USA-Guatemala Report Card

By Ridge Mahoney

All of a sudden, the USA looks deeper, rather than deprived, in midfield.

Man of the Match Chris Klein scored a goal and set up two others as the USA demolished Guatemala, 4-0, in a setting worthy of the ESPN2 show ''Cold Pizza,'' for temperatures hovered right around freezing at the new home of FC Dallas, Pizza Hut Park, on Sunday.

Klein did much of the playmaking in a 4-3-3 formation. Without the Landon Donovan-Pat Noonan-Clint Dempsey alignment that had toyed with Norway and Japan, Klein's charges up the right flank and mid-range balls from midfield supplied much of the service for the upfront triumvirate of Josh Wolff, Brian Ching and Chris Rolfe.

Wolff and Rolfe set up goals, and Eddie Johnson scored 69 seconds after coming into the match as a halftime sub. In addition to scoring, Ching checked back into midfield frequently and his constant movement opened up space.

Rolfe also put the ball into the net during a goalmouth scramble but the goal was disallowed for a foul by Ching.

Klein's midfield mates, Ben Olsen and Kerry Zavagnin, were nearly as influential as he: Olsen scored a spectacular goal, got forward often and hit several good dead balls; Zavagnin's typically tidy work secured the middle of the park.

Injuries to Claudio Reyna, Pablo Mastroeni and John O'Brien have brought into question the U.S. midfield depth. The sharp, cohesive play in friendlies played so far in 2006 may not translate into effectiveness in Group E at the World Cup next June, but at least Coach Bruce Arena has been given several long looks at myriad deployments and combinations.

Midfield subs Santino Quaranta and Brian Carroll maintained the pressure on Guatemala, which seldom threatened. Guillermo Ramirez sputtered and Carlos Ruiz was prominent only by his floundering as the U.S. dominated for long periods and recorded its third shutout of 2006.

Outside backs Frankie Hejduk and Heath Pearce got into the attacks as well. Hejduk sent over several teasing crosses and tormented Guatemala with his relentless, persistent workrate; Pearce shot over the bar and whistled a low blast just wide.

SA REPORT CARD
(1=low; 5=average; 10=high)
STARTERS:
5 Brad Guzan
6 Frankie Hejduk
7 Eddie Pope
6 Jimmy Conrad
5 Heath Pearce
8 Chris Klein
7 Ben Olsen
6 Kerry Zavagnin
6 Josh Wolff
6 Brian Ching
7 Chris Rolfe
SUBS:
6 Eddie Johnson
6 Brian Carroll
6 Santino Quaranta
5 Bobby Boswell
4 Kyle Martino
nr Zach Wells