Reyna Is Back in Big Picture
Claudio Reyna, who had not played for the United States national team since the World Cup last summer, made a successful return Sunday in a 2-0 victory by the U.S. over Paraguay in a friendly at Crew Stadium.
Reyna had been recovering from torn left knee ligaments suffered in October playing for Sunderland in the English Premier League.
Now the question for Coach Bruce Arena will be how much to count on Reyna, the premier playmaker for the U.S., against El Salvador when the CONCACAF Gold Cup begins Saturday at Foxboro, Mass..
“If he wants to start me, I’m ready, and if he wants me to play two minutes, I’m ready. I’m not going to complain,” said Reyna, who entered in the 61st minute to a standing ovation from the crowd of 14,103. “I’m just happy to be back and involved with the team.”
Said Arena: “Getting Reyna back on the field was big. I told the team after the game we were much better -- how we played for each other -- today than in any of the three games we played in France.”
The U.S. went 0-2-1, scored one goal and was eliminated after group play in the Confederations Cup last month at France.
Sunday’s game also marked the return of goalkeeper Kasey Keller to the starting lineup. Keller, who started in the 1998 World Cup but was Brad Friedel’s backup at the 2002 tournament, made his first appearance since playing the second half of a friendly against the Netherlands on May 19, 2002.
Keller earned his 29th shutout and had to stop a breakaway from Paraguay midfielder Jorge Campos, who got behind an offside trap. Keller came out to challenge and forced a quick shot that he deflected with his left hand.
“It was very nice to look up after I made the save and the first person I saw coming back was my own man, Greg Vanney,” Keller said. “When you get that type of work rate after a mistake, it makes it so much easier for me.”
Landon Donovan and Earnie Stewart scored. The U.S., which improved to 2-0-2 at Crew Stadium, has yet to give up a goal there.
Donovan’s goal in the 12th minute was set up by midfielder DaMarcus Beasley.
Taking the ball on the left side, Beasley weaved his way through three players before sending a low cross through the box that wouldn’t have found Donovan had it not deflected off a defender. Donovan pounced on the loose ball and easily scored to the left of goalkeeper Justo Villar.
“The goal was all DaMarcus,” Donovan said.
Stewart’s goal came on the last play after a defensive header landed at his feet just inside the penalty area. He rifled a left-footed shot through traffic for his 16th goal in 92 international appearances.
Late in the game, Beasley injured his right arm in a collision and was later taken to a hospital for X-rays. Results should be known today.
