|
 |
The first independent gambling guide to the best online
casinos!
U.S. soccer team wins World Cup
qualifier
June 05, 2005
With a big pro-American crowd cheering from start to finish, Landon
Donovan and Kasey Keller took big steps toward putting the United States
in next year's World Cup.
Donovan regained his scoring touch with goals in the sixth and 62nd
minutes, Keller came up with three huge saves and the United States beat
Costa Rica 3-0 in a World Cup qualifier Saturday night.
Brian McBride added his 27th international goal in the 87th minute,
scoring off the rebound of a shot by Clint Dempsey, who had taken a feed
from Donovan.
After getting booed in Birmingham, Ala., during its 2-0 win over
Guatemala in March, the United States got the crowd it was hoping to see
for its first game at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The biggest sporting event in Salt Lake City since the 2002 Winter
Olympics drew 40,586 fans to the stadium, at the foot of the snowcapped
Wasatch Mountains.
Donovan, much happier since he left Germany's Bayer Leverkusen this
spring and joined Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy, has 21 goals
in 63 international appearances, a key factor in helping the United
States as it tries to reach its fifth straight World Cup.
The Americans remained second in the North and Central American and
Caribbean region. The United States has nine points after four of 10
qualifying games, one point less than Mexico, which won 2-0 at
Guatemala.
In today's other qualifier in the region, Trinidad and Tobago defeated
visiting Panama 2-0. Trinidad, Guatemala and Costa Rica are all tied for
third place with four points and Panama is last with two points.
The top three teams qualify for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.
The fourth-place team faces a playoff against an Asian team for another
spot.
Donovan put the United States ahead early, ending a five-game scoreless
streak since he had two goals against Panama in October.
|
 |
|
