What Matters Now
ASN Morning Read 10.3.12: U.S. Up, DeLaGarza Down
Where does the United States national team stand in the latest FIFA rankings? How long will A.J. DeLaGarza be on the shelf? And will Sacha Kljestan get a Champions League run?
BY
Noah Davis
Posted
October 01, 2012
8:00 PM
FIFA released its October rankings, and the United States men's national team moved up one spot to 32nd. Jurgen Klinsmann's troops are sandwiched between Ghana and Serbia. (Mexico is 19th.) The new standings reflect the two matches with Jamaica, a loss in Kingston and victory in Columbus. The Reggae Boyz, clearly benefitting from defeating the Americans in one game and staying close in another, moved up eight spots to 52nd.
The magic continues in San Jose, and the trio of strikers are trying to explain their success. It goes beyond the aerial prowess. “I think [Alan] Gordon and [Steven] Lenhart are very underrated with their touch,” [Chris] Wondolowski. “They can definitely bang with the best of them, be physical, fast and powerful, but they have a bit of class as well.” The Goonies got skills.
Michael Parkhurst and Nordsjaelland ran into the unstoppable force that is Chelsea. The American went the full 90 in a 4-0 defeat.
A.J. DeLaGarza will miss a month with a small tear in his knee. It could have been worse. “Glad I'm not missing a couple of months or I don't have to have surgery. That's a positive. Same time, it's end of the season, and you want to be in there with the guys at this time," he told MLSSoccer.com. DeLaGarza hopes to be back for the playoffs.
Sacha Kljestan and Anderlecht take on Malaga, home of Oguchi Onyewu, in the Champions League.
John Todd/isiphotos.com
