July 9, 2009
ADIEU, ADU:
United States 2 - 0 Honduras: Quaranta, Ching break deadlock for U.S. (ESPN SoccerNet, 7/08/09)
Quaranta was one of several new players on the U.S. roster for the Gold Cup. The Americans have a nearly entirely different roster from the U.S. team that made a surprise run to the Confederations Cup championship game last month; most regulars were given a rest for the Gold Cup.The Americans last played Honduras on June 6 in a World Cup qualifying match, but the only American who was dressed for that game and Wednesday's match was Benny Feilhaber, who came on in the 64th minute.
"There were times in the game we couldn't find the right rhythm," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "But I think there was still a good understanding of pushing the tempo. When we push the game for 90 minutes, we think that's an advantage for us."
Both squads had several opportunities before the United States broke through.
In the 15th minute, Quaranta had a header go wide left of the goalpost. Adu started the sequence with a nifty heel kick to Robbie Rogers, who took the ball deep into the left side of the penalty area before sending a cross to Quaranta in the middle. He dived and sent the header toward the post.
The Americans had another chance in the 22nd minute. Kyle Beckerman passed to Ching in the box. Ching chipped the ball over goalkeeper Donis Escobar, but he couldn't regain his footing as he chased down the ball and Honduras cleared off the goal line. Ching had another chance in the 51st minute when he took a cross right in front of the net and his shot went over the bar.
Honduras had a golden opportunity in the 30th minute. Walter Martinez had a breakaway with only goalkeeper Troy Perkins to beat, but his shot was just wide, hitting the right side of the goal netting.
The substitutions of Davies and Feilhaber in the 64th minute seemed to re-energize the American offense.
This was supposed to be Freddy Adu's big chance to show what he can do, but he was awful in the game against tiny Grenada and was the first man substituted for in this one, which, perhaps not coincidentally, was immediately followed by the two goals. At least at this point in time, if you're trying to win you can't have Feilhaber on the bench and Adu in the game.
MORE:
Quaranta Finds Net, and Finds His Way Back, for U.S.: United States 2, Honduras 0 (Paul Tenorio, 7/09/09, Washington Post)
Santino Quaranta charged toward one of the few corners of RFK Stadium where there were more red-clad fans than those in blue and white and slid on his knees, arms flexed out to the side, "a million things" rushing through his head.The moment could not have been more perfect.
Making his return to the U.S. national team for the first time since 2006, and marking yet another inspiring step in his comeback from a drug addiction that nearly derailed his career and his life, Quaranta had just buried a blistering shot from the top of the 18-yard box to give the United States the lead over Honduras -- turning this already special night into the ideal memory.
With his first goal ever for the United States, in front of his hometown crowd, Quaranta, the 24-year-old D.C. United midfielder, turned a previously scoreless game to the Americans' favor and eventually into a 2-0 victory in the first round of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
"It was a very special night for me, personally, but to be back wearing the [U.S.] jersey was probably more special," Quaranta said. "Just to be back on the field with the team and to listen to the anthem was very emotional for me. Because it has been such a fun and long road back."
On Tuesday at training, Quaranta said it would be difficult to hold back the emotions of returning to the field in a U.S. jersey in front of his home crowd. During the anthem, Quaranta clenched his eyes tightly shut and stared at the ground, trying to contain those feelings.
But after the goal, the emotions overflowed.