 |
| |
|
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||||
|
Keller climbs shutout charts Posted: Sunday July 13, 2003 7:52 PMFOXBORO, Mass. (AP) -- Kasey Keller has left behind the disappointment of sitting out last year's World Cup. Now, the record for most shutouts in international play by a U.S. goalkeeper is within reach. Keller can tie Tony Meola's mark of 32 shutouts Monday night against Martinique in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. He recorded his 31st two days earlier in a 2-0 win over El Salvador. "I don't know how much more I have to prove myself," the goalkeeper said after Saturday's game. "I'm very happy with my career and the way it's gone." Keller's first game for the United States was on Feb. 4, 1990, against Colombia. Later that year, he was one of Meola's backups on the World Cup team. He started the Americans' first two games in the 1998 World Cup. But he didn't play in last year's World Cup, when the U.S. team reached the quarterfinals, its best performance since 1930. He and Brad Friedel battled for the goalkeeping job, then Keller had minor knee and elbow injuries. Friedel started the opener against Portugal, was outstanding as the Americans won in an upset and stayed in goal during the entire tournament. "There's very little difference between Friedel and Keller," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said Saturday. "On any given day, you could take your pick of either one." Keller, 33, had surgery on both elbows this summer and didn't play in the Confederations Cup in France last month. But now he's back in the Gold Cup with the defending champions. In last year's Gold Cup, he had four shutouts in five games. And he's 16-0-4 since 1998 in U.S. games on home fields. "Everything feels great," said Keller, who blanked Paraguay 2-0 in an exhibition on July 6, his first game for the national team since May 2002. A win or tie against Martinique in Group C would clinch a quarterfinal berth for the United States in the Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean. The Americans would play Canada, Costa Rica or Cuba in the quarterfinals next Saturday. Keller, who starts for Tottenham Hotspur in England's Premier League, first signed overseas with Millwall in 1990 and had 20 shutouts in 51 games with that team in 1993-94. He's also played in Spain and Turkey. Friedel, who starts for Blackburn, last season became the first American selected to the Premier League All-Star team. Now young goalkeepers are creeping up on them. Tim Howard of Major League Soccer's MetroStars, the U.S. starter in the Confederations Cup, is about to sign with Manchester United. Howard planned to fly to England on Sunday for a physical Monday, part of the process of completing his transfer. "It's always been probably one of our strongest positions throughout the years," Keller said. "It's just been nice to be kind of one of the frontiersmen out there, paving the way." In Saturday night's game, Keller wasn't tested much and made two saves. Eddie Lewis scored in the 28th minute and Brian McBride connected in the 76th. Keller made the lead stand up. "I can't remember when he's ever let this team down. Every time he's played he's been fantastic," U.S. captain Claudio Reyna said. Now, Keller will try to win for the second time in three days. Martinique has yet to play in this year's Gold Cup. "You can't play two games in three days," said Arena, upset with the scheduling. "It doesn't make sense unless your opponent is in the same situation, which they're not." Still, the United States is favored. "I know nothing about them," said Steve Ralston, who assisted on McBride's goal. "I've never seen them play. I don't know what to expect." The U.S. players don't expect any surprises from Keller. "He gives us the stability," Reyna said. "It was tough for him not to play (in the World Cup), but he loves being here with the guys and playing for his country. He's had a fantastic career and he's got many years left." Notes: In Sunday's games, Mexico upset World Cup champion Brazil 1-0 in Mexico City and Colombia beat Jamaica 1-0 in Miami. Jared Borgetti scored in the 79th minute for Mexico, and Jairo Patino scored in the 42nd minute for Colombia, like Brazil, an outside invitee to the Gold Cup. |
|
|||||||||
|
|||||||||||
