U.S. in position for the Olympics
Despite playing three abjectly poor matches, each one worse than the one before, the U.S. is only one victory away from a place in the Beijing Olympics.
If the Americans defeat either Canada, Haiti or Mexico on Thursday in Nashville, they will qualify for the trip to China this summer. Their opponent will be determined by a doubleheader today at the Home Depot Center in Carson.
It probably will be Mexico, which can secure a semifinal place of its own if it defeats Haiti and Canada fails to beat Guatemala. The Guatemalans already have clinched the group and will play Honduras in Thursday’s other semifinal.
The semifinal winners qualify for Beijing.
The U.S. was assured of advancing even before taking the field at again-empty Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., on Saturday when Panama routed Cuba, 4-1. The U.S.-Honduras game that followed was simply an exercise in seeing who would win the group.
The U.S. turned out to be that team when Eddie Gaven scored on a penalty kick four minutes into stoppage time for a 1-0 victory.
The Galaxy played its final exhibition match on Saturday and came away with a 0-0 tie against FC Dallas in Frisco, Texas.
The game was supposed to showcase David Beckham’s fitness and readiness to be called up for England’s match against France in Paris on March 26.
Landon Donovan returned from a knee injury and played, but former Dallas captain Carlos Ruiz did not travel to Texas. The striker has a minor hamstring strain and stayed in L.A.
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Jones reported from Los Angeles.
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