ESPN Network:
ESPN.com
ESPN Deportes
Fantasy Games
|
|
|
| Monday, March 4, 2002 19:33 EST |
U.S.-Honduras Notebook
By Bob Wickwire
[ESPN.com]
Double trouble
U.S. players Clint Mathis and Landon Donovan played a little game of 'anything you can do, I can do better' on Saturday during the Americans' 4-0 victory over Honduras at Seattle's Safeco Field.
Mathis | Both players got on the scoresheet twice, with Mathis drawing first blood for the U.S. in 14th minute. Jeff Agoos' high ball to the far post was headed back across the face of the goal by Brian McBride to Mathis, who finished off the play with a well-placed header past Honduran keeper Victor Coello.
In the 44th minute, it was Donovan's turn as he collected a beautiful through ball from Chris Armas just inside the top of the box, and coolly waited for Coello to commit before slotting the ball home from a tight angle.
Then, in the 59th minute, Mathis nabbed his second after fine work on the left wing from DaMarcus Beasley and Eddie Lewis, who swung in a low cross that a diving McBride flicked on with a header to the far post where Mathis tapped in from close range.
Mathis nearly had a hat trick four minutes later but was denied by the crossbar and upright after a near-perfect free kick from about 23 yards out.
Donovan finished off the scoring in the 67th minute when Brian West sent a long ball over the top of the Honduran defense to the on-running striker, who shrugged off a couple defenders, rounded keeper Coello, and poked the ball into the net.
The two goals by Mathis and Donovan marked the first time in 144 games that the U.S. had two players with two or more goals in a match. The last time it happened was on Dec. 5, 1993, when Dominic Kinnear had two and Joe-Max Moore hit for four in a 7-0 rout of El Salvador in Los Angeles.
Mathis's breakout game was a welcome relief for the young star as he was making his first start for the National Team in almost a year, following a long injury layoff.
"The game was a good experience for me to get out there and get a little bit of confidence ... to score two goals and get a couple other chances. And hopefully continue to improve," said Mathis.
Feeling right at home
Kasey Keller recorded his fifth straight shutout for the U.S. |
Goalkeeper Kasey Keller's appearance in Seattle couldn't have turned out much better as the native Washingtonian captained the Men's National Team to victory and kept a clean sheet in the process.
The U.S. keeper was really only tested once, but it was the save of the match as he made a point-blank save off a shot from speedy Honduran forward Saul Martinez in the 28th minute.
"Kasey came up big on that one save," coach Bruce Arena said after the match.
Keller later credited his back line on the play. "I was able to come up with the save, but the key to something like that is the defense not giving up and continuing to put pressure on the man as he comes in so he doesn't have as much time [to shoot]. He gets one spot to try to beat me on and he can't put on two or three moves to try to get me off balance."
The fans gave their local soccer hero a big ovation after the stellar save, which included a group of 70 or so friends and family from his hometown of Lacey, Washington, and supporters from the University of Portland, where he played collegiately for four years.
"I've gotta give a big thanks to the hometown support, that was fantastic," said Keller. "I think there should be a few more games scheduled up here in the Northwest in the near future."
Picture-perfect day
The opening line of Perry Como's 1969 hit 'Seattle' is 'The bluest skies you've ever seen are in Seattle...' well, that's what showed up Saturday on a sunny, 50-degree late winter day in the Emerald City.
Actually, that's the way it was all week during preparations for Saturday's friendly, with sunny skies and fairly mild temperatures.
In fact, the great weather may have boosted the attendance a little as a very respectable 38,534 fans turned out to cheer on the U.S. team, which was making its first appearance in Seattle since a 1-1 draw with Russia in a World Cup tuneup match at the now-defunct Kingdome in 1994.
Coach Bruce Arena mentioned on a few occasions about how lucky the Men's National Team had been all week in Seattle about the weather with no sign of of the typcial gray skies and showers.
"We never would have thought there'd be a concern about skin cancer here in Seattle," Arena joked, "but the sun has been out ever since we've been here. It has been a great week."
New-look Nats
Saturday's match marked the debut of the United States' new Nike 2002 World Cup jerseys, which were specially designed for the wet, humid conditions during the monsoon season later this year in South Korea and Japan.
The new kit generally received good marks from team members.
"I thought the new apparel was great," said Keller. "It worked fine for me."
"I think it's safe to say it was a good start for us in the new uniforms," added Donovan.
A good start indeed, especially for the Americans' two-goal stars.
|
|
|
|
|
|
