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| Friday, September 14, 2001 24:22 EST |
Honduras holds on for 3-2 victory
[Associated Press]
WASHINGTON -- RFK Stadium looked like it had been taken over
by a Central American country.
Noel Valladares of Honduras leaps to make a save on Landon Donovan on Saturday. |
Hondurans danced in the corners of the field and through much of
the stands, celebrating a 3-2 victory over the United States in an
unusual Saturday morning game.
The Americans slowly walked off, their 16-year home unbeaten
streak in World Cup qualifying over.
"What an atrocious 20 minutes," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said.
Not since May 1985 had the Americans lost a home qualifier, and
not since November 1960 had they given up three goals in a home
qualifier. Defensive breakdowns gave Honduras four breakaways, and
U.S. midfielder Earnie Stewart missed a penalty kick late in the
first half, swinging the momentum.
The United States, second in the six-nation finals of the North
and Central American and Caribbean region behind Costa Rica
(5-1-1), remains confident it can finish in the top three and
qualify for its fourth straight World Cup.
"I'm sure there are a lot of teams that wish they'd sit where
we do right now," Arena said.
Honduras is third at 3-2-2, two points behind the Americans, and
Mexico (3-3-1) is three points back following a 2-1 win Sunday at
Jamaica (2-3-2).
The top three qualify for next year's tournament in Japan and
South Korea, and the Americans have three games remaining:
Wednesday at Costa Rica, Oct. 7 against Jamaica at Foxboro, Mass.,
and Nov. 11 at Trinidad.
"We're still in good position," Stewart said. "We have
points."
Many in the raucous sellout crowd of 54,282 arrived long before
the 10 a.m. start and made RFK Stadium seem like a Honduran colony.
The U.S. Soccer Federation tried to limit sales to tickets in the
lower deck to its fans and affiliates, but it didn't work.
About 70 percent of the sellout crowd rooted for the Central
Americans, and the top deck rocked when Honduras scored.
"It felt almost like we were home," Honduras coach Ramon
Maradiaga said.
That didn't please the U.S. team.
"Only in America, I guess, we're fighting for a home-field
advantage," Arena said.
Even the field looked like one in Central America, with
streamers and flares flying out of the stands along with bottles
that just missed players.
"Our fans never used to throw things," U.S. goalkeeper Brad
Friedel said. "I think they've taken it upon themselves to throw
things because we get them thrown at us when we go abroad. Both
sides are wrong."
The USSF was shocked.
"It makes this venue questionable in the future," USSF
executive director Dan Flynn said.
Stewart scored both U.S. goals, giving him five of the team's
nine in the qualifying finals.
His left-footed shot from about 15 yards put the United States
ahead in the seventh minute, but Milton Nunez tied it in the 28th
off a quick counterattack.
Stewart had a chance to regain the lead in the 43rd after
referee Mauricio Navarro of Canada called a borderline penalty on
Milton Reyes for knocking down Jovan Kirovski in the penalty area.
Stewart went for the right corner with the penalty kick and
goalkeeper Noel Valladares dived and batted away the ball with his
left hand.
"I made a change at the last minute to kick it to the other
side," Stewart said. "Stupid."
Honduras went ahead in the 53rd after Navarro awarded another
questionable penalty kick when Jeff Agoos pushed down Reyes with
his right arm just into the edge of the penalty area. Carlos Pavon
slid the ball to Friedel's right for his 15th goal in 14
qualifiers. Nunez made it 3-1 in the 77th.
The Americans had allowed just two goals in the first six games
of the final qualifying round.
"Without being critical on any particular player, I think David
Regis broke down," Arena said. "He had breakdowns that led to
every goal. That has to be addressed."
Stewart got his second goal in the 84th when he miskicked his
shot and the ball floated over Valladares, hit the crossbar and
bounced just across the line.
The loss might have shaken an American team that has now lost
consecutive qualifiers for the first time since 1980. The intensity
of qualifying was noticed by 19-year-old Landon Donovan, who became
the youngest American in a World Cup qualifier in 16 years and the
third-youngest ever.
"Obviously, a different game," said Donovan, who played well.
"A lot more passion."
Game notes
The Americans had been 14-0-5 on home qualifiers since a
1-0 loss to Costa Rica on May 31, 1985, at Torrance, Calif., and
hadn't given up three goals in 34 home qualifiers since a 3-3 tie
against Mexico on Nov. 6, 1960. ... The 10 a.m. start was dictated
by U.S. television.
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