territory. Hugo Ventura, yet another senior team member at 32 years of age, is the other forward. 

USA arrive at easily their best opportunity yet when a blip in concentration by centre-back Orellana sees the ball find its way to Vermes, who can take aim first time from 12 yards out. With his left foot, he strikes it low, but once again Rivera shows his mettle as he saves with his legs, diverting the ball out of harm’s way. Big chance. Vermes could have caught it cleaner, but the pitch conditions probably prevented him from a stronger effort. Shortly thereafter, Girón is shown the first yellow card of the game for a foul on the lively Pérez. It probably wasn’t the sternest challenge of the game, so the right-back might have felt a tad unfortunate. 

On the topic of yellow cards, there is one also for Tab Ramos, as he chases back when his adversary Nelson Rivera goes on the attack. Ramos’ challenge from behind might be a poorly executed tackle, but he didn’t catch the El Salvadorian left-back with much force. Referee Codesal Méndez nevertheless was well positioned and promptly approached the nippy American wide man to show him his booking.

One weapon which we’ve seen the US team make use of in previous matches in the ongoing qualification has been Stollmeyer’s long throws. The visitors are finishing the first half the stronger, and after Harkes has had an effort from inside the area well over following another right wing Pérez corner, they arrive at their second best scoring opportunity as Ramos gets to Murray’s headed flick-on and draws a save from Rivera from six yards out. It is another save to add to the goalkeeper’s collection and his growing reputation. El Salvador struggle to deal with the Americans aerially, as both Murray and Vermes tend to win lofted balls into the box, and even defender Trittschuh is a menace whenever he comes forward for set-pieces. 

It is goalless at the interval, despite the away team piling on the pressure towards the end of the first 45 minutes. A long ball down the right hand side sees Vermes give chase, and with Rivera coming out of his box to try and get to it, the striker nips in just ahead of him, creating a dangerous moment once again for the hosts. However, the striker can’t quite capitalize, as he fails to get conviction enough behind his delivery into the goalmouth, where a posse of home players wait for the cross and clear it away for a corner. This is the final piece of action as señor Codesal Méndez blows his whistle for half time. 

Half time score: El Salvador 0, USA 0. 

Second half: 

No changes during the interval for either team, and the first purposeful attack is carried out by the home side, whose quick transition sees an exquisite cross field pass from captain Rugamas with the outside of his foot find Palacios Lozano in space. The wide right man bursts into the area tracked by Banks, but the US defender can’t get near enough to put a tackle in before the El Salvador number 9 strikes his effort via the outside of the near post and behind. His pace and the angle didn’t favour the shooter, but on another day it could still have been a goal. The visitors have a lucky escape. 

With footage from the second half restricted to about a quarter of an hour’s summary, we’re next fed the situation which sees the visitors take the lead. While the producer shows yet another replay of El Salvador’s big chance, there’s been a free-kick awarded to USA some 27-28 yards away from goal, straight out from Rivera. Before they walk away one after another, we see Pérez, Ramos and Murray all in line as potential takers, but eventually tireless midfielder Harkes steps up and fires a low shot past a poorly organized defensive wall. Rivera parries the piledriver, but the rebound goes to Vermes, who hits a powerful shot more or less straight at the ‘keeper, who will have felt agrieved that he couldn’t keep out Pérez’ header via the ground and just over the line. Rivera got to it, but it had already crossed the line as he pushed it into the inside of the side netting. The naturalized American had undone his country of birth just after the hour mark. 

Apparently, the home side make a substitution in the wake of the goal, with Canales having departed and 26 year old Rodolfo Álfaro coming on. The latter, who at least from a distance bears an uncanny resemblance to Colombia’s midfield man Leonel Álvarez, takes over in midfield for his predecessor. Not that they manage to create further openings, as it rather is USA who threaten to score again, with Harkes twice on the end of moves. First he runs through and hits a shot half a yard over, before he pops up at the back stick after Murray has done well to get past Orellana and whip a cross in from the left. Harkes’ heading might not be his forte, and his powerful effort goes wide. 

USA make a substitution, too, and according to various sources, striker Eric Eichmann, the 24 year old who scored the decisive goal as they defeated Guatemala 2-1 at home, was brought on in the 80th minute. Vermes, who had battled well up top, was the man to depart. Chances occur in both directions, with Alfaro (not to confuse with substitute Álfaro) hits a powerful shot from just inside the area after the substitute’s cross from the left, before Murray races through and strikes with his left foot, only to see yet another remarkable save by Carlos Rivera, as he flings himself and beats the shot away for a corner. What is this goalkeeper made from? 

With just a solitary goal separating the sides, it is never entirely comfortable for the visitors, who would have felt that they should have put away at least one of their second half opportunities in addition to Pérez’ goal. Rivera is made to work for his wages again when that man Harkes once more pops up and fires from distance, and the low effort from 20 yards is parried by the goalkeeper’s feet. We see a booking for the match’ only goalscorer as Pérez strikes the ball after the whistle has gone for an offside against one of his team mates. It was probably a tad harsh on him. Substitute Eichmann is also given a yellow card, at least according to various sources, towards the end of the match. 

Upon the full time whistle, it is lovely to see the camaraderie between the players on the pitch, with hugs and seemingly friendly banter taking place all over. It is a relieved USA once the Mexican referee signals the end of 90 minutes, and they had been made to work for the two points, although they could so easily have scored more than Hugo Pérez’ goal on 61 minutes. The ‘Man of the Match’ award surely went to the super agile figure of Carlos Rivera, who made some spectacular second half stops to keep the visitors at just one goal. USA have now inched closer to Trinidad&Tobago, and with two matches fewer played, they’re only two points behind the team in second place. However, both teams’ final match, the head to head in Port of Spain, looks like it may be decisive. 

Full time: El Salvador 0, USA 1.