As its name implies, the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City is a posh hotel. Its doormen and the male members of the staff wear white gloves, and tasteful paintings are everywhere.
However, during the week leading up to the U.S. match against Mexico June 18, dissonant sounds blared into the hallway from a room on the fourth floor.
“It might have been the new Primus, or maybe Alice in Chains,” said U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller. “It helps kill the time. But if you need music to get motivated, you shouldn’t be playing.”
Mexico seldom forced Keller into action in the 4-0 U.S. win June 18 in Washington, but he did enough to show that, indeed, he should be playing for the U.S. — certainly more frequently than two appearances in three years. Not since a 1-0 loss to Scotland in May 1992 had Keller played for the full national team.
“I think Kasey did an outstanding job — he made some very important saves early on,” said U.S. coach Steve Sampson, who nevertheless named Brad Friedel as the starter against Colombia June 25. “He gave us a sense of composure in the back. It’s a nice way for him to come back to the national team.”
Keller re-joined the team a few days prior to a 3-2 win over Nigeria in the U.S. Cup opener, fresh off a week with the U.S. Olympic team at a tournament in St. Martin. (Olympic head coach Timo Liekoski is eyeing Keller as one of his allotted three “wild-card” players for the 1996 Olympics.)
After Roy Wegerle struck early for a 1-0 U.S. lead, Keller plunged to his left to tip away a low scorcher from Alberto Garcia Aspe. A few minutes later, Zague broke through on the left and got the ball past Keller, but Thomas Dooley knocked it clear with his left knee.
Keller spent most of the remaining time admiring a potent U.S. attack.
“The defensive shape for the day was really good, but we scored four goals,” said Keller, who picked up his ninth cap. “What this team has right now is a lot more ability going forward.”
Keller said he’ll travel with the team to Uruguay for Copa America, and as far as he knows, he’ll report to Millwall July 23 for preseason training. For Keller, shutting out Mexico didn’t mean all that much more than the 51 shutouts he’s compiled for Millwall in 156 matches.
“To be honest, it’s just another game,” he said. “We all came out and took confidence in the comeback win over Nigeria. We played better, and it also helps when you score in the first five minutes.”
by Soccer America Senior Editor Ridge Mahoney