Summer Olympian

Click here for the Lead Stories

U.S. Men’s Soccer Is Going to Beijing

Posted March 21, 2008 at 10:53 AM by Michael J. Sedor

Section: Beijing 2008, Beijing Results, Events, Soccer, Columns/Blogs, Michael Sedor

Freddy du The United States Men’s U-23 Soccer Team booked their place in Beijing Thursday night with an assured 3-0 victory against northern rivals Canada. 18-year old phenom Freddy Adu led the way by scoring two goals, setting up another, and infusing his teammates with a calm confidence and steady resolve. The game’s result was never in question primarily because of Adu’s on-field leadership. This was not the same U.S. team that struggled to score against Cuba, Panama, and Guatemala. This was the internationally-experienced battle-tested team we expected to see and a team that can feasibly challenge the world soccer powers for gold in Beijing.

Adu, who now plays his club football for Portuguese giant Benfica, opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a deceptive free kick from just outside the right corner box that seemed to mesmerize the Canadian goaltender Joshua Wagenaar. Instead of reacting to the ball, Wagenaar moved the other way anticipating a deflection from American midfielder Sacha Kljestan. But Kljestan never got there and neither did Wagenaar and the ball slowly rolled into the back of the net. The U.S. coasted for the remainder of the first half steadily building attack after attack while simultaneously allowing Canada no offensive rhythm; the Maple Leafs finished the match with no shots on goal and no real scoring chances.

Adu continued his magic by hooking a terrific 20-yard free kick into the goal’s upper-right corner just three minutes into the second half. The Canadian goalie never had a chance. America’s terrific threesome of Adu, the Houston Dynamo’s Stuart Holden, and Chivas U.S.A.’s Kljestan combined to finish off the scoring, as well as their northern neighbor, with a wonderful 82nd minute goal. Adu began the play with a beautiful long ball down the left side which caught Holden in stride. Holden then delivered a perfect cross to Kljestan who gathered the ball and calmly and clinically blasted it into the net.

The U.S. will be joined in China by Honduras who defeated its Central American neighbor Guatemala 6-5 in a penalty shootout. Their dreary, protracted match ended 0-0 in regulation and 0-0 after the 30 minutes of extra time. 15 of the 16 Beijing Olympic soccer spots have now been decided. The U.S. and Honduras will be joined by China, Australia, Korea, Japan, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, Brazil, Argentina, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Serbia, Belgium, Italy, and either Ghana or Nigeria.

The U.S. will play Honduras for first place in the Pre-Olympic Tournament on Sunday at 4:00 at Nashville, Tenn.’s LP Field. The game will be televised in the States on Fox Soccer Channel and ESPN Deportes.