U.S. Clinches Spot in the World Cup
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Scoring two goals in a five-minute span at the beginning of the second half Saturday night, the United States qualified for soccer’s 2006 World Cup in Germany by defeating Mexico, 2-0, in front of a sellout crowd at Columbus Crew Stadium.
Steve Ralston, an avid hunter and fisherman when not chasing a ball around a field, poached the first goal in the 53rd minute.
DaMarcus Beasley, the target of frequent fouls in the first half, scored the second goal five minutes later to leave the Mexicans reeling and the crowd roaring.
The victory over their neighbors and most bitter soccer rivals qualified the Americans for the World Cup for the fifth consecutive time. Only Germany, Argentina and South Korea have equaled that feat so far in the lead-up to the 2006 tournament.
It was also the first time since 1934 that the U.S. became the first team from soccer’s North and Central American and Caribbean (CONCACAF) region to qualify for the World Cup. Mexico has normally had that honor.
In earning the shutout, goalkeeper Kasey Keller won his 50th game for the national team and handed Mexico its first loss in qualifying.
When Guatemalan referee Carlos Batres blew the final whistle, Keller turned to the fans behind his goal and threw his arms in the air, index fingers extended. Landon Donovan, who had been substituted late in the match, raced off the bench with an American flag draped around his shoulders.
Pretty soon, all the American players were waving flags and cavorting on the field.
The celebrations were all the more sweet because it was Mexico that had handed the U.S. its only qualifying loss, winning, 2-1, in Mexico City in March.
“In these type of games, you’ve got to jump on any kind of opportunities you get, and I think we did that,” said U.S. Coach Bruce Arena.
“Obviously, the two top teams in CONCACAF are the U.S. and Mexico. We had the one blemish on our record when we lost in Mexico City, so it’s nice to get that back and it’s obviously very special to qualify at home and against our archrival.”
Mexico’s Argentine coach, Ricardo Lavolpe, was less pleased by the evening’s outcome, saying of the U.S. that “my mother could play for that team or my grandmother or my great-grandmother” because it faces no fan or media pressure.
“In this country, they care only about baseball and football,” he said.
After a lackluster first half in which neither team showed any flair or enterprise, the U.S. came to life after the intermission.
The breakthrough came eight minutes into the second half when the U.S. earned a free kick to the right of the net about 25 yards out. Eddie Lewis crossed the ball into the goal area where Oguchi Onyewu rose above a Mexican defender and headed the ball against the left post.
The ball bounced up and across the face of the goal and, with Mexico goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez helpless on the ground after chasing Onyewu’s effort, Ralston rushed in to head it into the net.
“It was probably the easiest goal I’ve ever scored,” he said. “I was one yard out, so if I’d have missed that it would have been pretty embarrassing.”
Having taken the lead, the U.S. struck again before Mexico had the chance to regroup.
In the 58th minute, Beasley tapped a corner kick to Donovan, who sent a pass out wide to Claudio Reyna. The U.S. captain picked out Beasley’s run into the goal area and got the ball to him. Beasley, alone against the goalkeeper, curled a shot around Sanchez to make it 2-0 and put the U.S. within sight of Germany.
The rest was academic. Mexico, which could have qualified had it won, seemed half-hearted in its approach and ineffective in its play. Onyewu nullified the threat presented by striker Jared Borgetti, frequently knocking him to the ground, and Francisco Fonseca, Mexico’s other striker, was a non-factor.
The U.S. outshot Mexico, 11-7. The speed of Beasley and Ralston on the flanks made all the difference.
For Ralston, a 31-year-old from St. Louis who has reinvented his national-team career during qualifying, it was an especially satisfying evening.
“It’s been a long road,” he said. “I had a few chances with the national team early in my career and then I had a few years where I wasn’t a part of it. It’s amazing to go through qualifying and to help the team get there.
“There’s still a long ways from now to Germany [where the World Cup begins June 9]. I’ve got to go out and prove myself every day from now until then to be a part of it.
“I read something Bruce said a while ago about a guy could score a winning goal to qualify us, but he might not be a part of the team. I hope that’s not the case.”
