U.S. Eyes Morning Glory
Ten o’clock on a Saturday morning is about when the second or perhaps third cup of coffee is kicking in. It’s hardly time to be playing a potentially crucial soccer game.
But that is exactly when the United States and Honduras will face each other today in a World Cup qualifying match at sold-out RFK Stadium that has huge bearing on both countries’ aspirations for reaching Korea/Japan 2002.
If the U.S. wins, it is virtually assured of qualifying. If it loses, the race becomes more interesting. Cobi Jones said gamesmanship produced the odd starting time.
“I don’t think it’s an unusual time, I think it’s a good time,” the Galaxy forward said. “It’s good for us. It might be difficult for them, but every country uses everything it can to better its chances of getting through.”
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But Bruce Arena, the U.S. coach, said gamesmanship had nothing to do with it.
“I think it was 99% dictated by television,” he said. “I thought initially it was odd, but ... it’s probably nice to play it early. It obviously hasn’t held back anybody from buying tickets. If anything, I think it’s a plus for us. I don’t think it’s a negative.”
The Honduran team arrived in town Thursday night with the words of its soccer federation president, Lizandro Flores, still echoing.
“This is a game of life or death for us,” he said.
Dramatic, but not absolutely true, although a loss combined with a victory for either Jamaica or Mexico on Sunday in another regional qualifier will significantly hamper Honduras’ chance of reaching the tournament.
Costa Rica leads the six-nation North and Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF) group from which three teams will qualify for the May 31-June 30 World Cup, the first to be played in Asia.
The Ticos, as they are known, have a potentially easy game today on the road against Trinidad and Tobago. Costa Rica is expected to win, thereby mathematically eliminating Trinidad and Tobago from contention and at the same time stretching its point total to 16.
“There is no reason to change anything,” said Alexandre Guimaraes, Costa Rica’s Brazilian coach.
To keep pace, the United States, also with 13 points, needs to win, although Arena seems content no matter what the outcome.
“The worst-case scenario is that after this game we are [still] in second place,” he said. “The best-case scenario is that we are in first place.”
Honduras is third, with eight points, and can be overtaken by fourth-place Jamaica, also with eight, or by fifth-place Mexico, with seven. The two countries meet Sunday in Kingston, where Jamaica is unbeaten in its last 51 matches.
“We are at the point of not going to the World Cup, it would seem,” said Mexico’s coach, Javier Aguirre, underlining the need for an upset victory.
To that end, Aguirre brought Spanish-based forwards Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Francisco Palencia in for the match. The United States also is hamstrung by injuries that could open the way for 19-year-old Landon Donovan to play in his first World Cup qualifying match.
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The U.S. won, 2-1, at Honduras in March, but Honduras has improved.
“Offensively, they’re really strong,” U.S. midfielder Tony Sanneh said. “They need to win this game, so we need to control the tempo from the beginning.”
Which means starting at 10 a.m.
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)
World Cup 2002
What--Qualifying game.
Who--U.S. vs. Honduras.
Where--RFK Stadium, Washington
When--7 a.m. PDT.
TV--ESPN2, Telemundo (Spanish).
Radio--Futbol de Primera network (Spanish).
Quick fact--The U.S. is unbeaten at home in its last 19 World Cup qualifying games over 16 years, going 14-0-5, since a 1-0 loss to Costa Rica in Torrance in 1985.
CONCACAF STANDINGS
Team: Points
Costa Rica: 13 (25)
United States: 13 (25)
Honduras: 8 (20)
Jamaica: 8 (20)
Mexico: 7 (19)
Trinidad and Tobago: 1 (13)
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(Maximum possible points) ... Only the top three teams qualify. Teams earn three points for a win and one for a tie. Each team will have three games remaining after today.
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TODAY’S GAMES
* Honduras at United States
* Costa Rica at Trinidad and Tobago
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SUNDAY’S GAME
* Mexico at Jamaica
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WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
* United States at Costa Rica
* Jamaica at Honduras
* Trinidad and Tobago at Mexico
