By Mike Woitalla
In its last game before departing for the World Cup in Germany, the USA mustered a 1-0 win over Latvia, whose only victories in World Cup qualifying came against Liechtenstein and Luxembourg.
Brian McBride, playing with a golf ball-size welt in his forehead from a clash in the 18th minute with Deniss Ivanovs, headed home a cross from right back Steve Cherundolo to spare the USA embarrassment in front of 24,636 fans in East Hartford, Conn.
Cherundolo's flank forays and attacking midfielder Landon Donovan provided the main threat for the USA, whose wide midfielders DaMarcus Beasley and John OBrien threatened infrequently while Pablo Mastroeni concentrated on defense.
Eddie Lewis played left back, a position manned by Carlos Bocanegra in the 2-0 win over Venezuela on Friday and Cory Gibbs in the 1-0 loss to Morocco on Tuesday. Eddie Pope and Jimmy Conrad paired up in the central defense and kept the feeble Latvian attack in check.
Although they attacked constantly down the flank, the Americans sent their crosses in from the midfield rather than from the endline, making work easy for the Latvian defense and providing few solid chances for McBride and his frontline partner Eddie Johnson.
The Americans kept possession well but to score only once against an opponent not close to the class of the opposition they'll face in the World Cup is worrisome.
SA REPORT CARD
USA 1 Latvia 0
May 28, 2006 in East Hartford, Conn.
(1=low; 5=average; 10=high)
PLAYER (CLUB/CAPS)
STARTERS:
5 Kasey Keller (Borussia MGladbach/GER, 93)
7 Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96/GER, 35)
6 Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City, 15)
6 Eddie Pope (Real Salt Lake, 80)
5 Eddie Lewis (Leeds/ENG, 70)
5 DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven/NED, 58)
6 Pablo Mastreoni (Colorado Rapids, 48)
7 Landon Donovan (Los Angeles, 81)
5 John O'Brien (Chivas USA, 31)
4 Eddie Johnson (Kansas City, 18)
7 Brian McBride (Fulham, 92)
SUBS:
5 Bobby Convey (Reading/ENG, 39)
NR Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo, 20)
NR Michael Bradley (Heerenveen/NED, 2)
May 28, 200
In East Hartford, Conn.
USA 1 Latvia 0
Goal: Brian McBride (Steve Cherundolo) 43.
USA – Kasey Keller, Steve Cherundolo, Eddie Pope, Jimmy Conrad, Eddie Lewis, Pablo Mastroeni (Michael Bradley, 83), DaMarcus Beasley, John OBrien (Bobby Convey, 66), Landon Donovan, Brian McBride, Eddie Johnson (Brian Ching, 83).
Latvia – Aleksandrs Kolinko, Dzintars Zirnis, Maris Smirnovs, Oskars K?ava, Deniss Ivanovs, Vitalijs Astafjevs, Juris Laizans (Aleksejs Visnakovs, 70), Andrejs Rubins (Gatis Kalnis, 83), Genadijs Solonicins (Viktors Morozs, 46), Maris Verpakovskis, Andrejs Prohorenkovs (Girts Karlsons, 46).
Stats: USA-Latvia
Shots: 16-10
Saves: 3-8
Corner Kicks: 4-0
Fouls: 12-24
Offside: 6-3
Yellow cards:
Latvia – Solonicins 10, Prohorenkovs 29, Laizans 57.
USA – none.
Referee: Steven Dipiero (CAN)
1st Asst.: Simon Fearn (CAN)
2nd Asst.: Neil Scofield (CAN)
Fourth Official: Alex Prus (USA)
Att.: 24,636
USA Sendoff Series
Tuesday, May 23 USA 0 Morocco 1
Friday, May 26 USA 2 Venezuela 0
Sunday, May 28 USA 1 Latvia 0