U.S. and Argentina tie, 0-0

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Goalkeeper Tim Howard and the United States appear ready for World Cup qualifying.

Howard had four spectacular point-blank saves on Julio Cruz, Landon Donovan made his 100th international appearance and the United States tied the world’s top-ranked team, Argentina, 0-0, on Sunday.

“Tonight it was about standing up for ourselves, believing we could get a result,” Howard said. “We stood up to the challenge. It wasn’t always pretty at times.”

The match, which ended in driving rain and lightning, drew 78,682, the ninth-biggest crowd to see the U.S. national team at home.

Both teams ended short-handed. The United States lost Pablo Mastroeni to a second yellow card in the 71st minute, and Argentine captain Javier Mascherano got two yellow cards in the 86th for a studs-up tackle on Donovan.

The U.S. opens qualifying Sunday against Barbados in Carson, and Argentina has a qualifier at home against Ecuador on Sunday.