U.S. leaves France winless

Confed Cup comes to an end in 0-0 draw with Cameroon

LYON, France (AP) -- The United States left the Confederations Cup with experience, not wins.

With no chance to advance to the semifinals, the Americans completed first-round play Monday night with a scoreless tie against African champion Cameroon.

A U.S. lineup with seven starters 24 and younger dominated play against a second-string Cameroon lineup. The Americans thought it was their best effort of the tournament.

"It's good experience," forward Landon Donovan said. "We still have a ways to go."

Last year's advance to the World Cup quarterfinals gained respect for American soccer globally, but this tournament got them only education, not results. The U.S. team lost to World Cup semifinalist Turkey 2-1 in its opener and 1-0 to World Cup champion Brazil, getting outplayed both times.

"Our big opportunity was in game one, and we let it slip away," midfielder Chris Armas said. "Here, at this level, in tournament play, there's no room for that."

In its last trip to France, the United States went 0-3 at the 1998 World Cup. This time, the Americans got a point in France for the first time since a 1-0 win over Estonia in the 1924 Olympics and ended their nine-game, five-year losing streak in Europe.

Cameroon (2-0-1) advanced to a semifinal Thursday with South American champion Colombia (2-1), while defending tournament champion France (3-0) meets Turkey (1-1-1). The Turks played to a 2-2 tie Monday with Brazil (1-1-1), advancing over the World Cup champions on goal difference.

"Our plan was to use these three games or whatever it was going to be as a method of evaluating players, as well as giving them experience. I think we got exactly that," U.S coach Bruce Arena said. "Naturally, we're disappointed we're going home, but I'm not disappointed with the experiences we had here in France."

Because advancement wasn't at stake for either team, there was a less intense pace than the first two American games. Arena didn't start Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley and Gregg Berhalter, who played most of the first two games. Cameroon changed nine starters from Saturday. Donovan and Beasley entered as second-half substitutes.

Eddie Lewis created two good chances to score in the first half. In the 14th minute, he pushed the ball in front of the goal only to have Lucien Mettomo clear it. Lewis pushed it back in front, but again no American attacker was there and Ngassam Falemi cleared the ball.

In the 24th minute, Lewis took a flick by Jovan Kirovski near the endline and redirected the ball back to Clint Mathis, but he could only get off a weak shot from about 10 yards, and the ball was cleared off the line by Pierre Njanka. It was the second time in the tournament a shot by Mathis was stopped by a defender at the line.

"That's the way it goes," he said.

Joseph-Desire Job had Cameroon's best chance, outjumping Danny Califf in the 17th minute. But with half the net open and Howard beaten, Job sent a header wide from about 6 yards.

Howard made an excellent right-handed save on Job in the 25th, then fell on the rebound. He nearly got in trouble in the 33rd when he missed a punchout of a corner kick and the ball bounced in front of the American goal.

Howard stopped Job again in the 68th minute, coming out to make a leg save when the forward had only the goalkeeper to beat from 16 yards. Howard dived to his left to parry a shot by Valery Mezague in the 74th.

"He was a little tired tonight but again made a big-time save," Arena said. "Overall, he had an outstanding tournament. I think it's one that will give him a lot of confidence as he moves forward."

Notes: U.S. MF Kyle Martino had an excellent curling shot from 30 yards in the 51st minute that was knocked away when GK Eric Kwekeu dived to his right. Two minutes later, Martino was taken down by Thimothee Atouba and left the field with a severely sprained left ankle. X-rays at Lyon South Hospital Center were negative. ... There was whistling during "The Star-Spangled Banner" for the third straight game. "I'm not very happy with that," Cameroon coach Winnie Schaefer said.

 

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