Soccer

MEXICO CITY (March 26, 2013) – For just the second time in U.S. Men’s National Team’s World Cup Qualifying history, the USA earned a point at Estadio Azteca with a 0-0 draw against Mexico in front of a massive crowd.

Goalkeeper Brad Guzan made three saves to record his second-straight clean sheet, and the young center back duo of Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler showed tremendous poise and grit in helping the USA earn a historic result. The only other World Cup Qualifying point earned by the USA in Azteca came during another scoreless draw on Nov. 2, 1997.

The draw in the USA’s third of 10 matches in the Final Round of 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying moved the Americans to 1-1-1 (4 points) in the Hexagonal and into a three-way tie for second place with Honduras and Costa Rica behind Panama (1-0-2, 5 points) at the top of the table. Mexico (0-0-3, 3 points) is in fifth place, and Jamaica (0-1-2, 2 points) sits in sixth. The top three finishers qualify directly to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

In other results tonight Panama blanked Honduras 2-0 at Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City and Costa Rica moved up from last place with a 2-0 victory against Jamaica at Estadio Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica.

The U.S. will resume World Cup Qualifying on June 7 when it faces Jamaica at National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica (beIN SPORT, time TBA). The USA’s next home game in World Cup qualifying will be June 11 against Panama at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington. The match kicks off at 6:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on ESPN, WatchESPN and Univision.  Fans can also follow the game online via ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and on Twitter @ussoccer.

Guzan made two saves in the first half, stopping a Giovani dos Santos shot in the 21st minute and turning away a Jesus Zavala header in the 28th minute as the Mexican forward slipped unmarked behind the U.S. defense on a free kick.

The USA’s best buildup of the first half came in the 39th minute with some quick passing between Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey. Bradley momentarily flashed free in the penalty area, but the play was broken up by Mexico’s Jorge Torres Nilo.

Mexico players pleaded with referee Walter Lopez for a penalty in the 76th minute after U.S. midfielder Maurice Edu bundled into Javier Aquino from behind in the box, but Lopez signaled for a corner kick instead.

Guzan’s biggest save came during a wild last few minutes of the match in which Mexico pushed hard for a game-winner and earned a series of corner kicks.

In the third minute of stoppage time, Guzan dove to his right to bat away Angel Reyna’s strike from distance that looked bound for the left corner. Guzan and the U.S. defense repelled every Mexican cross at the end of the game and kept the hosts off the board despite Mexico’s 15-2 advantage in corner kicks.

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands (April 9, 2013) – The U.S. Women’s National Team earned a comprehensive 3-1 win against the Netherlands as midfielder Tobin Heath opened the scoring in the 36th minute before Christen Press, who started at forward, nabbed goals in the 45th and 60th minutes to seal the victory. 

The U.S.-based players will now return to their National Women’s Soccer League clubs to prepare for the opening weekend of the new league. The Portland Thorns travel to FC Kansas City on April 13 for the inaugural match of the NWSL. 

The next match for the U.S. Women’s National Team is June 2, when they travel to Toronto to face Canada at BMO Field. The rematch of the thrilling 2012 Olympics semifinal at Old Trafford, can be seen live on ESPNews at 4:30 p.m. ET. Fans can also follow the game on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and on Twitter @ussoccer_wnt 

“There were a lot of positives from the game,” said U.S. head coach Tom Sermanni. “I thought tactically we did exactly what we tried to do. For much of the game, we pinned Holland in their own half which was our aim. We created a considerable number of chances and probably should have made the score line a little more decisive, but there was some spirited defending from Holland as we expect from these teams. But when you consider we made 10 changes from the team that played against Germany, I was very pleased with the performance.” 

Sermanni made 10 changes to the lineup that faced Germany on April 5, with right midfielder Heather O’Reilly the only holdover from that entertaining 3-3 tie last Friday. 

The USA out-shot the Dutch 25-9 for the match and had a series of chances in the early going, with midfielder Yael Averbuch and Press testing the Dutch goalkeeper Loes Geurts in the opening 20 minutes. 

In the 16th minute, Press was denied on back-to-back shots. The first came when Dutch defense closed down Tobin Heath at the top of the penalty area and after a deflection off a defender, Press found herself alone against Geurts, who did well cut down the angle and save the first shot. Press collected the rebound and sent it back toward goal from just a few yards out, but defender Daphne Koster recovered well to save it off the goal line. 

Heather O’Reilly came close in the 27th minute, pouncing on a loose ball and firing a shot that forward Sherida Spitse had to clear off the line. 

The U.S. finally opened the scoring in the 36th minute as forward Sydney Leroux beat her defender on the right flank. Leroux cut it back past Press, who let it roll past here to an onrushing Heath, who spun the ball into the left side of the net past a diving Geurts. 

Press doubled the score seconds before halftime in the 45th minute. With the defense converging on Leroux, she played a perfect ball that allowed Press a first touch that beat the Dutch back line. With a one-on-one chance, Press calmly picked her spot and sent the ball into the lower right side of the net as Guerts tried to come out and cut down space. 

The Stanford product nabbed her second of the game in the 60th minute and a nice individual dribbling effort. She weaved her way free into the right sight of the penalty area before firing a right-footed shot that caromed off the post and in from 14 yards out. 

U.S. goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, who was making just the second start of her international career, did not have much to do but she was at her best in the 61st minute, springing to her left to keep out a bouncing header from Anouk Hoogendijk. 

Julie Johnston nearly added to the USA’s lead in the 73rd minute, but her goal was called back for offside. The 21-year-old midfielder, who was making her first career start in just her second cap, drifted into the area on a free kick and finished a textbook header, but the assistant referee’s flag prevented the former U-20 WNT captain from notching her first goal for the senior team. 

The Netherlands got on the board late in the match, with Manon Melis grabbing the consolation goal. Put through by Leonne Stentler into the left side of the U.S. penalty area, Melis chipped Harris with a beautiful first touch to the delight of the home crowd. It was the Netherland’s only shot on goal of the match. 

soccer

PANAMA CITY, Panama (April 11, 2013) ­ The U.S. Under-17 Men¹s National Team won Group C of the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championship after defeating Guatemala 1-0 at Estadio Rommel Fernández on Thursday. Midfielder Corey Baird scored the game's only goal off an assist from forward Rubio Rubin.

As the top seed from Group C, the USA heads into the all-important quarterfinal stage and will face the Group D runner-up, which will be either Mexico or Honduras, who play later tonight. Mexico entered that match needing a draw or win to take first place in Group D.

The U.S. U-17 MNT’s quarterfinal match kicks off at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 14, at Estadio Rommel Fernández. The game will be broadcast live on FOX Soccer and Univision Deportes. Fans can also follow on ussoccer.com¹s MatchTracker and via Twitter @ussoccer_ynt .

Few chances were exchanged in the opening half hour, with both teams trying to find their way into the game. Guatemala generated their first real opportunity in the 26th minute, but defender Conor Donovan took up an excellent position to block a shot from 12 yards.

The USA's first major sniff at goal came in the 39th minute when Rubin tested the Guatemala goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen. The U.S. winger sidestepped his man in the area before unleashing a fierce shot that Hagen saved well, diving low to his left.

Moments later forward Ahinga Selemani tested the waters when he turned on the edge of the area and cracked a 20 yard drive, but Hagen was equal to the task. Just before halftime, Soñora drew another save out of Guatemala's ‘keeper, with a curling effort from 18 yards that Hagen tipped over the bar to ensure the match was scoreless at the break.

The USA took the lead in the 49th minute when Rubin skipped by his defender and then lifted a left-footed cross over Hagen to the far post. Baird was positioned perfectly to side foot the ball home on the full volley into the empty net and provide the USA a lead they would not relinquish.

Guatemala nearly got back into the match in the 62nd minute. Mario Hernandez was first to react to a cross at the far post but he headed his effort over the goal from a close angle.

In the 72nd minute Rubin, now out on the right, curled in another delightful cross to the far post that was just slightly too far for midfielder Junior Flores. Despite the effort, the midfielder failed to make good contact with his sliding, one-timed shot.

Guatemala had a quality chance for the equalizer in the 88th minute when Christopher Ortiz cut in on his left foot and unleashed a shot on goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell, but the U.S. ‘keeper was able to make the save – his only of the match

Soccer

MEXICO CITY (March 26, 2013) – For just the second time in U.S. Men’s National Team’s World Cup Qualifying history, the USA earned a point at Estadio Azteca with a 0-0 draw against Mexico in front of a massive crowd.

Goalkeeper Brad Guzan made three saves to record his second-straight clean sheet, and the young center back duo of Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler showed tremendous poise and grit in helping the USA earn a historic result. The only other World Cup Qualifying point earned by the USA in Azteca came during another scoreless draw on Nov. 2, 1997.

The draw in the USA’s third of 10 matches in the Final Round of 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying moved the Americans to 1-1-1 (4 points) in the Hexagonal and into a three-way tie for second place with Honduras and Costa Rica behind Panama (1-0-2, 5 points) at the top of the table. Mexico (0-0-3, 3 points) is in fifth place, and Jamaica (0-1-2, 2 points) sits in sixth. The top three finishers qualify directly to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

In other results tonight Panama blanked Honduras 2-0 at Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City and Costa Rica moved up from last place with a 2-0 victory against Jamaica at Estadio Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica.

The U.S. will resume World Cup Qualifying on June 7 when it faces Jamaica at National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica (beIN SPORT, time TBA). The USA’s next home game in World Cup qualifying will be June 11 against Panama at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington. The match kicks off at 6:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on ESPN, WatchESPN and Univision (TICKETS). Fans can also follow the game online via ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and on Twitter @ussoccer.

Guzan made two saves in the first half, stopping a Giovani dos Santos shot in the 21st minute and turning away a Jesus Zavala header in the 28th minute as the Mexican forward slipped unmarked behind the U.S. defense on a free kick.

The USA’s best buildup of the first half came in the 39th minute with some quick passing between Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey. Bradley momentarily flashed free in the penalty area, but the play was broken up by Mexico’s Jorge Torres Nilo.

Mexico players pleaded with referee Walter Lopez for a penalty in the 76th minute after U.S. midfielder Maurice Edu bundled into Javier Aquino from behind in the box, but Lopez signaled for a corner kick instead.

Guzan’s biggest save came during a wild last few minutes of the match in which Mexico pushed hard for a game-winner and earned a series of corner kicks.

In the third minute of stoppage time, Guzan dove to his right to bat away Angel Reyna’s strike from distance that looked bound for the left corner. Guzan and the U.S. defense repelled every Mexican cross at the end of the game and kept the hosts off the board despite Mexico’s 15-2 advantage in corner kicks.