Late Olympian subs provide positives after a no-thrills performance against Costa Rica
It didnÆt matter that the call was correct.
When the assistant refereeÆs flag went up in the third minute of stoppage time, signifying that Josh Wolff was offside ù his seven-yard strike would not count for a goal ù a cathartic eruption of joy was cut short.
The overwhelming majority of the 24,430 fans at Columbus Crew Stadium who were ravenously anticipating a United States victory over Costa Rica suddenly felt robbed. Half-full bottles of beer and other debris rained down on the field in Columbus.
The remaining three minutes in the match were tainted by the angry fans. Young U.S. midfielder Chris Albright raised his palm like a crossing guard as two bottles crashed to the ground on either side of him. The final whistle was met by repugnant boos, perhaps directed at the officials, perhaps disgusted by the 0-0 result that seemed so inappropriate for the fervent atmosphere.
The visiting teamÆs star forward, Paulo Wanchope, was doused by a barrage of contained fluids as he dashed through the uncovered tunnel exiting the field.
The fans throwing beer either thought they were justified, given the often exaggerated treatment the U.S. team had received in previous road matches or they merely wanted to insure that the ugly trend continues.
It didnÆt matter that the call was correct.
What did matter was that neither the United States nor Costa Rica had clinched passage into the final round of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup.
For the United States, that meant only a win in Barbados Nov. 15 would guarantee advancement to the final round of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup. But it also was better than a loss, since Costa Rica now must get a result in Guatemala to assure itself a spot.
PRESSURE ON KIROVSKI. Missing captain and midfield director Claudio Reyna was certain to be the most costly of the eight absences Coach Bruce Arena had to cope with in preparing a lineup.
Arena opted for a 3-5-2 alignment, even admitting that no one player could replace Reyna. Jovan Kirovski, age 24, with seven goals and one assist in his 44 national team appearances, played at the front of the teamÆs central midfield triangle.
It was easily the most important role Kirovski had ever played in a game of this magnitude.
From the start, Costa Rica crammed the central midfield areas as expected. KirovskiÆs first touch, off the opening kickoff, was rushed by a pair of charging Ticos and ended up an ineffective floating ball in the direction of Cobi Jones.
Throughout the first half, Kirovski encountered very little time and space on the ball. By halftime, he had lost possession seven times.
ôIt was a difficult game,ö Kirovski said. ôThe way they played in midfield, they put four in the middle, and it was really tough to get an opportunity to get forward. I did a lot of running defensively, which is tough. … Mostly I spent all my energies defensively.ö
It didnÆt help Kirovski that Tony Sanneh and Chad Deering frequently chose to send the ball long rather than find their playmaker in an advanced position.
Assistant coach Dave Sarachan, who acted in place of the suspended Arena from the bench, termed KirovskiÆs performance as ôsolidö and added, ôhe had more plusses than minuses.ö
But by the time Sarachan called upon Chris Albright and Josh Wolff to enter the game with about 20 minutes left, it was clear that Kirovski was unable to create chance the way he wanted.
ôSecond half I think we had some good combinations,ö Kirovski said. ôbut we didnÆt have an real clear-cut chances like we usually make.ö
AN OLYMPIC BOOST. SarachanÆs assessment of the first half was that as a team, the United States was not aggressive enough in the attack; that the forwards, Joe-Max Moore and Ante Razov, were a little too unselfish.
ôI thought they could have turned and taken players on,ö Sarachan said. ôWe kind of encouraged our guys in any parts of the field in the attacking third to go at them.ö
Several dribbling attempts by Moore and Razov bogged down because of the Costa Rican defendersÆ superior quickness, and none of the United StatesÆ through balls in the first half were effective.
When it came time for Sarachan to make his three substitutions in the second half, then, it was logical that all three were players known for their speed and eagerness to take on defenders. It was merely coincidence, according to Arena, that all three were members of the Olympic team in Sydney that achieved an historic fourth-place finish.
Regardless, Albright, Wolff and later Ben Olsen injected renewed vigor into the U.S. attack and the Columbus crowd support.
Wolff earned a corner within his first minute on the field, Albright sent a tricky ball on goal a little later. OlsenÆs alert throw-in and WolffÆs speed nearly earned a penalty kick in the first minute of stoppage time, and the eventual climax was WolffÆs offside strike.
ôI think we definitely brought some good things to the game,ö Wolff said. ôWe brought some pace and we really went at them. We certainly didnÆt hold back and thatÆs our reason for being here. We do have some pace and as young as we are, we still have some good ideas when we go forward.ö
Perhaps the most positive aspect of this game was the realization that the Olympic experience has helped those players already. Wolff and Albright now give Arena some speedy options at forward without moving Jones or Earnie Stewart from midfield.
ôWolff is certainly moving up the ladder. He really is,ö said Arena, in a rare endorsement of a young player. ôHeÆs going to be a good forward.ö
Arena corrected one reporter, however, who suggested the U.S. has great depth.
ôGood depth. I guess the definition of great depth would have been a win tonight.ö
DO OR DIE IN BARBADOS. So now the U.S. team faces a game that could eliminate them from World Cup qualification for the first time since 1989, when Paul CaligiuriÆs remarkable goal in Trinidad secured a trip to Italia æ90 in the last qualifying game.
Having defeated the Bajan Rockets, 7-0, in Foxboro would seem to remove any trepidation about a negative result in Bridgetown. But Arena already has begun warning against overconfidence.
ôCertainly, you have to be prepared to play [Barbados] and you have to have the kind of respect you need to have for them,ö Arena said.
The fact that Barbados managed to defeat Costa Rica at home and held the upper hand over Guatemala after yielding two early goals indicates that another U.S. blowout is unlikely.
Barbados Coach Horace Beckles issued a challenge immediately following his teamÆs unraveling, saying that in his nation, ôthe playing field will be level.ö
The playing surface certainly will not be ideal, but U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller already dismissed any excuses.
ôIn all honesty, if we canÆt beat Barbados, we donÆt deserve to go through anyway,ö Keller said.
KellerÆs sentiments were echoed by several other players and even disgruntled fans leaving Crew Stadium Oct. 11.
ôIt would have been nice to get the three points and clinch today,ö Chris Armas said. ôbut now we have to go down there and win. We should be able to that.ö
Added Arena: ôI think weÆll be fine. WeÆll be fine.ö
by Soccer America associate editor Will Kuhns in Columbus, Ohio