GROUP B

July 28 in Guadalajara

Brazil 1, USA 0. Goal: Ronaldinho 13.

Brazil – Dida, Evanilson, Odvan, Joao Carlos, Serginho, Flavio Conceicao (Alex, 68), Emerson, Vampeta, Ze Roberto, Ronaldinho (Beto, 80), Christian (Warley, 46).

USA – Keller, Hejduk, Fraser, Llamosa (Lewis, 68), Agoos, Harkes (Moore, 57), Berhalter, Kirovski, Stewart, McBride, Jones.

Yellow cards: Brazil – Emerson 90; USA – Berhalter 6, Llamosa 35, Fraser 61.

Referee: Frisk Anders (Sweden).

Att.: 54,000.

SA REPORT CARD

USA

STARTERS: Keller (7) No chance on goal. Hejduk (6) Overcame horrid start. Fraser (7) Solid and classy. Llamosa (6) Aggressive until he was hurt. Agoos (7) Shut down Evanilson. Harkes (6) Solid midfield director. Berhalter (8) Great in midfield, on back line. Kirovski (5) Needs to be more involved. Stewart (6) Did all the little things. Jones (5) Should be less unselfish. McBride (5) All over the field.

SUBS: Moore (4) Missed when it mattered most. Lewis (6)Changed game’s complexion.

BRAZIL

STARTERS: Dida (7) Saved the victory. Evanilson (5) Hard work for naught. Odvan (5) Surrendered the penalty. Joao Carlos (6) Solid in the middle. Serginho (7) Better in the first half. Flavio Conceicao (5) Disappeared often. Emerson (6) Started strong, then faded. Vampeta (6) Dangerous on occasion. Ze Roberto (6) Effective at times. Ronaldinho (7) Just like his namesake. Christian (5) Didn’t offer much.

SUBS: Warley (4) Did he play? Alex (4) Made no impact. Beto (NR) Short stint.

July 30 in Guadalajara

USA 2 Germany 0. Goals: Olsen 24, Moore 50.

USA – Friedel, Hejduk, Balboa, Brown, Agoos, McKeon, Williams, Olsen (Stewart, 65), Lewis, Moore (Kirovski, 83), Bravo (McBride, 77).

Germany – Lehmann, Woerns, Linke, Matthaeus, Heinrich (Dogan, 42), Gerber (Maul, 75), Wosz, Schneider, Heldt (Rink, 60), Neuville, Preetz.

Yellow cards: USA -Olsen 33, Hejduk 39, Agoos 47; Germany – Gerber 60, Woerns 75, Matthaeus 81, Rink 90.

Referee: Gilberto Alcala (Mexico).

Att.: 53,000.

SA REPORT CARD

USA

STARTERS: Friedel (8) Flawless performance. Hejduk (7) Ate up his Bundesliga buddies. Balboa (7) Experience made a difference. Brown (6) Clogged up the middle. Agoos (6) Iron man: 270 first-round minutes. McKeon (6) Memorable debut. Williams (6) Settled the midfield. Olsen (6) Strong flank work, fine goal. Lewis (6) Worked hard on the left. Moore (9) Superb all over the field. Bravo (5) Hammered by German defense.

SUBS: Stewart (6) Added to U.S. dominance. McBride (NR) Pivotal in final minutes. Kirovski (NR) Just 10 minutes.

GERMANY

STARTERS: Lehmann (5) Handled the simple stuff. Woerns (5) Brutalized Americans. Linke (4) Out of his element. Matthaeus (5) Glimpses of intensity. Gerber (4) Made no difference. Heinrich (5) Injury brought early end. Wosz (5) Only creative German. Schneider (4) Effectiveness waned steadily. Heldt (3) Offered less. Neuville (4) Fine Lon Chaney impression. Preetz (4) Couldn’t do a thing.

SUBS: Dogan (5) Solid effort in back, on wing. Rink (4) Too fancy for own good. Maul (NR) Worked harder than others.

SEMIFINAL
Aug. 1 in Mexico City.

Mexico 1 USA 0 (OT). Goal: Blanco 96.

Mexico – Campos, Pardo, Suarez, Marquez, Carmona, Torrado (Zepeda, 58), Villa, Terrazas (Palencia, 46), Ramirez (Arellano, 72), Abundis, Blanco.

USA – Keller, Hejduk, Berhalter, Fraser, Agoos, Jones, Williams, Harkes, Kirovski, Stewart, McBride (Lewis, 78).

Yellow cards: Mexico – Blanco 57; USA – Harkes 41, Fraser 60, Hejduk 82.

Referee: Kim Young Joo (South Korea).

Att.: 65,000.

SA REPORT CARD

USA

STARTERS: Keller (9) Spectacular; kept U.S. in game. Hejduk (6) Energy bothered the Tri. Berhalter (8) Continually stymied Mexican attack. Fraser (7) Positionally perfect. Agoos (8) Best soccer of his life. Jones (5) Nearly scored twice. Harkes (5) Ran out of steam. Williams (6) Fierce battler in front of back four. Kirovski (5) Didn’t see enough of the ball. Stewart (4) Largely ineffective. McBride (4) Had little support.

SUBS: Lewis (5) Couldn’t change game.

MEXICO

STARTERS: Campos (7) Stopped what he needed to. Pardo (6) Stronger as game wore on. Suarez (6) Anchor in the back. Marquez (4) Very quiet afternoon. Carmona (6) Dangerous on the wing. Villa (5) Better attacking than defending. Torrado (6) Solved midfield troubles. Terrazas (7) Key to every first-half chance. Ramirez (4) Disappeared in second half. Abundis (5) Couldn’t deal with U.S. defense. Blanco (6) Slow start, superb finish.

SUBS: Palencia (7) Constant challenge to U.S. Zepeda (7) Cross led to goal. Arellano (5) Had his moments.