Johnson in Good Position Again
A couple of weeks ago, perennial Portuguese soccer champion Benfica offered $5 million for FC Dallas striker Eddie Johnson. Major League Soccer officials suppressed their laughter and turned it down.
On Saturday, Johnson showed again why his value continues to rise. He scored the only goal as the United States defeated Honduras, 1-0, in front of 9,222 at University Stadium in its final tuneup before World Cup qualifying resumes next week.
The goal, in the last minute of the first half, came after a 35-yard shot by Clint Mathis had slammed into the crossbar, with the ball rebounding down for Johnson to steer it into the net.
It was the 20-year-old’s seventh goal in only six games for the national team and it earned Coach Bruce Arena his 55th victory in his 100th game (55-23-22).
“With forwards, it’s all about putting yourself in good spots to score,” Johnson said. “I was unlucky a couple of times early on in the game. But that’s something I’ve improved on, my focus over 90 minutes. Just wait, keep moving in the box, and hopefully something will fall at your feet.”
Honduras goalkeeper Junior Morales had no chance of stopping Johnson’s close-range shot. He was sprawled on the ground, having leaped for Mathis’ shot.
“He was down,” Johnson said, “and my eyes lit up, man.
“I was like talking to myself. I kept saying, ‘drop, drop, drop.’ It hit the post [crossbar, actually] and my feet kept moving forward. The ball was right there at my feet. It looked easy, but it was hard. Those are the hardest ones, when the goal is that open. You’re already thinking about celebrating.”
Johnson will almost certainly be in the starting lineup when the U.S. plays Mexico in Mexico City next Sunday in front of what probably will be 100,000 fans at Azteca Stadium.
“That’ll be a good test for me, to see how I’ll play if I’m on the field in front of a big crowd like that,” he said. “Tuning the crowd out and just playing. This is every young American’s dream. We watch the young players over in Europe play in front of crowds like that week in and week out and this is something we want to do.”
Johnson might have had the chance had MLS accepted Benfica’s offer, but he is glad the league wanted to keep him.
“I’m still young and I’m still trying to find my place here in America,” he said. “I had a good season last year and I’ve got two more years [on his MLS contract]. I want to see how these next two years go, see how much I grow as a player on and off the field.
“Europe, it’s hard over there. It’s hard to live over there. I’ve talked to a lot of players who are playing over there or have played over there and the big thing I told them is I’m not ready for it. And they told me, if you’re not ready, don’t go.”
The U.S., meanwhile, goes from strength to strength. Saturday’s victory extended its unbeaten streak to 16 games and its unbeaten streak against North and Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF) opponents to 31 games.
Arena is pleased with that and pleased with Johnson.
“For a young kid, he’s scored goals,” he said. “You can’t complain about that. However, he’s got a big learning curve ahead.”
Starting next Sunday in Mexico.
