U.S. MNT Drop Canada 2-0 in 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup

Saturday, July 9, 2005

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The U.S. Men’s National Team increased their undefeated streak in CONCACAF Gold Cup group play to 18-0-0 and secured a spot in the quarterfinals this afternoon with a 2-0 victory over Canada at QWEST Field in Seattle, Wash., to put them in first place atop Group B after two games.

The U.S. and Canada battled to a scoreless first half, but the U.S. was awarded a gift in the early moments of the second stanza as defender Atiba Hutchinson accidentally headed a John O’Brien pass into his own net. The U.S. kept the pressure on and Landon Donovan secured the victory in extra time with his 25th career goal, putting him in sole possession of third place all-time in men’s national team history. The goal was his eighth in Gold Cup play, tying him for second all-time with Brian McBride and one behind leader Eric Wynalda.

The defensive line did well to hold Canada’s attack at bay as Kasey Keller wasn’t called on until the 73rd minute when Canada registered their first shot on goal. Keller responded when necessary the rest of the way to increase his record to 13-3-1 and pick up his 11th shutout in the Gold Cup.

The group heads east tomorrow as all four teams relocate to the Boston area for the final match of group play.  The U.S. next faces Costa Rica, who are 2-0-0 following their 3-1 win against Cuba in the first match of the day, as the two will battle for first place. Kickoff at Gillette Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET., and the match will be broadcast live on Telefutura.  Fans can follow the action on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker presented by Phillips Electronics.

“I think it was another challenging game,” said U.S. manager Bruce Arena. “Canada had a good game plan as they defended very well and made it difficult for us. Obviously, the first goal was fortunate and I think we’re at fault in the second half for not getting the second goal earlier. We played much better in the second half and overall it was not a bad performance on our part. After two games we’re pleased that we were able to start 22 players as that was one of our objectives.”

The U.S. made wholesale changes to the team that beat Cuba two days ago, inserting a handful of new faces into the lineup. The U.S. welcomed the return of midfielder John O’Brien, who made his return to the starting 11 on the same field where he made his last start over two years ago in a 2-0 victory against Venezuela on March 29, 2003.

Much like the Cuba match, the U.S. dictated the tempo from the opening whistle. The U.S. was finding success utilizing the flanks, with Greg Vanney given free reign to get forward on the left while Steve Ralston and Steve Cherundolo patrolled the right side. Central defenders Eddie Pope and Oguchi Onyewu were a strong presence, often on the winning end of 50-50 challenges.

The U.S. nearly got on the board early on, Pat Noonan getting on the end of corner kick from Landon Donovan, only to see his curling header cruise by the back post. A minute later, it was Donovan on the receiving end of a ball from Josh Wolff who had raced down the left side before trying to find the trailing midfielder 15 yards out from goal.  The pass was just out of reach, Donovan’s effort deflecting out safely wide of goal.

Canada’s first half-chance came in the seventh minute, one that failed to fully develop. Olivier Occean embarked on a well-timed run that foiled the U.S. backline, and was sent racing to goal. However, Eddie Pope recovered quickly and broke up the pass intended for Dwayne De Rosario on the back post.

The game settled in during the middle section of the first half, Canada getting numbers behind the ball and looking to counter.  The newly laid sod at Qwest Field appeared a little slick, causing lapses in footing and a few errant passes.  The U.S. was able to maintain pressure for most of the half, but the crosses and forays into the box were fruitless in breaking down the Canadian defense.

The USA’s best chance of the half came in the 35th minute, beginning with another attack by Greg Vanney. He lofted a cross to the back post, where a lurking Pat Noonan headed back across the box. Josh Wolff contorted to get out of the way of a wide-open Donovan, who was denied from six yards with a sprawling kick save from Greg Sutton.

The U.S. got a fortuitous start to the second stanza, catching a break just three minutes in. After splitting the Canadian defense, John O’Brien’s attempted cross into the penalty area was intercepted by Hutchinson who tried to head the ball clear, but redirected it into his own goal past Sutton who was out of position after reacting to the O’Brien service.

The goal re-energized the U.S. attack, with Noonan nearly doubling the lead three minutes later. After taking the ball down 16 yards from goal on the right side of the box, he noticed Sutton off his line, attempting a chip that cleared the 6-foot-6 ‘keeper before clanging off the crossbar.

In the 56th minute, Ralston sent a cross from the right wing to the back post where Vanney was able to head it back to the middle for Donovan. With his back to goal, Donovan whipped a quick bicycle towards the far post, hitting defender Josh Simpson square in the chest before falling safely to the goalkeeper.

The fresh legs of the U.S. team began to pay dividends as the half wore on, with more and more space opening in the Canadian defense. In the 60th minute, Noonan had a golden opportunity to put the U.S. two goals up. After a spinning move at midfield broke Ralston free down the right flank, he launched an early ball that landed smack in the path of the onrushing Noonan, whose unchallenged header was powered just outside the right post.

Dwayne de Rosario provided Canada’s first shot on goal in the match in the 73rd minute, when he was able to find room at the top of the box to uncork a head-high blast on target, but Keller was in a perfect position to snag the attempt.

Canada gave the U.S. a scare in the 82nd minute that started with a fancy bit of footwork by Adrian Serioux.  He slipped a through-ball to Peters, whose first-time cross curled to the near post onto the head of second-half substitute Ali Gerba. The forward pounded a header inches wide of the near post.

Canada’s hopes of finding the equalizer were deflated moments later when they were forced to play the final eight minutes a man down after Serioux was issued his second caution for a foul on DaMarcus Beasley.

With the U.S. firmly in control of the match, Donovan killed any thoughts by Canada of snagging a point with his strike in injury time. The ball was pushed out wide left to Beasley, who dribbled into the penalty area and curled a cross to the far post where Donovan put the ball into the wide-open net with a diving header.

The U.S. will have six players carrying yellow cards going into the final group game against Costa Rica as Tony Sanneh, Frankie Hejduk and DaMarcus Beasley picked up cautions in the first match and Landon Donovan, Pablo Mastroeni and Oguchi Onyewu were booked against Canada.