Donovan scores again as U.S. blanks Canada, 2-0, in Gold Cup play
SEATTLE (AP) – Landon Donovan scored in the final minutes and the United States beat Canada 2-0 on Saturday in group play of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Donovan’s header, off a nicely played cross by DaMarcus Beasley in the 90th minute, moved Donovan into third place all-time on the American goal list with 25, passing Joe-Max Moore. Only Brian McBride (28) and Eric Wynalda (34) have scored more.
Donovan scored twice in the final minutes on Thursday against Cuba, once off a pass from Beasley. He has eight goals in Gold Cup play.
The United States has six points in Group B – tied with Costa Rica – and will advance to the elimination phase of the tournament. Costa Rica beat Cuba 3-1 earlier Saturday and will play the Americans on Tuesday night in Foxboro, Mass.
For most of the second half, it appeared an own goal by Canada would be the difference. In the 48th minute U.S. midfielder John O’Brien chipped a pass into the penalty box. Canadian defender Atiba Hutchinson attempted to head the pass away from trouble, but instead deflected the ball past his goalkeeper, Greg Sutton.
The oft-injured O’Brien started Saturday, making just his third appearance for the United States since the 2002 World Cup. He was a second half sub on Thursday.
There were plenty of scoring chances for the Americans as the match was played almost entirely on Canada’s half of the field.
In the 51st minute, forward Patrick Noonan lofted a shot from about 20 yards over Sutton, but off the crossbar. Nine minutes later, Noonan’s header missed an open net.
The Americans best first half chance came in the 35th minute. Noonan headed a pass in front of the goal to Josh Wolff, who backtapped the ball to Donovan, but his shot was saved by Sutton.
The U.S. outshot Canada 13-5.
The offensive control led to an easy day for goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who posted his 40th career shutout and his 46th win, both tops in U.S. team history.
Dwayne De Rosario, Canada’s main scoring threat, was aggressively defended by the combo of Eddie Pope and Oguchi Onyewu. Pope played just a half before leaving with a sprained left ankle. He was replaced by Jimmy Conrad at halftime.
The United States improved to 11-8-8 all-time against Canada, and is 6-0-5 in its last 11 meetings – posting shutouts in the last five matches.
The teams had not played a match in competition since the Gold Cup semis in 2002, when they played to a scoreless tie before the United States won on penalty kicks.
Canada played without defender Kevin McKenna, who picked up two yellow cards on Thursday against Costa Rica. Adrian Serioux will miss Tuesday’s game against Cuba after picking up two yellow cards on Saturday.
The United States will be without forward Conor Casey for the rest of the Gold Cup. An MRI exam Saturday revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Casey injured the knee Thursday against Cuba.
In the earlier day, Randall Brenes scored twice in his first international match for Costa Rica.
Brenes entered the game at halftime as a substitution for Bryan Ruiz. He drilled a header into the top left corner 16 minutes later off a corner kick from Jafet Soto to give Costa Rica a 1-0 lead.
Brenes hit the same spot on a penalty kick in the 86th minute – the Ticos’ second penalty kick goal of the half. Teammate Jafet Soto scored on one 5 minutes earlier, after Cuban goalkeeper Odelin Molina took down Oscar Rojas in the box.
Maykel Galindo scored Cuba’s only goal in the 73rd minute.