Costa Rica 2 - 0 USA: USMNT Backs Into Qualification

 The point earned in Mexico City proved crucial as CRC and USA finished even on points, the USA's goal differential proving to be the difference between 3rd place and automatic qualification and 4th place and a two-legged playoff with New Zealand.  With one eye on that playoff, Costa Rica sat most of their starters due to yellow card jeopardy--they had nine sitting on a yellow, and another would mean sitting out the next game.  I like Zach Steffen, but I am sure that had the goalkeepers been switched, the US would have won.  Navas made two excellent saves.  Steffen was weak on the first goal--a strong header that got past him when a lot of keepers would have reacted quicker--and was partly responsible for the second, punching a cross that he could have gathered, only to see it go directly to an opposing player.  He was hit by the first shot, and when the rebound was picked up by CR, a simple cross found two totally unmarked players, one of whom could tap it in.  The defense was dreadful on that one.  On the first goal, Zimmerman got caught under a corner kick to allow a free header in the six yard box, a cardinal sin.

We've now lost ten in a row in San Jose.  This was a great chance to end that streak, but the US was not up to that task.  US Soccer is celebrating qualification, but Berhalter must be disappointed in his team's performance.  They weren't incisive enough up front and they were not strong enough in the back.  I'd be surprised if he didn't let them know that they'll have to be a whole lot better than this if they want to avoid embarrassment in Qatar.

This was the last time the US will have to worry about qualification.  USA, Mexico, and Canada are co-hosting in 2026 (so all get a free pass into the show) and that will be the first World Cup with 48 teams (instead of the post-1998 32).  CONCACAF would probably get at least five qualifying nations under that format, and I don't think there are five teams that could plausibly finish above us, let alone six.  (Italy could breathe easier too.)

USA 5 - 1 Panama

 The USMNT is in the driver's seat after a 5-1 demolition of a lively but disjointed Panama squad.  Los Canaleros were strong for the first ten minutes, but a blatant foul in the box put Pulisic on the spot and he did not miss.  An Arriola header was followed by an emphatic finish by Ferreira when the ball broke to him three yards out another Pulisic spot kick.  And that was just the first half.  In the second, Pulisic got his hat trick with the prettiest goal of the night, then Panama got the consolation via a header off a free kick.  Highlights. 

The US has sewn up at least the fourth spot, and they'll finish at least 3rd with a win or tie against Costa Rica, or even a loss that is by fewer than six goals.  In that unlikely event, we'd still be able to book our ticket to Qatar by winning a two-game round against Oceania (New Zealand).  So, we're almost 100% in.

Canada shocked everyone by winning the group.  Their coach, John Herdman, was very successful with the New Zealand and Canada women's teams, and now he's killing with the Canada men.  The next stop for this guy is a professional club gig for big bucks.  He's too good to be coaching just on international breaks.

World Cup Qualifying

Italy was beaten by North Macedonia, ending its quest to qualify.  It's just as well; they wouldn't have done well anyway.

The US drew with Mexico 0-0 in a very entertaining game.  We had two golden opportunities, and Mexico came close a couple times.  Costa Rica won, and Panama drew, so it's all in our own hands.  If we beat Panama at home, that should be enough.  We better, because the last game is in Costa Rica and historically we are not successful there.  The point won at Azteca is valuable. 

FA Cup

 Crystal Palace 4 Everton 0

and on to the semifinals, against Chelsea, April 16.  Two goals each half, four different players scoring.  

Aston Villa 0 - 1 Arsenal

 A dominating first half, during which Saka's shot which fooled an unsighted Martinez, was enough to keep the Gunners in good shape for their battle for 4th place.  There was the usual dropoff in the second half, but Villa managed just one shot on target all game, with a free kick that was the game's last action.  Leno was in goal, due to a Ramsdale training injury, and did fine when called upon.  Villa is firmly mid-table and had little to play for, but Gerrard has them doing their best.  It got spicy on a few occasions and it looked as though there would be some sendings off, but eventually the sides settled down.

Pepe came on for Saka in the second half and was dreadful.  When Arteta sent Holding in for Odegaard to shore things up in the back, we lost all semblance of control in midfield.  The three points were earned, but Arsenal made hard work of it and we'll need to kill off games like this against the likes of Villa, a good side that has less motivation.

I didn't see the Liverpool game, but by all accounts Arsenal played very well.  We still have to deal with Chelsea, and of course three of our rivals for top four:  Man U, Spuds, and West Ham.  Those are all crucial contests.

CP 0 MC 0

 Palace plays to the level of their opponents.  I have not seen an analysis of this game yet. MC does not daunt them but Palace has not played a decent game in several years when they play Liverpool.  Zip - Zip will do, and it was not a bad outing.  . 

Arsenal 2 - 0 Leicester

 Arsenal has a very challenging last stretch of the season.  "Games in hand" are not points in the table.  At home against mid-table Leicester, you'd expect the Gunners to prevail, and this time, our play matched out point haul and a dominant performance saw us through.  Ramsdale did not repeat his dodgy kicking performance against Watford, and indeed the whole team played a step quicker.  Ramsdale had to make a fantastic save early, but the worst of it afterward was getting hip-checked by the Foxes' forward as he came down with the ball.  He milked it for a minute's delay, though, so he was probably happy to take the punishment.

I was expecting a win, but Leicester has been hot recently and there's always the chance that a few unlucky bounces make the difference.  But this was a case of Arsenal being too much for Leicester all over the field.  These are the games we have to win to maintain the upper hand for the 4th place spot.  We have to play our three closest rivals before the end of the season, as well as Chelsea and Liverpool.  Accumulation of points from the likes of Watford and Leicester is a must.

I watched two former Arsenal #2s, Fabianski and Martinez (the latter joined by Chambers), face off in the earlier game.  I was hoping for more dropped points by the Hammers, but they beat Aston Villa convincingly at the London Stadium.  Both keepers were great, but Lukas was better protected than Emi.  Calum spent at least eight minutes on the ground after two blows to the head.

A remarkable Champions' League encounter between PSG and Real Madrid, at the Bernabeu, saw Real mount a late comeback to win with three goals (all from Karim Benzema) in maybe 15 minutes.  It was an epic PSG meltdown.  The refereeing played a role, and the co-owner of PSG chased down the officials after the game and made quite an ass of himself.  But PSG, which had been playing with a swagger after Mbappe's opener made it 2-0 to Paris on aggregate, fell apart on attack and defense.  The entire second half, Real was on top, and it's a fair result, considering a modicum of good sense from the manager or his players would have seen PSG safely through.  Pochettino needed to take Neymar and Messi off and put in fresh legs, on more defensive-minded players.  But no.  GK Donnarumma could have gotten the ball away before Benzema charged him down (and yes, I'd have blown the whistle for a foul there).  Good show.

Watford 2 - 3 Arsenal

 Watford was much tougher than I expected.  The Gunners dominated possession but still would have dropped two points had Watford managed a third.  All the goals were top quality, and it was a good spectacle as well as a welcome three points.  Watford had the ball in the net after 17 seconds, but the goalscorer was a yard offside.  Ødegaard scored a legal goal on five minutes after a slick one-two with Saka, then Watford's Hernandez executed a magnificent bicycle kick to even things up.  Not long after, it was Saka's turn to be set up for a great finish to restore our lead.  Early in the second half, Lacazette set up Martinelli for another superb strike.  Things looked easy for the Arsenal at this point, but Watford got a goal in the 87th minute to set up a tense finish.  Despite the charged atmosphere and energetic play, there were few fouls and just three yellows in the game; this was a very polite contest between next door neighbors.  (I have been at Watford's training ground for a frisbee tournament, and it is literally adjacent to Arsenal's.  In fact, it was Arsenal's old training ground before they built their current one.)

We're in fourth place for the moment, ahead of Man U's game at Man City.  There will be twists and turns, no doubt.  We have 13 games left, three of them against our direct rivals for European places.  We need to be better than we were at the back today, but the goal production is good.

It ended up not costing us, but Ramsdale had a stinker today, giving the ball away twice in situations that really should have gifted the Hornets a goal.  Gabriel and White have both been better as well.  Xhaka had a late brain fart immediately preceding Watford's second goal.  There's plenty for Arteta to discuss with the troops.

It has been a great weekend for Arsenal so far, with Wolves, West Ham, and United all losing, while we won.  Tottenham plays Everton tomorrow, which should mean three points for Spurs, but Arsenal managed to lose to Everton in the Fall, so who knows?  I'm not complacent.  Our squad is thin and we're a hamstring or ankle injury away from losing an important player for whom we have no replacement of that quality.  Saka and Ødegaard are particularly important.  Smith-Rowe is a great replacement for either of them, but past him, it would be difficult to find as good all-around players.  If we stay fit, we're favorites for 4th place.  If.

Ukraine fallout

 Abramovich claims that he will be selling Chelsea.  The team is said to be valued around 3.2 billion dollars, forth among Premier League teams and 7th in the world.  .   

FA Cup Crystal Palace 2 Stoke City 1

Upsets continue:  Nottingham Forest 4 Leicester City 1, 

Middlsebrough 1 Tottenham 0, 

Boremwood 1 Bournemouth 0.  

These clubs are good, even below the top two levels.