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U.S. takes 3rd in Pan Am men's soccer

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Posted: Friday August 06, 1999 11:22 PM

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) -- It wasn't Mexico. It wasn't the Confederations Cup. It was another bronze medal. For the United States, that's major progress.

With a goal in each half, the United States overcame a driving rain, gusting wind, a hostile crowd and Canada to win 2-1 Friday night and take third place at the Pan American Games.

"With our youngsters, U.S. soccer has never been in as good shape as it is right now," U.S. coach Clive Charles said.

Carlos Bocanegra drove in a header off a cross from Cory Gibbs in the seventh minute. Then 17-year-old forward Landon Donovan of Bayer Leverkusen in Germany added a second off a rebound in the 65th minute to give the United States only its third men's soccer medal in Pan American play.

Coming here with an amalgamated squad of under-17, under-20 and under-23 players, the United States admitted before the tournament began it came to Winnipeg to test prospects for the Olympic qualifying run next year.

The players had other ideas. They wanted a medal.

"You don't even know," Donovan said, unable to quantify the desire to get a medal despite the little hope observers gave them. "I'm just happy we won the game. That's all I care about. It's all about that bronze medal."

"The guys are going nuts," Charles said. "They're very happy."

The bronze medal came only three days after the United States' senior team beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 in Mexico City to take third place at the Confederations Cup.

Bocanegra's header from the 6-yard line came amid intermittent rain. But then the skies opened up with heavy rain and strong winds.

Despite a capacity crowd of about 8,000, Canada rarely threatened until the final 10 minutes. Chris Pozniak gave the host nation hope, launching a right-footer from just outside the arc past the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Tim Howard and into the upper right corner of the net in the 85th.

 

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