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Jordan Morris: Goat and Hero - Printable Version

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Jordan Morris: Goat and Hero - washingtonismoney - 07-26-2017

In the final of the Gold Cup -- the regional championship for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean -- Jordan Morris got the start. (Good!) He played somewhat indifferently, but not really *badly* for the first half. (Not so good!) But the U.S. dominated the game and was up 1-0 at halftime. (Good! ... assuming you're rooting for the U.S.)

Just after the first half, Jamaica got a corner kick -- and Morris, defending the corner, was beaten BADLY by his Jamaican counterpart, who outraced him to a ball on the far post. (BAD!) That tied the game at 1-1. From there, Morris came alive, pressing the backline and playing combinations with his fellow forwards. At times I would've liked to see slightly sharper decision-making, but ... in the 88th minute (I believe, I haven't checked), the ball was crossed to Morris at the top of the box, but Morris cracked the ball -- it cracked into the net -- and scored the winning goal. (Good!)

Jordan Morris -- the goat and the hero of the game.

Re: Jordan Morris: Goat and Hero - washingtonismoney - 07-26-2017

Here's the goal; https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/890419080032800768

Re: Jordan Morris: Goat and Hero - Langdude - 07-26-2017

Thanks WIM!

For anyone who saw the game, could you say a bit about his play in the first half? I am curious about his play in a final after being named a starter.

-m.

Re: Jordan Morris: Goat and Hero - washingtonismoney - 07-26-2017

(07-26-2017, 09:02 PM)Langdude link Wrote:For anyone who saw the game, could you say a bit about his play in the first half? I am curious about his play in a final after being named a starter.

Not notable one way or another. Pretty bland. After the the mistake to give a goal, he was active and effective, and then he scored. Overall I'd say more good than bad, but not necessarily a dominant performance when you judge the entire game.

Washington Post scribe Steven Goff notes Morris has won the 2015 NCAA championship, the 2016 MLS Cup, and the 2017 Gold Cup. Not bad: https://twitter.com/SoccerInsider/status/890423513646981121

Re: Jordan Morris: Goat and Hero - BostonCard - 07-26-2017

He did flub what could have been the game winner a bit earlier, but he continues to have trouble with his left and flubbed it.

BC



Re: Jordan Morris: Goat and Hero - needle - 07-26-2017

Very cool moment for Jordan Morris. Congrats to him and the team.

Re: Jordan Morris: Goat and Hero - DC 86 - 07-26-2017

(07-26-2017, 09:16 PM)Boston Card link Wrote:He did flub what could have been the game winner a bit earlier, but he continues to have trouble with his left and flubbed it.

BC

If we are thinking about the same play I actually didn't think he flubbed it, he just was closed down quickly. On the other hand before his game winner he blasted a shot which the Jamaican goalkeeper had to tip over the bar.

Overall he was typically energetic but not efficient in the game, and he was solely responsible for Jamaica's goal. But his passing has improved a lot and he had made himself more valuable by playing effectively on the wing as well as in the box. He exerts a lot of defensive pressure high up the field and is constantly making runs at the other end when the U.S. has the ball.

There's still almost a year left but Morris is making a good case for being part of the 23 man roster for the World Cup. One can assume that Altidore, Wood and Dempsey will occupy three of the four forward spots (although certainly that is a shaky assumption given Altidore and Wood's injury histories and Dempsey's age and heart issue) and that Morris is principally competing with Dwyer and Algudelo for the last spot. The fact that he was chosen to start the semifinal and final games would indicate that at this point he is the leader for that fourth spot.

Re: Jordan Morris: Goat and Hero - winflop - 07-27-2017

(07-26-2017, 09:16 PM)Boston Card link Wrote:He did flub what could have been the game winner a bit earlier, but he continues to have trouble with his left and flubbed it.

BC

He also cracked a high quality shot early in the game that the goalie barely got a piece of to deflect it. I think he put it on himself to make up for his bad defense on that corner kick. His play after that was much more inspired.

I hope he makes the roster for WC qualifying!

Re: Jordan Morris: Goat and Hero - fullmetal - 07-27-2017

A Bleacher Report summary of the game:  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2724039-jordan-morris-scores-go-ahead-goal-as-usa-beat-jamaica-in-2017-gold-cup-final

Re: Jordan Morris: Goat and Hero - dabigv13 - 07-27-2017

He got all of that one, to borrow from baseball parlance.

Morris is who he is- he has speed, good motor, and just enough flair to his game to make some special things happen from time to time. But he isn't an elite dribbler, is more reliant on his right than his left, and is not great at holding up play and bringing others into an attacking movement. (I'm not a brobdingnagian USMNT or Seattle fan, so this is only based on a handful of games, perhaps people with more viewing experience have more or different thoughts).

I think he could definitely contribute positively though for the US in the WC and qualifying campaign. I think he fits best coming from the wing, playing a complementary role rather than the focal point CF, and given the other USMNT options, probably as a sub.

Re: Jordan Morris: Goat and Hero - DC 86 - 07-27-2017

(07-27-2017, 09:22 AM)dabigv link Wrote:He got all of that one, to borrow from baseball parlance.

Morris is who he is- he has speed, good motor, and just enough flair to his game to make some special things happen from time to time. But he isn't an elite dribbler, is more reliant on his right than his left, and is not great at holding up play and bringing others into an attacking movement. (I'm not a of exceedingly large proportions USMNT or Seattle fan, so this is only based on a handful of games, perhaps people with more viewing experience have more or different thoughts).

I think he could definitely contribute positively though for the US in the WC and qualifying campaign. I think he fits best coming from the wing, playing a complementary role rather than the focal point CF, and given the other USMNT options, probably as a sub.

100% accurate analysis. He is very fast, strong and his right footed shot is not only powerful but he gets it off quickly. He isn't going to dribble by anyone but he will run by everyone and is in constant motion looking for open space. He also works hard pressuring opponents trying to build up from the back. In particular as a second half sub he can be very effective against tiring defenders. Anything can happen over the next ten and a half months but if the World Cup started today he would almost certainly be on the roster.

Re: Jordan Morris: Goat and Hero - Viking_Guy - 07-27-2017

One addition: last night in the first half and really throughout the game, he was tracking back to help on defense pretty tirelessly, often covering for Acosta when he was caught up field.  He was actually complimented for it by Donovan with the announcer's curse just prior to getting beaten on the back post for the goal.  And watching that play, it was the same one the U.S. tried to run for Altidore off corners - drag everyone near post and circle a big target at the back post in a 1 v 1.  That can be a tough cover, especially with the jersey tugging to throw off balance that goes on (as happened on a subsequent Jamaica corner - made me wish for a goal-line official, because the AR is on the nearside by the corner, and the ref is trying to monitor the scrum at the penalty spot).

Another plus: he does a very good job in contesting balls in the air on outlet long balls - not so much in settling the ball for hold up, but in trying to play the flick through or off.

VG