Donovan Gets 100 in Tie with Argentina

US Striker Becomes Fourth-Youngest to Reach 100 Caps

June 9, 2008

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Landon Donovan became the youngest American and fourth-youngest international ever to reach 100 caps in national duty in the US men’s soccer team’s 0-0 tie with No. 1-ranked Argentina in front of a record sellout crowd of 78,682 fans at Giants Stadium.

US goalkeeper Tim Howard made a total of seven saves on the night – all in the first half – to earn a shutout in one of his most imposing performances in net for the United States. In the second half, Argentina was held to zero shots on goal – and just one total – as the U.S. backline closed down the lanes that allowed the South American’s dangerous playmakers to sneak behind for dangerous chances on goal.

Landon Donovan became the youngest American player to reach 100 caps.

Up top with Eddie Johnson, Donovan led helped the U.S. attack was able to find ways through and over the Argentina backline to whip in dangerous crosses and pepper shots on Roberto Abbondanzieri’s goal.

Overall, the U.S. produced nine shots, just one less than their opponents, and also dealt with playing a man down, a promising sign as they now begin their final preparations for their opening match of FIFA World Cup qualifying.

"I think we're getting stronger,” said U.S. head coach Bob Bradley. “We are understanding what it takes to play in the better games. The first half we had to deal with a lot tactically, and Tim Howard of course made some very big saves. The second half we showed some real resolve, both handling the red card and adjusting to different things tactically at different times. It means that at the end we feel very good about getting a result tonight. We feel good about the depth that we have and these are things that we are building to put is in the right direction."

With Howard commanding the U.S. goal, the U.S. pushed up the intensity in the attack and in the 33rd minute came just inches from taking the lead. With the ball near the top of the penalty area, Clint Dempsey unleashed a shot that took a deflection off defender Heinze and bounced just wide of the left post.

Two minutes later, defender Heath Pearce pushed up into the attack and jumped on a loose ball near the left corner of the penalty area to hit a surprising strike that nearly snuck past Abbondanzieri at the near post, but he was able to react in time.

In the final minutes of the half, the U.S. created one of their best build-ups of the night before Dempsey curled in a cross from the right flank towards Johnson, but the striker’s header went right to the ‘keeper.

The final moment of the half not surprisingly came from the duo of Julio Cruz and Howard, with the U.S. ‘keeper coming out on top once again. Just outside the center circle, Messi lofted a ball over the U.S. defense and a lucky bounce allowed Cruz to trap the ball on the run, touch it inside the penalty area and hit a low drive that Howard got low to block for what would be his seventh, and eventually last, save of the night.

The U.S. got their best chance of the night off a corner kick from Donovan early in the second half. He curled an in-swinger from the left corner to the stop of the six yard box, where Onyewu rose above his mark and the goalkeeper to power a header that clanged off the crossbar.

In the 52nd minute, Cruz moved the ball to the edge of the penalty area and tapped a pass forward to Sergio Aguero as he raced toward the goal. Howard ran out to defend the play as Aguero launched himself up and over the U.S. keeper. No foul was called and the United States was able to clear the ball away and avert the damage.

U.S. Men’s National Team Game Report:

Lineups:
USA: 1-Tim Howard; 6-Steve Cherundolo, 22-Oguchi Onyewu (23-Jay DeMerit, 61), 5-Danny Califf, 15-Heath Pearce (7-Eddie Lewis, 78); 4-Michael Bradley (26-Maurice Edu, 46), 25-Pablo Mastroeni; 8-Clint Dempsey (19-Freddy Adu, 61), 10-Landon Donovan (capt.), 17-DaMarcus Beasley (2-Frankie Hejduk, 91+); 9-Eddie Johnson (12-Sacha Kljestan, 74)

ARG: 1-Roberto Abbondanzieri; 3-Gonzalo Rodriguez, 4-Nicolas Burdisso (2-Martin Demichelis, 46), 6-Gabriel Heinze, 13-Pablo Zabaleta (8-Javier Zanetti, 77); 5-Fernando Gago, 7-Maximiliano Rodriguez (20-Fernando Cavenaghi, 74), 14-Javier Mascherano (capt.); 9-Julio Cruz (19-Lisandro Lopez, 64), 11-Sergio Aguero (15-Ever Banega, 88), 18-Lionel Messi (17-Jose Sosa, 46)

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