Heartbreak...

I got up early again to rev up the DVR and watch the US take on Nigeria. The US needed a win or tie against a good Nigerian squad. I'm ready, I'm pumped. What happens next? The worst thing possible, the thing I didn't want to see, heartbreak...

A red card in the 4th minute. Michael Orozco makes a stupid mistake and elbows a Nigerian player while tussling for a ball. No, it wasn't a terribly vicious elbow and perhaps the Nigerian player made a small meal of it by going to ground when other players may have played through the "pain" and fought for the ball, but the damage was done and Michael Orozco got sent off...in the 4th minute. How do you recover from that?

The US certainly tried. Unfortunately late in the first half they gave up a goal and now they went from looking good to move on to depending on the Netherlands losing too. In the second half the US was certainly working hard and as Nigeria sent too many players up field, the young Americans had some quality chances. But it wasn't to be, the Nigerians got a second goal and the game was out of reach. The end of the second half certainly got exciting when the US earned and converted a penalty but they were still one goal down and The Dutch won their game, resurrecting their poor Olympic performance. The US threw bodies forward but couldn't get the tying goal they needed, they are out. Over. Kaput.

It is too bad. This was a good team. Freddy Adu missed his chance to make a mark on American sports leading the US to a medal. He was missed today as you could see, even with an extra man, the Nigerian defense wouldn't have been able to handle him running at them. There were a lot of holes to exploit in that defense.

Stuart Holden impressed for me again. As did late sub Charlie Davies. Benny F. showed he needs to find a starting gig as he was missing passes and rusty. Altidore was taken off after the first half. I think he could have made more of an impact in his first start had there not been a red card forcing formation and game plan changes. Edu and Parkhurst played well. Robbie Rogers was nice at times. Sacha looked better in the last two games then he did in the first. Danny S. was unremarkable. Brad Guzan showed why Aston Villa bought him.

Brian McBride never did it for me. He is 36 and it shows. I don't think his inclusion in the team helped all that much. Imagine if Davies and Altidore could have grown a successful partnership with speed and power. Sure, McHead can bring down a nice trap and contest for crosses but he didn't score a goal and that is what his job comes down to.

It always seems to end this way for the US. I know all countries feel heartbreak during big tournaments but as an American fan I think I feel it more. Now we wait for the next World Cup, the next Youth World Cup...the next.