Beaz knees

U.S. beats Grenada 3-0 to open World Cup qualifying

DaMarcus Beasley had his first career two-goal match for the U.S. AP

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The United States opened qualifying for the 2006 World Cup with a modest win over Grenada, not a rout.

DaMarcus Beasley scored twice and Greg Vanney added a goal in second-half injury time, giving the Americans a 3-0 victory Sunday in the first game of the home-and-home, total-goals series. (U.S. Results and Schedule)

"We basically choreographed this game," U.S coach Bruce Arena said. "The team that's the fitter team is our team. Over 90 minutes it was going to be obvious. After 35 minutes you could see they were basically done."

Grenada put forth a valiant effort in the first half. Defender Kennedy Phillip cleared Carlos Bocanegra's header off the goal line in the 39th minute. Four minutes later midfielder Ricky Charles cleared shots by both Claudio Reyna and Brian McBride.

Although they used an attack-oriented lineup that repeatedly came forward, the Americans didn't break through until the 45th minute, when Beasley headed a lofting cross from Claudio Reyna over goalkeeper Kellon Baptiste from about 4 yards out.

"We were getting crosses in the box, and we weren't able to get enough guys to the back post," said Beasley, who got his first goal in a World Cup qualifier. "We're frustrated in games like this. It takes a lot to get the first goal, but once you do the others will come."

Kasey Keller got his 38th victory, surpassing Tony Meola for the lead among U.S. goalkeepers, blanking a tiny nation ranked 138th in the world, one with a population estimated at about 100,000. It was the U.S. team's fourth consecutive shutout.

The No. 9 Americans, a quarterfinalist at the 2002 World Cup, outshot the Spice Boyz 34-6 and piled up a 17-1 advantage on corner kicks. But Grenada packed in its defenders and frequently frustrated the United States, which goes to Grenada next Sunday for the second leg.

"We are a small nation, considered as minnows. But we can compete with any top-ranked team in the world, on any level, any time," said Baptiste, who had 11 saves.

After the game, Grenada's players turned toward their fans in the crowd of 9,137 and clapped in appreciation, and fans waved their flags in return.

Grenada coach Ali Debellotte knows overturning the 3-0 aggregate would be a long shot next Sunday, even with the support of the home crowd at the 15,000-seat Cricket National Stadium. The Americans have not lost a World Cup qualifier by three or more goals since Mexico routed them 5-1 in 1980.

"That will be a difficult task, but we are hoping that at least we could win," Debellotte said. "But if we get four, we'll accept it."

Beasley made it 2-0 in the 71st minute after streaking down the field with Landon Donovan, taking a pass and beating Baptiste on one touch from about 15 yards.

Grenada's Everetts Watts collides with U.S. captain Claudio Reyna (10). AP

"There was nobody around me. I didn't know whether or not to hit it the first time or to take a touch," Beasley said. "The keeper was leaning to the near post, so I hit it far post and it went in."

Vanney scored off a pass from Eddie Lewis, who came into the game in the 73rd minute for Chris Armas. Vanney took the ball just outside the penalty area and sent a shot that weaved through three defenders and off the fingertips of a diving Baptiste.

"The ball had eyes and found its way through a bunch of people and inside the net," Vanney said. "It was kind of strange for today, in a game where it seemed like every single shot hit somebody, this one kind of found its way through," Vanney said.

Grenada's offense came on counterattacks. Jason Roberts, who plays for Wigan Athletic in the English first division, challenged American defenders with his size, speed and physical play.

The home-and-home encounter is the first for the Americans since 1988, when they beat Jamaica 5-1 and went on the following year to qualify for their first World Cup since 1950.

The Americans had a first-round bye this year while Grenada overwhelmed Guyana 8-1. The winner of this series advances to a semifinal group in the North and Central American and Caribbean region that is likely to include El Salvador, Jamaica and Panama. The top two teams move on to next year's regional finals.

Notes: Earnie Stewart replaced McBride with a minute to go for his 99th international appearance. Stewart played for D.C. United on Saturday night. ... Conor Casey, who made his fourth consecutive start, left in the 20th minute with a strained muscle behind his right knee and will be sidelined 4-to-6 weeks. ... Donovan, at 22 years, 98 days, became the youngest American with 50 international appearances. ... Lewis, Casey and D Eddie Pope are not on the roster for the return leg -- Lewis and Pope received yellow cards Sunday. F Josh Wolff, D Pablo Mastroeni and MF Kerry Zavagnin were added.

Summary

United States 3, Grenada 0 - result

World Cup qualifier, CONCACAF zone, second round, first leg,

Scorers: DaMarcus Beasley, 45+1, 71; Greg Vanney, 92+

Halftime: 1-0; Attendance: 9,137

Teams:

United States - 18-Kasey Keller, 3-Greg Vanney, 4-Carlos Bocanegra, 23-Eddie Pope, 6-Steve Cherundolo, 21-Landon Donovan, 10-Claudio Reyna, 14-Chris Armas (7-Eddie Lewis 73), 17-DaMarcus Beasley, 20-Brian McBride (8-Earnie Stewart 90+2), 9-Conor Casey (11-Jovan Kirovski, 21).

Grenada - 1-Kellon Baptiste, 5-Franklin Baptiste, 11-Anthony Modeste, 14-Brian Benjamin (Eric George, 67), 15-Kennedy Philip (16-Byron Bubb, 75), 20-Anthony Bedeau, 9-Shalrie Joseph, 10-Ricky Charles, 12-Patrick Modeste, 13-Everett Watts (8-Nigel Bishop, 52), 30-Jason Roberts

Referee: Mauricio Navarro (Canada)

Canada gets first-leg win

NEW YORK (AP) -- Canada, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago each recorded shutouts Sunday in the first leg of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying's second round, but host Nicaragua was held to a 2-2 draw by St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Canada and Panama each won 4-0, with the Canadians topping Belize and Panama beating St. Lucia. Trinidad blanked the Dominican Republic 2-0.

Also Sunday, El Salvador topped Bermuda 2-1 while Barbados hosted St. Kitts and Nevis.

The 12 second-round winners advance to the semifinals of the qualifying competition, which has three groups of four teams. The top two teams in each semifinal group advance to the final six-team group.

The top three teams in the final group will qualify for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, while the fourth-place team will face an Asian team in a playoff for another spot.

In Kingston, Ontario, Everton forward Tomasz Radzinski scored one of the four goals as Canada easily beat Belize 4-0.

Paul Peschisolido, Kevin McKenna and Jim Brennan also scored for Canada, which will face Belize in Kingston again on Wednesday in the second leg.

Radzinski missed several chances to give the hosts an even bigger lead against Belize, which was playing without Norman Tilliman because of a disagreement with management.

In Diriamba, Nicaragua, the hosts needed an 81st-minute equalizer from Rudel Calero to salvage the 2-2 draw against St. Vincent.

Renzo Haynes scored the first goal for the visitors in the 10th minute, but Emilio Palacios leveled in the 38th.

Shandel Samuel also scored for St. Vincent, which reached the semifinal stage last time but lost all six of its group matches against Honduras, Jamaica and El Salvador.

St. Vincent will get a chance to win the series next Sunday at home in the second leg.

In Panama City, Panama, Julio Dely Valdes scored the deciding goal as Panama crushed St. Lucia 4-0.

Luis Tejada, Ricardo Phillips and Robert Brown also scored for Panama, which will visit St. Lucia for the second leg next Sunday.

In Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Marvin Andrews and Stern John each scored in the second half as Trinidad and Tobago beat the Dominican Republic 2-0.

Andrews scored the first goal in the 62nd minute with a header off a corner kick. John added the insurance in the 90th with a clean shot that sizzled past Dominican Republic goalkeeper Junior Mejia.

The second leg is scheduled for next Sunday in Port-of-Spain.

In San Salvador, El Salvador, Victor Velasquez headed in the match-winner off a corner kick in the 53rd minute as El Salvador topped Bermuda 2-1.

Jose Martinez also scored for the hosts in the 13th minute, but John Nusum equalized for Bermuda in the 29th.

Bermuda will get a chance to pull off an upset at home next Sunday in the second leg.

In Waterford, Barbados, Keith Gumbs and Adam Newton each scored late Sunday as St. Kitts and Nevis beat host Barbados 2-0 in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

Barbados enjoyed the better of the first half but could not get past a spirited visiting defense.

St. Kitts and Nevis turned the match around in the second half, quieting a home crowd of 8,000 at the National Stadium with some enterprising soccer.

Gumbs scored the first goal in the 79th minute, heading home a cross from Sagi Burton.

The visitors doubled their lead in the 88th when Newton fired a shot from the top of box which bounced past Barbados goalkeeper Adrian Chase.

Barbados will get a chance to reverse the result in the second leg on Saturday at St. Kitts.

On Saturday, it was: Cuba 2, Costa Rica 2; Haiti 1, Jamaica 1; Netherlands Antilles 1, Honduras 2; and Suriname 1, Guatemala 1.

Both the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.