Bizarre scenes in Kaiserslautern
By Ridge Mahoney
Soccer America Senior Editor
in Kaiserslautern
World Cup drama takes many forms, but seldom have two teams produced a match as unworldly as the 1-1 tie the USA and Italy played Saturday night at the Fritz-Walter Stadion.
One own goal, two disallowed goals and three red cards added up to just one point apiece. yet thanks to Ghana's 2-0 upset of the Czech Repblic earlier in the day, the USA still has a chance, albeit slim, of advancing to the second round.
After pressing and harassing the Italians from the opening kickoff, the Americans fell behind on an Alberto Gilardino goal from Andrea Pirlo's free kick but equalized when Bobby Convey's free kick was shortly thereafter scuffed into his own goal by Cristian Zaccardo.
Daniele De Rossi and Pablo Mastroeni (arguably the best player on the field until his needless challenge) were sent off by Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda in the first half, and less than two minutes after the restart, Eddie Pope went off with his second yellow card.
A spirited and determined U.S. team often rocked the Italians back on their heels. Coach Bruce Arena used Jimmy Conrad and DaMarcus Beasley as subs, and while the Italians found themselves with a man advantage, the USA held off the Italian efforts and generated a few of its own.
Claudio Reyna drove on the USA with a masterful performance of grit and poise. The running and dribbling of Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and Beasley unhinged the Italians. Oguchi Onyewu's powerful presence frustrated the Italian forwards, and Kasey Keller stretched elastically to thwart a goal-bound flick by Alessandro Del Piero.
The valiant Americans so thoroughly frustrated the Italians, their players were whistled by the large section of Italian fans. Yet American supporters also abounded. Thunderous applause greeted the U.S. goal, as well as the Americans' sharp passing and crunching tackles. Afterwards, the U.S. players paused for several minutes to thank their fans and then walked off the field with their pride restored and their interest in the tournament not yet quenched.
SOCCER AMERICA REPORT CARD
(1=low; 5=average; 10=high)
RATING PLAYER (CLUB/CAPS)
STARTERS:
7 Kasey Keller (Borussia MÆGladbach/GER, 36/95)
6 Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96/GER, 27/ 37)
6 Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege/BEL, 24/16)
3 Eddie Pope (Real Salt Lake, 32/82)
5 Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham/ENG, 27/41)
6 Clint Dempsey (New England Revolution, 23/22)
5 Bobby Convey (Reading/ENG, 23/41)
7 Claudio Reyna (Man. City/ENG, 32/112)
4 Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids, 29/50)
7 Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy, 24/83)
6 Brian McBride (Fulham/ENG, 33/94)
SUBS:
5 Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards, 29/16)
6 DaMarcus Beasley (PSV/NED, 24/60)
GAME REPORT
June 17 in Kaiserslautern
USA 1 Italy 1. Goals: Zaccardo (own goal) 27; Gilardino 22.
USA — Keller, Cherundolo, Onyewu, Pope, Bocanegra, Dempsey (Beasley, 62), Reyna, Mastroeni, Convey (Conrad, 52), Donovan, McBride.
Italy — Buffon, Zaccardo (Del Piero, 54), Nesta, Cannavaro, Zambrotta, De Rossi, Perrotta, Pirlo, Totti (Gattuso, 31), Gilardino, Toni (Iaquinta, 61).
Yellow cards: USA — Pope 21; Italy — Totti 5, Zambrotta 70.
Red cards: USA — Mastroeni 45, Pope 47; Italy — De Rossi 28.
Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay).
Att.: 46,000.
STATISTICS
Shots: USA 8 Italy 10.
Fouls: USA 24 Italy 13.
Corner Kicks: USA 3 Italy 7.
Offsides: USA 1 Italy 11.