U.S. Opens Up the Attack in 2-1 Victory Over China

For years, one of the big knocks against soccer in the United States was that the national team lacked the forwards to make a difference at the international level.

Not anymore.

Suddenly, and seemingly out of nowhere, the U.S. is knee-deep in attacking players, a fact underlined by Saturday’s 2-1 “friendly” victory over China on a sunny but cold afternoon before 8,903 at Network Associates Coliseum.

Sure, the Americans managed only two goals and one of them was a startling 40-yard own goal by Chinese defender Wang Liang, but it was the scoring chances that the U.S. team carved out that provided hope for the months ahead when World Cup qualifying reaches a crucial stage.

“If we had put away some of the chances we created in the first half, it would have been an easy game, “ U.S. Coach Bruce Arena said.

Blame it on youth. But praise the youth, too.

Arena started two teenagers, forward Landon Donovan and winger DaMarcus Beasley, both 18 and both more than a little impressive. Both also missed what in soccer are called “sitters,” simple scoring opportunities that should have resulted in goals.

All the same, it was Donovan, in only his second game for the national team, who created the opening goal with an audacious pass that put Brian McBride in one-on-one with Chinese goalkeeper Yu Weiling.

McBride, returning to the national team for the first time in five months after being sidelined because of a blood clot under his arm, showed he has lost none of his scoring ability.

His left-foot shot in the 27th minute flashed past Yu and into the net for his 14th international goal, but it was Donovan’s pass that made it special.

“That was great,” McBride said. “I didn’t think he would find me, to be really honest. I didn’t think he even saw me. And then to be able to play the ball into my path first time, that was great.”

Before that breakthrough, Donovan had lobbed the ball over the bar. Clint Mathis had sent a shot wide left and Beasley, making his debut for the national team, fired a shot wide right from virtually point-blank range.

“I thought that was going in, actually,” Beasley said. “Somebody played me a great ball and I was just thinking, ‘Hit it low on goal and hope for it to go in.’

“I felt very comfortable. People told me, ‘Don’t get [nervous], just let the game come to you.’ That’s what I felt I did and I was fine.”

Arena agreed.

“DaMarcus had a good steady 90 minutes,” he said. “He created some chances off the dribbles [but] he needs to cross the ball better. That’s probably one of his weaknesses. He did a very good job defensively. He’s a good passer of the ball, very comfortable playing out wide and coming inside. Overall I thought he was pretty solid.”

Bob Bradley, Beasley’s coach with the Chicago Fire and Arena’s assistant, echoed the praise.

“I thought he played very well,” Bradley said. “I’ve said it many times, DaMarcus is a very smart player. It’s not just his speed and quickness, it’s that he thinks on the field. I thought he handled himself well and made good decisions. He’s very alert, so he’s able to put himself in good spots. I think we’ll see more of him.”

The U.S. team’s next game as it prepares for its Feb. 28 World Cup qualifier against Mexico in Columbus, Ohio, is Saturday against Colombia in Miami.

Beasley and Donovan both hope to make the roster for World Cup play.

“It’s only one game, I’ve got to keep going,” Beasley said. “Hopefully, I’ll get another chance against Colombia. This is definitely a good step [toward] making the roster. It can’t hurt, let’s put it that way.”

Donovan, the Redlands teenager who is with Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga, is an even better bet to make the team, although Arena says he has six forwards to choose among.

Bradley counted eight.

“Bruce would be the first one to tell you that this was not the most difficult game,” he said. “Now he has tough decisions because there is a group of attacking players who all have different qualities.

“Brian [McBride] has certain qualities, [Chris] Albright, Josh Wolff, Ante [Razov], Cobi [Jones], Earnie Stewart if you play him up front, Landon, Mathis can play up front.”

Donovan’s youth might act against him, but his vision of the game matched with his technical skill counts heavily in his favor.

“I felt Landon did a good job,” Arena said. “He had three quality chances and he should have put one of them away. He did well withdrawing into the midfield at times, distributing the ball and creating some chances for others.

“In that regard it was a pretty solid performance overall. I thought he tired a little bit in the second half [but] he’s certainly a player we need to keep in the pool.”

The U.S. went two goals ahead in the 47th minute when Chinese defender Wang knocked a looping backpass over his own goalkeeper’s head.

China cut the deficit in half in the 74th minute when Qu Bo stole a backpass from the Galaxy’s Gregg Vanney that goalkeeper Tony Meola failed to reach in time and slotted it into the empty net.

“It’s probably not very far from what we expected for the first game out,” Arena said. “We thought fitness would be a real issue and it certainly looked that way in the second half. China’s coming off a bunch of games and we realized it would have the advantage in fitness. We slowed down a bit in the second half.

“The positives were just getting on the field for the first time in 2001. Some of the young players did well. I think we created some good chances today and should have walked off the field with a few more goals.”