|
VIDEO: Landon Donovan scored three goals in his first time back with the U.S. national team in nine games and sparked the Americans to a 5-1 victory over Scotland on Saturday in the first of three friendly matches for the United States heading into World Cup qualifying.
El Salvador also won and Honduras fell to New Zealand in a Dallas doubleheader as the three prepared for the start of the semifinal round of CONCACAF qualifying on June 8.
Donovan, who hadn't played with the United States due to injuries and club commitments since a September friendly loss to Costa Rica, became the first player in U.S. history to start 125 games for the national team.
Playing in his 139th match, he tallied in the third minute to give the United States the lead, and then added goals in the 60th and 64th to extend his U.S. record goal tally to 49 and delight the crowd of 44,438 in Jacksonville, Florida.
Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones also scored for the Americans, who will face Brazil on Wednesday in the Washington suburb of Landover, Maryland.
The Americans played without Clint Dempsey, reportedly hampered from a sore groin after his English league season, preventing once again the Fulham forward from combining with Donovan since Juergen Klinsmann replaced Bob Bradley as manager last year.
The United States had the better of play from the opening kickoff, with Donovan putting the Americans ahead. Jose Torres forced a turnover on the left side, Bradley fed Jones who found Donovan inside the penalty area. Donovan pivoted with Scotland keeper Allan McGregor and defender blocking his first shot, but the LA Galaxy midfielder pounced on the rebound to shoot into the roof of the net.
Bradley doubled eight minutes later. Donovan crossed a ball into Jones, who one-touched it into the path of Bradley. The Chievo midfielder struck the ball first time from 25 meters and it curled in off the right post.
Scotland replied when Kenny Miller headed a ball played to the back post, looking to send it across the goal box, but instead struck Houston defender Geoff Cameron in the chest and bounced past U.S. keeper Tim Howard.
Donovan ended Scotland's resolve with a pair of goals four minutes apart in the second half. He finished after Jones and Bradley traded passes and then Jones sent the final ball for Donovan to volley. Bradley had a similar exchange with second-half substitute Herculez Gomez before sending a last touch for Donovan to finish.
"We put on a really good performance," Donovan said. "it's been a tough 10 days of training, seven days for some of us, and we wanted to put on a good show tonight."
Jones added a 70th-minute finale with a header off a Donovan cross.
El Salvador 2, Moldova 0
In Dallas, Nelson Bonilla scored in only his second match with "Los Cuscatlecos" and Jaime Alas added another, both within the first 23 minutes and El Salvador ended a two-game winless streak.
El Salvador, which drew 2-2 on Wednesday against New Zealand in Houston, won for the first time since going unbeaten in the previous round of World Cup qualifying.
The Cuscatlecos will play one more match before facing Costa Rica to open the semifinal round of qualifying, opposing arch rival Honduras on June 2 in Washington.
Honduras 0, New Zealand 1
In Dallas, a header by Shane Smeltz just before halftime gave New Zealand its first win in nearly two years, ending an 11-game skid.
David Suazo, who was paired with Carlo Costly up front for Honduras, had to leave the game at halftime with an apparently left leg injury.
Manager Luis Fernando Suarez chose to rest England-based Maynor Figueroa and Wilson Palacios, and was without San Jose Earthquakes defender Victor Bernardez, who reportedly was to join the team on Monday.
Costa Rica 3, Guatemala 2
In San Jose, Costa Rica, the Ticos survived overcame two goals by Guatemala's Carlos Ruis and playing with 10 men for the final 41 minutes to beat Guatemala on Friday and extend its unbeaten streak to seven straight.
An own-goal by Jonathan Lopez in the 24th plus strikes by Alvarco Sanchez in the 53d and the winner by Giancarlo Gonzalez in the 77th provided the offense for Costa Rica, which lost Michael Umana in the 39th minute.
Guatemala also finished with 10 minute after Manuel Leon was ejected in the 90th. The two will face off again on Thursday in Guatemala City in the second of a two-game friendly series.
