Day 10 at Columbus, Ohio
United States Men 2, Paraguay 0
The United States Men's National Teams saved their best for the beginning and the end on Sunday, getting goals in the 12th minute from Landon Donovan, and in second-half stoppage time from Earnie Stewart, for a 2-0 win over Paraguay in a match played in front of 14,103 on a hot, sunny day at Columbus Crew Stadium.
In just the eighth minute, the US team made their first good attack at goal, when a Landon Donovan cross from the left side was headed on by Clint Mathis, to a wide-open Earnie Stewart, whose header was saved by Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar.
Four minutes later, the US was attacking down the left side again, this time with DaMarcus Beasley running the ball into the corner, then cutting back and beating several Paraguay defenders as he attacked the box, then played a pass into the box that deflected to the feet of Donovan, who buried a low shot into the right side of the net to put the US up 1-0.
In the 17th minute, the US had another good chance when Mathis hit a hard shot from 20 yards out that required a tip save by Villar as the ball was heading towards the top right corner.
Late in the 1st half, Paraguay had a few good chances, first on a shot by Derlis Soto that hit on the outside of the post before going out, then in the 40th minute when Jorge Campos got in behind the US defense, and forced US goalkeeper Kasey Keller to charge off his line, and Keller saved the shot with a reaction save as he cut down the angle.
Four minutes into the second half, the US was on the attack again, with Stewart making a run down the right side and into the box, and pushing a shot wide right from 15 yards out. In the 56th minute, US defender Cory Gibbs attempted a chip from the right side that may have been an attempted pass, but it forced a save by Villar has he had to jump to barely tip it over the bar.
In the 79th minute, Paraguay had another decent scoring opportunity go unfinished when Jorge Achucarro's cut into the US attacking third was only spoiled by a bad second touch, which allowed Keller to come out to clear the ball.
In the 81st minute, the US had a chance to double the lead when after a failed punch-out by Villar, the ball fell right to the feet of Gibbs, who was open at the top of the box, but he put his shot well over the bar when the net was mostly wide open.
In the 90th minute, Paraguay had their last good chance to even the match when Achucarro has battling with Carlos Bocanegra for the ball just outside the US box, which Bocanegra appeared to be shieding, but Achucarro got his foot onto the ball and foced a quick save by Keller.
But deep into stoppage time, the US finally got their insurance goal on a shot that was very similar to the first goal of the match. An Eddie Lewis cross was headed out by a Paraguay defender to the feet of Stewart, who hit a low shot to the left side of the net, just before the final whistle, to give the United States men a 2-0 victory.
