O’Brien’s Play Good as Gold in U.S. Victory
John O’Brien, making his first start in two years Saturday, sparked the U.S. to a 2-0 victory over Canada and a place in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Landon Donovan also scored his third goal in two games and goalkeeper Kasey Keller earned his 40th shutout for the U.S. in front of 15,109 at Qwest Field.
But it was the Netherlands-based O’Brien, 27, who provided the impetus.
Injuries have seriously limited O’Brien’s time with the national team, but the midfielder from Playa del Rey, now playing for ADO Den Haag after a long stint with Ajax Amsterdam, looked quite at home Saturday, especially when forcing the own goal that put his team in front.
Receiving the ball from defender Oguchi Onyewu three minutes into the second half, O’Brien chipped it forward for striker Pat Noonan to run onto.
Noonan did not make the run and instead Canadian defender Atiba Hutchison got his head to the ball and accidentally deflected it into his own net, with goalkeeper Greg Sutton stranded.
“It worked out great,” O’Brien said. “A real fluke. It was fun to see it go in the back of the net.”
Bruce Arena, the U.S. coach, has persevered with O’Brien, despite the injuries, because of his passing and organizing ability.
“I think he played well,” Arena said. “I think we’ve gotten more out of him than we expected, because he’s been away so long. But obviously his passing is the best part of his game. He can hold the ball. He’s a terrific passer.”
O’Brien could inherit Claudio Reyna’s role as a deep playmaker, but shrugged at the suggestion.
“No one can replace Claudio,” he said. “He’s got a magic all of his own. But we play kind of the same style.”
Arena started at least five players who are likely to start at the World Cup in Germany next summer, assuming the Americans complete the formality of qualifying.
Keller was in goal, Steve Cherundolo was at right back, Eddie Pope was at center back, Pablo Mastroeni was the defensive midfielder and Donovan was the attacking midfielder.
The other six starters could well factor in Arena’s World Cup plans. Onyewu was alongside Pope in the center of the defense and Greg Vanney was the left back. Steve Ralston was wide right, with O’Brien roaming between Mastroeni and Donovan in midfield, and Noonan and Josh Wolff up front.
The U.S. moved the ball around well but failed to break through a disciplined Canadian defense in the first half.
The own goal broke the deadlock, but it still took the U.S. until the 90th minute to score again. The second goal developed this way:
Wolff passed the ball wide left to DaMarcus Beasley, who had come on in place of O’Brien in the 67th minute.
Beasley ran into the penalty area, beating Canadian defender Adam Braz en route, then crossed to the far post for Donovan to head into the open net. Goalkeeper Sutton was guarding the near post and defender Gabriel Gervais failed to pick up Donovan’s late run.
“We missed some good chances,” Keller said. “We let Canada stay in the game to the end, and that’s frustrating.”
The victory improved the U.S. to 18-0-0 in first-round play in the Gold Cup since the tournament began in 1991.
The Americans (2-0) play Costa Rica (2-0) at Foxboro, Mass., on Tuesday but will be without forward Conor Casey for the remainder of the competition. Casey suffered a torn ligament in his right knee during Thursday night’s 4-1 victory over Cuba.
