Donovan a One-Man Show
After his fourth goal, Landon Donovan stopped celebrating and started apologizing.
Donovan stepped in front of Steve Ralston and kicked in goal No. 4 to secure a 5-0 victory over Cuba on Saturday at Foxboro, Mass., and put the United States in the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals.
“He said, ‘What ... are you doing? Why are you stealing my ball?’ ” Donovan said after the U.S. national team’s first four-goal game in a decade. “I knew someone was there. I didn’t know it was him.”
Joe-Max Moore scored four times against El Salvador in 1993, but before that you have to go back to Aldo “Buff” Donelli in 1934 and Archie Stark in ’25. Ralston also scored for the United States, which advanced to a semifinal on Wednesday against Brazil in Miami.
Kasey Keller extended the Americans’ shutout string to five games; the U.S. has shut out 18 of its 29 Gold Cup opponents. The United States has won 11 Gold Cup games in a row since the 1998 final.
With his 33rd career shutout, Keller passed Tony Meola on the U.S. national team’s all-time list. Keller has not given up a goal in 712 Gold Cup minutes and he has not lost on U.S. soil in his last 22 games.
The Cubans, who were in the quarterfinals for the first time, got only two shots -- both off-target.
“In my point of view, the team held up extremely well against a very superior opponent,” Cuban Coach Miguel Company said.
That wasn’t enough to keep up with Donovan, who had scored only three goals in 13 appearances with the national team this year.
“It was just one of those days,” Donovan said. “I have not scored a lot lately, and it gets a little bit frustrating.”
U.S. Coach Bruce Arena said he didn’t spend a lot of time worrying about Donovan being in a slump.
“Yeah, reminds me of Tiger Woods’ slump,” he said. “Landon is the least of our problems.”
Donovan could have had a couple of more -- one on a breakaway in the 72nd minute, when he tried to pass it to Eddie Lewis and Cuban goalkeeper Odelin Molina got to the ball first.
“If you don’t appreciate someone, they’re not going to keep feeding the ball to you,” Donovan said. “I wish I had gotten my feet under it and gotten the ball to Eddie, because he deserved to score there.”
But Donovan didn’t take any chances in the 76th minute, when Greg Vanney jumped the ball on a free kick and then got the pass from Clint Mathis. Mathis crossed it, and Donovan and Ralston were waiting for it to come down.
Molina made a nice save in the 22nd minute when Ralston headed a cross into the keeper, who knocked it down and then corralled it.
Brazil 2, Colombia 0 -- Kaka scored twice as Brazil defeated Colombia in a quarterfinal at Miami.
Kaka’s second goal secured the victory in the 66th minute. He moved the ball to an area near the half circle, then curved a left-footed shot inside the left post.
Brazil also controlled the first half, finally breaking through in the 42nd minute. From the left wing, Robinho centered a pass to an open Kaka, whose 25-yard shot landed inside the right post.
Colombia, which won Group B of the draw, could not mount sufficient offense to reduce Brazil’s advantage in the second half.
Costa Rica 5, El Salvador 2 -- Walter Centeno scored three goals, including two on penalty kicks, to lead Costa Rica to a quarterfinal victory at Foxboro.
Costa Rica advanced to the semifinals to face the winner of today’s game between Mexico and Jamaica in Mexico City.
El Salvador’s Ramon Alfredo Sanchez knocked Wilmer Lopez to the ground as he was waiting for the ball in the 68th minute to set up Centeno’s first penalty kick, which gave Costa Rica a 3-2 lead.
Steven Bryce, who replaced Winston Parks in the 65th minute, scored from 10 yards out in the 71st minute.
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Four in One
U.S. players who have scored four goals in a full international game:
*--* Archie Stark Nov. 8, 1925 U.S. 6, Canada 1 at Brooklyn, N.Y Aldo Donelli May 24, 1934 U.S. 4, Mexico 2 at Rome, Italy (World Cup qualifier) Joe-Max Moore Dec. 5, 1993 U.S. 7, El Salvador 0 at L.A. Coliseum Landon Donovan July 19, 2003 U.S. 5, Cuba 0 at Foxboro, Mass
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