Posted on 03/31/2005 12:23:21 PM PST by Central Scrutiniser
Johnson's goal, assist lead the way
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- At this rate, Eddie Johnson will put the United States into the World Cup by himself.
A day shy of his 21st birthday, Johnson scored in the 11th minute and set up Steve Ralston's goal in the 68th to lead the United States over Guatemala 2-0 Wednesday night for a key win in World Cup qualifying.
"Not scoring in Mexico, I was kind of down," Johnson said. "I knew I had to be better this game."
Johnson, who also nearly connected on an audacious bicycle kick, has eight goals in eight international appearances, an astonishing figure that has caused European clubs to express interest in acquiring him from Major League Soccer's Dallas team. Seven of the goals have come in World Cup qualifiers, tying him with Brian McBride for second on the U.S. career list, two behind Earnie Stewart.
"Obviously, the first goal was a great goal and obviously took a little bit of pressure off of us," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said.
Just three days after playing tentatively and conservatively in the dismal 2-1 loss at Mexico, the Americans opened with one of their most high-octane performances, outshooting the Guatemalans 19-10, including 14-3 in the first half. Poor finishing, especially by Brian Ching, kept the United States from running up the score.
"It was an avalanche at difference points against us," Guatemala coach Ramon Maradiaga said through a translator.
By winning their first home game in the final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region, the Americans improved to 2-1, one point behind Mexico (2-0-1), which tied 1-1 at Panama (0-1-2). Next with four points are Guatemala (1-1-1) and Costa Rica (1-1-1), which was held to a 0-0 tie at Trinidad and Tobago (0-2-1).
"We showed that we are who we are and who we should be," goalkeeper Kasey Keller said. "This is exactly where we wanted to be."
U.S. players are confident they will advance to their fifth straight World Cup and were surprised so much was made of the weekend loss in Mexico City's Estadio Azteca.
"We play I don't know if it was 15, 16 games without losing, we have really one bad half, one bad five minutes in Mexico against a very good team at an incredible altitude and in nasty smog," Landon Donovan said, "and all of a sudden we're the worst team in CONCACAF. It just makes some peace and quiet for a week, so that people can leave us alone. But we needed that."
The Americans were forced to make changes because DaMarcus Beasley was suspended for getting his second yellow card of qualifying and captain Claudio Reyna sprained an ankle during Sunday's game in Mexico.
U.S. Soccer scheduled the game for Legion Field, expecting a patriotic red-white-and-blue crowd. But, surprisingly, the majority of fans at gametime consisted of blue-clad Guatemalan supporters. They filled the old football stadium with the sound of their national anthem, and cheered loudly for the Chapines.
"We had 110,000 rooting against us the other day," Arena said he told the team before the game. "Now we have a real home-field advantage. We cut that number down by about 90,000."
Once play began, however, chants of "U-S-A! U-S-A!" took over.
"By the time the game kicked off, the good ol' boys took over," Keller said.
Pablo Mastroeni started the first goal with a through pass to Donovan, who let Johnson run onto the ball. Johnson's left-footed shot from 12 yards hit the right post, then rebounded across the goalmouth and into the left side of the net.
On the second, Eddie Lewis crossed the ball into the center, where Johnson flicked it with his head to Ralston, who hopped over a defender and beat goalkeeper Richard Trigueno from short range.
In the 66th, Donovan put the ball in off a cross from Lewis, but was ruled offside on a close play.
Keller then made a sprawling one-on-one save on Carlos Ruiz and, at the other end, Johnson's bicycle kick was blocked by Trigueno. Guatemala's Nestor Martinez batted the ball with a hand during the sequence in the penalty area, but there was no call.
Asked about the bicycle kick, Johnson smiled.
"I just saw Ching try it in the first half, so I tried it," he said.
Notes The Americans don't play another qualifier until June 4 against Costa Rica at Salt Lake City. ... Ruiz, traded by Los Angeles to Dallas earlier in the day so the Galaxy can acquire Donovan, received a yellow card in the 73rd for diving and will be suspended for Guatemala's June 4 qualifier against Mexico. ... Reyna should be able to play for Manchester City this weekend, Arena said.
We should be fine for making it to the WC, despite the disappointment in Mexico.
Ching hasn't won me over, nor has Cherundulo. I really gotta get to know some of these newbies on the team, they put some guys in last nite that I never heard of.
Losing in Azteca is a given, they have to play us in Columbus again, in September, and it will be cold.
BTW, France drew with the suprising Israel last nite, amazing.
They have a muslim striker on the team, its been interesting press.
BTW - What is Donovan doing back here? I heard he is going to play for LA now. Why is he not in Europe? I understand that his German team did not play him, which would make me want to leave too since he's more than ready to start.
Cherundolo had a very good game last night.
Yeah, but we can be better, at least we don't have Agoos to blame anymore!
I like this team, we have a lot of youth, and each wave of new guys is better and better.
Donovan is coming back to the MLS, I think for San Jose, he owed Bayern Levyerkusen some time, but I think he is done.
I'm split about the MLS, I want a good league, but I really want our guys to make it in Europe, Tim Howard has a lot of respect in Europe, not so much for McBride though.
Our players need to graduate to Europe. Europeans tend not to give Americans a fair shake, except for Fulham, whom McBride and Bocanegra play. McBride is a good player and needs to be in more, but he is getting long in the tooth for England, where they all love 23 year olds.
I thought he was at Fulham, then Everton, or the other way around?
It will be fun to watch Adu this year, it should be a breakout year for him.
They know about him in Europe, he has the buzz.
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