Preview

With the scoreless draw USA had earned in Guatemala four weeks earlier, they were now looking for a win to advance past Trinidad&Tobago in the group standings. The pair will meet in what will be like a qualification play-off match two weeks on. A win here in Fenton, Missouri, will see USA climb into second place ahead of that journey to Port of Spain, while a draw or an unthinkable defeat will see them trail the Trinis and need to win in the South Caribbean in order to progress through to the World Cup. For El Salvador, their ambition in this qualification now must be to avoid finishing last. They’ll round their schedule off with a double header against neighbouring Guatemala, who are two points ahead of them, though with the El Salvadorians having a game in hand. 

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	6	3	2	1	5	3	8
4	Guatemala	6	1	1	4	4	7	3
5	El Salvador	5	0	1	4	2	8	1

USA see the welcome return from injury of wide midfielder Desmond Armstrong, who had not featured since he had broken his leg back in January playing indoor football. Another midfielder, Rick Davis, who had captained the USMNT during the football tournament at the 1988 Olympic Games in South Korea, continued to be absent. There is also no Brent Goulet, who had featured early in the ongoing qualification, or Paul Krumpe, who had featured in all three matches at said Olympics, like Armstrong had. Hugo Pérez, the El Salvador born midfield ace who had scored the only goal of the game in the opposite encounter, is out with a groin injury. Furthermore, Peter Vermes has not travelled over from the Netherlands, as he’s recently been suffering from chicken pox. He’s only just returned to training for his Volendam club. 

Goalscoring had been something of an achilles heel for the Americans, with just five in six matches so far. However, it was a tightly contested group, and they were not alone. Trinidad&Tobago, whom they were fighting it out for that second qualifying spot with, had seven goals in six games. Manager Bob Gansler had begun the qualification in 4-4-2, but had quickly adopted a 3-5-2 formation, and through the backbone of the team, in central defence and central midfield, he had a number of players who had featured since the first group stage qualifier. Captain in Davis’ absence had been Mike Windischmann, who had led by example from his place at the heart of the defensive trio, while defensive midfielder John Stollmeyer clearly was something of a Gansler favourite. The same went for the workmanlike John Harkes, while Bruce Murray up top was another regular starter. Steve Trittschuh, the aerially strong centre-half, completed a quintet which had started all of USA’s qualification group stage matches thus far.

Alas, we are not privy to footage from USA’s goalless draw in Guatemala, but we do know that both creative midfielder Tab Ramos and striker Eric Eichmann had served their respective suspensions for an accumulation of yellow cards, and had missed out on that match. Trittschuh and Stollmeyer were on a tightrope: Should either pick up a yellow card here in Fenton, they would be suspended for the journey to Trinidad&Tobago. 

It had been a difficult campaign for El Salvador. Not only had they finally got going at a point in time when the other teams in the group had played from three to six matches already, but crowd trouble towards the end of their first match had seen FIFA impose a ban on them, which had meant they would need to play their final three home matches away from El Salvador. The managerial situation was an odd one. For their previous match, Conrado Miranda had been in charge, but video evidence from this match pictures the head coach whom he had replaced, namely Yugoslav Kiril Dojčinovski, in the visitors’ dug-out. Possibly, Miranda’s solitary match in charge and Dojčinovski’s return had been pre-planned. There had been no consistency in team selections, so a solitary point was their pitiful tally from five matches. 

El Salvador had last been in action seven weeks earlier, with that 1-0 “home” defeat against USA, when goalkeeper Carlos Rivera had again made a number of spectacular stops. Only two (!) starters remained from that game, namely the ‘keeper and forward José María Rivas. Some of the players who came back in had featured earlier in the qualification, not least libero Jaime Rodríguez, who had scored that stunning equalizer from distance in their opening game at home to Costa Rica, and his central defensive partner Leonel Cárcamo. We see for the first time Víctor Coreas Privado, who is the brother of Salvador Coreas Privado, who had worn the captain’s armband for at least their first two group stage qualifiers, possibly also in the pair of matches against the Trinis. Unlike his attacking sibling, the two year younger Víctor is a defender. 

No less than six (!) players make their first appearances of the qualification: Defender Miguel Estrada, midfielders Óscar Arbizú, José Gómez and Marlon Menjívar, forward Osmel Zapata, as well as said Coreas Privado. There is no player with a visible captain’s armband among the eleven El Salvadorians. Perhaps would the most obvious choice have been Jaime Rodríguez. 

The conditions are a bit tricky, with a severe wind blowing down the length of the pitch, and it is the Americans who may (or may not; depending on how it is viewed) have a first half advantage, as they play with the wind behind them.

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		23
8 Brian Bliss	sub 83′	24
10 Eric Eichmann		24
14 John Stollmeyer		27
15 Desmond Armstrong	sub 57′	25
16 Bruce Murray		23

Substitutes
11 Frank Klopas	on 57′	23
17 Jim Gabarra	on 83′	30
x Paul Caligiuri		25

Manager: Bob Gansler

El Salvador (4-4-2)

Player	Notes	Age	Club
23 Carlos Rivera		30
2 Víctor Coreas		26
3 Leonel Cárcamo		24
4 Miguel Estrada		28
7 Mauricio Cienfuegos	86′	21
10 José María Rivas		31
12 Óscar Arbizú		21
14 José Gómez	90′	23
17 Marlon Menjívar		24
20 Osmel Zapata		30
21 Jaime Rodríguez		30

Tactical line-ups

Match report

First half: 

The visitors have been assigned with the task of getting the game under way, and the kick-off is performed by their pair of strikers in José María Rivas and Osmel Zapata, both in their 30s. 

USA wish to take the game to their visitors right from the word ‘go’, and when these two met in Honduras less than two months ago, one had noticed that the Americans were in general taller and stronger. On this occasion, playing with the wind behind them, USA are attempting to make use of the channels, to where they knock balls in behind the El Salvadorian defensive line. What Bob Gansler appears to get when he’s making use of this particular front pairing of Bruce Murray and Eric Eichmann, is the former as some sort of a target man through the centre, while the latter darts wide and tries to get in behind the opponents’ full-backs. In the early stages, we see him primarily towards the right. From the second of two successive corners inside the opening three and a half minutes, Murray heads Eichmann’s right wing flag kick straight into the grasp of Carlos Rivera from the corner of the six yard box. 

There are a number of players who have returned to El Salvador’s starting eleven whom we’ve seen in previous matches, and most notably they have the central defensive pairing of the rugged Jaime Rodríguez, nicknamed ‘Chelona’, and Leonel Cárcamo back together. The latter is the one who seems to look after Murray, and with the US striker typically a handful with his all-action style, Cárcamo will have his work cut out. Rodríguez, a cultured player well capable of making use of both his feet when he attempts to mount from the back, can be seen as something of a sweeper behind his colleague, and he certainly puts himself about in the air, whenever there’s a ball swung into the centre from either flank. 

We hear from the ESPN commentators how they are delighted to welcoming back Desmond Armstrong into the side following his long injury lay-off after that leg break 10 months earlier. He’d apparently done well for the US team at the 1988 Olympic Games football tournament, and is a fine, strong and enthusiastic outlet wide to the right in their midfield set-up. Once again Gansler has gone with his by now favoured 3-5-2 formation, and while neither wide midfielder, Brian Bliss once again being the left-sided alternative, is equipped to make darty runs and attack the opposition’s full-back, they provide a lot of guile and workmanship, making it difficult for El Salvador to establish any prolongued passages of play inside the American half of the pitch. At least in these initial stages. Speaking of Bliss, he draws a fine save from Rivera, who needs to be alert when Bliss has done well to pick up Stollmeyer’s angled pass in behind right-back Coreas. Upon chesting the ball down, the 24 year old American flights the ball goalwards, having possibly intended for it to be a cross, and Rivera spectacularly tips it over for a right wing corner. 

El Salvador, who has often fielded rather ageing starting elevens during this qualification campaign, now have a midfield quartet which has an average age of 22,25. We see schemer Mauricio Cienfuegos back in the fold, working as the more advanced of their two central midfielders, with the creative responsibility. Still only 21, he’s clearly one of the footballers which El Salvador pin a lot of their future hopes on. He’s full of running and enthusiasm, and is quite decent on the ball, although up against a physically adept opponent, he doesn’t find much space to try and orchestrate anything in the opening quarter of an hour. 

The older in that midfield four is left-sided alibi Marlon Menjívar, who is making his primary appearance in the ongoing group stage. He’s not someone pinned down just to his flank, as he’ll be seen making crossfield runs in an act to double up against the USA’s left hand side defensively, co-working with right-sided midfield man Óscar Arbizú, who is rather anonymous in the early stages. And to be able to thrive as an alledged attacking trio, these three midfield players need someone to back them up through defensive reinforcements, which is the task going to the combative José Gómez. The 23 year old is not afraid to put himself about. He and right-back Coreas are behind El Salvador’s first two attempts on goal as they both fire well over from distance. 

The US team is a much more settled one than the visitors’, and again with the burly, young Tony Meola in goal, their defensive trio once again consists of captain Mike Windischmann in the centre, the aerially very strong Steve Trittschuh, this time to his captain’s right, and with the stylish and dynamic Jimmy Banks as the left-sided among the central three. Windischmann had apparently hurt his left ankle a few days prior to the game, and his participation had been in doubt, but thankfully for Gansler his skipper recovered in time. He would not appear to have any struggles when seeing him in action here in St. Louis. He’s the glue which keeps their defence together, and will typically strike it long from the back by the use of his trusted left foot. 

Around the midway point in the first half, USA clearly look the more dynamic and stronger, also somewhat assisted by the strong wind, but they start building the pressure, pinning the visitors deep inside their own third of the pitch for sustained spells. Not that they can muster a whole lot in terms of goal attempts, as creativity along the ground still remains a source which they struggle to unlock. Granted, there is the lively Tab Ramos, but in their midfield quintet, he is sadly alone with ingenuity in possession. The others are more workmanlike, though Ramos and the always energetic and full of running John Harkes try to spur some moments, with the former searching for the latter’s runs through the visitors’ defence. Not much comes of it apart from a poorly directed Armstrong shot wide to the right of Rivera’s goal. 

USA have relied on John Stollmeyer as the player at the base of their midfield throughout this qualification. He may not be the most eye-catching performer, and he does have flaws in his game, for example when the opponents break quickly through midfield, and he’s not always able to keep up with the pace of opponents. Stollmeyer is hardly the most advanced player in terms of technical ability, but chief Gansler clearly sees him as valuable. There have been a number of misplaced passes from him throughout the qualification, but then again he’s good in his positioning, and he’s important when it comes to his long throws. When given space and time, he knows how to pick out a more advanced team member with a precise pass making use of either foot. 

For El Salvador, neither full-back had previously been seen in the ongoing group stage qualification. There is Víctor Coreas Privado to the right, and as we’ve already highlighted, he is the younger brother of Salvador Coreas Privado, an attacking force at this point in time for El Salvadorian football. He’s not present on this occasion, though. Right-back Víctor has a couple of times been found out by Bliss, who has twice got in behind him, first for that cross which Rivera had to tip over, and then on another occasion when Bliss’ ball into the centre was cleared by Gómez. So could Coreas’ positioning be dubbed as a bit iffy? Judging by the first 25 minutes, it is tempting to say ‘yes’. Along their defensive left is Miguel Estrada, 28 years of age, who has so far not allowed anyone to skip in behind him, and he’s stuck to his task whenever Eichmann, Ramos or Armstrong has attempted to make use of the US’ right hand side. Estrada’s until now not participated inside the opposition’s half of the pitch, unlike Coreas, who has been seen in support for Arbizú along that right hand side of theirs. 

It is a first half without much in terms of goalmouth action, and those precious few which are, come in front of Carlos Rivera. There seems to be a promising chance when Ramos finds space to hit a ball into the area from the right, and Murray is rather alone when he goes up for the header, but it lacks any sort of direction, seeing another move with a promising potential break down. The wind must be partly to blame. What we have also witnessed during this tepid first half is a couple of forays into enemy territory by Trittschuh. The American centre-half has very rarely made advance ball at feet in earlier games during this qualification, so it had come as something of a surprise to see him do this. 

It is no surprise when the half ends goalless, although there is a big moment late on for the home side as another Stollmeyer long throw into the box causes a dangerous moment, even if Murray can’t get his head to the ball. He’s battling it out in the air with Cárcamo and Estrada, and when the former of the two El Salvadorian defenders gets his head to it, the ball only finds its way to Eichmann, who can have a pop from eight yards out. However, he completely skews his effort, and despite Ramos’ attempt to get to the ball before the ‘keeper, Rivera can gather it safely, with USA’s probably best effort of the first half gone. There had been an additional minute due to the El Salvadorian goalkeeper needing treatment following taking a knee to his back from Trittschuh in a previous aerial duel. 

Half time score: USA 0, El Salvador 0. 

Second half: 

With the teams back out for the start of the second half, we see from the flags which are displayed on the far side that little or none of the wind which was making it tricky for both teams during the first 45 minutes has died down. The home side, unchanged, as are the visitors, get the match back under way through their pair of strikers Eichmann and Murray. How timely it would be for USA if either of them could add to their tally of a solitary goal each hitherto in the group stage of the CONCACAF World Cup qualification, which we know also doubles as the CONCACAF championship. 

What had not happened often enough from the home side’s perspective during the opening half was winning possession high up the pitch. When El Salvador attempt to build from the back within a minute of the restart, Cienfuegos is faced by an aggressive Harkes 30 yards from his own goal. The US midfielder pressurises his adversary into a mistake, and when Cienfuegos chases Harkes back, he brings him down for a free-kick 25 yards out. The all-action midfield man takes it himself, and shoots wide having seen the ball clear the defensive five man wall. There’s a gasp going through the crowd, as they’re starved for some positive action. 

The first ten minutes of the second half see few indications of a changed match picture. USA continue to have the majority of the possession, although they struggle to break down the visitors’ rear lines, as there’s precious little ingenuity in their open play. It is either from long balls or set piece situations that they manage to look at least a little threatening, and as we remember from the first half, Stollmeyer’s long throws have the ability to upset the away team. It happens again on 53 minutes, when one such from the right reaches Murray in the congested six yard box. However, he’s probably somewhat disturbed by his team mate Ramos, and ends up not connecting as cleanly as he’d have wished, and the ball ends up a yard or two wide of the upright. 

If the first half had been a rather dull event, there isn’t a whole lot more vitality to the second half. USA opt to make their first change on 57 minutes, replacing the fading Armstrong with traditional wide man Frankie Klopas. As will be seen within a short time of the substitute’s arrival, though, Klopas will take up Ramos’ position as the inside right midfielder, with Ramos rather moving out wide to the right. He’d looked probably their most lively performer in open play so far, and had had a good run along the right, where he’d skipped past two attempted tackles. However, he’d taken his eyes off the ball, which had just crossed the byline before he was able to swing it into the box. 

Towards the halfway point in the second half, the game appears to open up a bit more, with USA probably being a bit more lenient and casual in their approach as they search for that all important goal. El Salvador seem to sense this, and when the opportunity arises, they commit more men forward than they have been doing until now. There is an attack which begins with libero Rodríguez carrying the ball across the halfway line for the first time in the game, which ends when Cienfuegos, who’s run into a clever position to the left in the area, with no US defender in his immediate vicinity, tries to loft a ball into the centre for Zapata to run on to, but it is eventually cleared by Windischmann, who excels in this period, making a further couple of vital interventions inside his own half. 

The two El Salvadorian forwards, Rivas and Zapata, have not been in the game much. Their movements are well monitored by the USA defenders, where both Trittschuh and, especially, Banks are performing well. So it is rather the visitors’ flexible midfield which is important when they wish to break forward, with Cienfuegos often in the centre of their dealings. He makes clever use of the ball and has intelligence enough to run into useful spaces, although his small stature sometimes makes him rather easy foil for the physical American team. Menjívar, who is originally positioned wide left in midfield, attempts to join in operations both towards the centre and sometimes even across on the right hand side, and leaves a decent impression. Still, they’ve yet to worry Meola. 

With USA still struggling to find openings in open play, their best bet for that elusive goal remains set-pieces. His first corner apart, Eichmann’s right wing corners have left a lot to be desired, and it is odd how they still persist with him as taker. Ramos has a couple of fine inswingers from right-sided free-kicks, and on one occasion said Eichmann gets his head to the ball in front of goal, but he’s unable to direct his effort on target, as it rather flicks off his head and goes right through the box. At least he must be credited for effort, which is more than can be said for Murray on this occasion, where he hardly does anything right. It has been a poor game from the US team’s leading striker. 

As the second half evolves, there are few signs that the hosts will get that goal which they so crave. Whether it is the windy conditions or the pressure they feel due to the importance is hard to say, but they struggle to string several passes together inside the opposition’s half of the pitch, and very little comes of their attempts in open play. Klopas had looked to add some promise right after he’d been brought on, but had faded. Ramos had not managed to influence proceedings from that wide right position, and Harkes’ powerful runs from midfield had been overlooked. Their left hand side is practically inactive, with Bliss offering precious little in terms of attacking capacity. It is all too sedate and too easy for the El Salvadorians to defend in numbers. 

Bob Gansler would appear to have seen the limitations in Bliss’ play as he decides to replace him with the experienced Jim Gabarra as just over seven minutes remain on the clock. The substitute is someone with the ability of taking a man on and skipping past him, and perhaps is it what the US team needs. They have been looking increasingly frantic in the past few minutes, yet have mustered nothing in front of the El Salvadorian goal. The visitors, on the other hand, have had numerous opportunities to break quickly with their pacey players through midfield, but had also lacked quality in the final ball, with USA finding defending these transitions not too difficult. Altogether it has been a low quality game. Is there a goal in it, though, in these final seven and something minutes? 

With less than five minutes on the clock, we get the game’s first booking. El Salvador had been able to remain deep inside the US’ half of the pitch after another break, and Rivas had looked injured after being on the receiving end of a very hard, yet fair challenge from Trittschuh. The visitors had won a corner, yet Rivas couldn’t get back up on his feet, clearly wanting the physio to come on. The referee let play continue with the striker still on the ground, and ultimately the ball went out of play, and Cienfuegos booted it into orbit and out of the stadium. For this act of sabotage, the diminutive midfielder received a yellow card. When Rivas did get back up, he did so grimacing. 

For the final three minutes of regulation time, USA push centre-back Trittschuh, their best header of the ball, up as a third striker, aiming to go more direct as they so desperately are vying for that all important matchwinning goal. However, what happens next is a proper kung-fu kick from El Salvador’s holding midfield man José Gómez, who has zero intentions of getting to the ball as he lunges out and lands a kick right in the chest of poor Frank Klopas. It was totally uncalled for in what had otherwise been a very disciplined performance by the visitors, and a grim end to what was likely now a fine scoreless draw by the El Salvadorians. Klopas, thankfully, wasn’t seriously hurt, and was able to continue play. 

USA do appear to arrive at one final opportunity as they play the ball with pace through midfield and wide for Klopas to run on to inside the area, but taking his time, the substitute can’t direct a cross back into the fold, and the visitors are able to clear, and with two minutes of injury time having been added, the referee decides to blow his whistle one final time. In a bitterly disappointing performance by the hosts, they can only draw against the since long eliminated Latin Americans, and will now need to win in Trinidad&Tobago in their final qualifier in order to reach Italia ’90. For El Salvador, it is an impressive point in a difficult away fixture. They maintained their collective discipline right through the game, that shocking and vicious chest kick from Gómez apart, and merited their clean sheet. 

Final score: USA 0, El Salvador 0. 

Man of the Match: USA’s agile defender Jimmy Banks.