|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Bafana beffudled U.S. opens U.S. Cup with 4-0 thrashing of South Africa
Posted: Sunday June 04, 2000 08:32 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Cobi Jones and friends put the finishing touches on a great start for the hosts in the U.S. Cup. Led by Jones' two goals and two assists, the United States routed South Africa 4-0 Saturday in the opener of the U.S. Cup, the biggest margin of victory for the Americans in seven years. Jones, within two appearances of setting a record for international games by an American man, scored twice in the first half. Then he made two brilliant plays on goals by Glasgow Rangers midfielder Claudio Reyna and Earnie Stewart in the second half. "Today I got two goals, tomorrow who knows?" Jones said. "I can't worry about that situation, but just do the best I can and keep pushing and pushing." The South Africans gave the Americans far too much room in the penalty area, and it paid off big time for Jones, Reyna, Stewart and Brian McBride, who paced the attack. That pleased coach Bruce Arena, who had complained about his team's ability to put the ball in the net despite many opportunities. Did Arena's complaints make the difference?
"If that's all it took, we'd score 30 goals a game," he said, laughing. "Although we scored four, we had some other good chances we didn't put in the net. "I wish there was a significance [to so many goals]. We've had the chances to score four before and did not do it. Certainly we capitalized on our chances and that is encouraging." Jones personally took care of the offensive problems. He ran unimpeded diagonally from the right wing to the middle of the field before sending a 22-yard, left-footed rocket to the right of the oustretched goalkeeper Andre Arendse in the 36th minute. "The guy marking me kept saying 'Shoot it, shoot it,'" he said of defender David Kannemeyer. "So I did. I think he was a little surprised." Jones, making his 127th international appearance, struck again after a corner kick in the 44th. Eddie Lewis' corner was punched out by Arendse, who then fell down. The ball came to Reyna outside the area and he headed it sideways to Jones outside the 18. Another left-footed blast found its way home off Arendse's outstretched right arm. They were welcome goals for Jones, who has been slumping for the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS, where he has not scored in 10 games. But he has five goals and four assists in eight games for the national team this year.
"Obviously, they are two different teams, MLS and the national team," Jones said. "I'm trying to work up front and see what opportunities I can get.' Until Jones connected, most of the Americans' scoring opportunities centered around McBride. The Columbus Crew forward sent a header over the net while wide open and also had a shot shot sail well over the crossbar. Jones, sprung by McBride's pass on the right, sent a perfect cross for Reyna to volley home in the 65th. Just three minutes later, the Americans had their highest single-game output under Arena -- who took over after the last-place finish at the 1998 World Cup -- when Jones found Stewart 12 yards out on the right side. Two defenders failed to challenge Earnie Stewart to a loose ball in the area, and the NAC Breda forward ripped a right-footed blast just inside the near post. The United States hadn't scored four goals in a game since beating El Salvador 4-2 in a World Cup qualifier in November 1997, and Jones became the first player with a multi-goal game since McBride scored twice in that win. The Americans hadn't won by four goals or more since a 7-0 rout of El Salvador in December 1993. "The good signs are we always seem to be creating chances," Reyna said. "We scored four goals today ... it was a very good performance offensively." South Africa, meanwhile, rarely got anything going. Kasey Keller's biggest challenge came from former MLS player Shaun Bartlett, who was wide on a header from in front in the 62nd minute. "The whole team has got to take the blame," coach Trott Moloto said. "In the next two games, we will have to do better." The Bafana Bafana, in preparation for the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign in July, were limited to long-range chances in the first half, with only Helman Mkhaelele troubling the American defense with any regularity. But South Africa started the second half more promisingly. Shaun Bartlett and first-half substitute Delron Buckley both had chances from inside the penalty area in the first four minutes, but the first went high and the other into the side netting. The South Africans clearly were more dangerous to start the second half, but it left them exposed at the back and the United States capitalized on their second counter in the 65th. Reyna's goal appeared to demoralize the South Africans and the Americans capitalized again after only three more minutes. The South Africans, coming off a 1-0 victory Malta for its first win in Europe in eight years and 19 matches, have two games remaining in the U.S. Cup, against Mexico on Wednesday in Dallas, and June 11 against Ireland in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Americans take on Ireland Tuesday night in Foxboro, Massachusetts, and Mexico in East Rutherford also on June 11. --- Lineups United States: Kasey Keller; David Regis, Jeff Agoos, Carlos Llamosa, Tony Sanneh; Chris Armas, Eddie Lewis (Ben Olsen, 66th), Earnie Stewart (Steve Ralston, 82nd), Claudio Reyna, Cobi Jones (Jason Kreis, 84th), Brian McBride (Ante Razov, 70th). South Africa: Andre Arendse; Cyril Nzama, Andrew Rabulta, Pierre Issa, David Kannemeyer (Jacob Lekgetho, 73rd); Helman Mkhalele, Thabo Mngomeni (Godfrey Sapula, 46th), Dmisi Ngobe, Ivan McKinley (Delron Buckley, 33rd); Shaun Bartlett, Benny McCarthy (George Koumantarakis, 73rd). Referee: Antonio Marrufo, Mexico.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
