Pros

Twellman and Dempsey lead USA to win By Krisha Zagura at SBC Park
February 11, 2006


USA 3-2 Japan

Taylor Twellman (Photo by Joyce Furia)

Taylor Twellman scored his fifth international goal in four games and assisted on two others, including one for Clint Dempsey, as the USA, which also featured Pat Noonan in a starting role, overcame a spirited Japan side, 3-2, at SBC Park in San Francisco, CA, tonight.

After a clever reverse header in the 24th minute found Eddie Pope for the center back’s second international goal in as many games, Twellman was involved again with five minutes left before half time. The Revolution striker played the set-up man once again, as his clever lay-off fell perfectly for Clint Dempsey to lash home his third international goal with his left foot.

Twellman completed the USA scoring after 50 minutes when he outfought his marker to reach a Landon Donovan corner and fire home a header. Despite two late goals by Japan, the win for the home side was secure and with it came further evidence from Twellman and Dempsey in particular, that a place at the World Cup in Germany is there for the taking.

From a competitive point for view, Bruce Arena will have been pleased that Japan at least showed up with the intent not just to make up the numbers. Whether Dempsey felt the seem view, as he was fouled continuously in the opening half hour, may be another story, but the Japanese, managed by Brazilian legend Zico, were certainly not content to sit idly by as Norway had two weeks previously.

Despite the more combative nature of its opponent, the USA began well and had achieved a territorial stranglehold that led to a host of chances. After Landon Donovan, who again played in an advanced midfield role ahead of Kerry Zavagnin, fired just wide with a free kick, Josh Wolff also went close with a header that saved from close range.

The breakthrough came when Twellman, whose work off the ball had earned him so much praise against Norway from Arena, pulled away from his marker to redirect Todd Dunivant’s long ball into the path of Pope, who was lingering in an advanced role following a previous USA corner. The Real Salt Lake defender showed a forward’s instinct as he seized the opportunity and guided the ball past Kawaguchi in the Japanese goal for his eight international tally.

With confidence high, the USA sought to increase its lead immediately and Twellman was unlucky to see his goalbound effort off another Donovan corner pushed round the left post by Kawaguchi. However, the visitors could only keep the onslaught at bay for so long and, five minutes before the break, the USA doubled its lead with a goal made in New England.

Of all the players that appear to be ‘on the bubble’ for selection to the World Cup squad, Taylor Twellman and Clint Dempsey have arguably had the most attention paid to them. Their link-up in the 40th minute may, finally, silence the critics that said Twellman is just a scorer in MLS, whose support play is not good enough and Dempsey is not consistent enough in his play and concentration to make it at the international level.

Pat Noonan began the move that led to Dempsey’s finish with a neat give-and-go with Dunivant, who pushed the ball on to Wolff. Meanwhile, Twellman once again pulled away from his marker to receive his strike partner’s pass, by which time Dempsey’s forward run had taken him to the edge of the penalty area. Aware of his Revs mate’s position, Twellman cushioned a perfect pass into the Texan’s path and ‘Big Deuce’ applied the finishing touch before celebrating with a dance that would not look out of place in his next rap video.

Five minutes after half-time the provider turned poacher. Twellman had just seen a header drift over but made no mistake from his side’s next corner. Donovan’s ball into the area once again caused all sorts of problems for the Japanese defense and Twellman made them pay as he outmuscled his marker to head home from eight yards to give his side a 3-0 lead and send the impressive crowd of 37,365 in further raptures.

Shortly afterwards, and following another near miss by Dempsey with his left foot, the evening’s work came to an end for the Revs scoring duo. Twellman was replaced by Brian Ching in the 67th minute and, two minutes later, Dempsey received a good ovation as his spot was taken by Ben Olsen. By this time, Japan had got on the score sheet itself through Seiichiro Maki, who got to a right-wing cross ahaed of Chris Klein and headed past Kevin Hartman.

Indeed, the Japanese made for an exciting finish when Chris Rolfe, who had just replaced the industrious Pat Noonan, could not clear Yuji Nakazawa’s 90th minute effort from a corner off the line. As the final whistle approached, Bruce Arena had something of a headache as his side contrived to invite pressure on itself through a combination of poor defensive concentration and fatigue. There were too many occasions on which Japan was able to pressurize Hartman’s goal, which will be of concern to the coach as bigger tests approach.

After the game, Arena was typically understated in his comments and did not dwell on the late defensive lapses, choosing instead to accentuate the positives from the game to ussoccer.com:

“Despite the final scoreline, I think it was a dominating performance by our team tonight. In the second half, the number of substitutions impacted the game a little bit, but I thought for 60-65 minutes it was a very dominating performance by our team. Well done. I was very pleased with the effort of a number of our players.”

USA: Kevin Hartman, Todd Dunivant (Heath Pearce, 90), Jimmy Conrad, Eddie Pope, Chris Klein (Brian Carroll, 79), Pat Noonan (Chris Rolfe, 87), Kerry Zavagnin, Landon Donovan (Capt.), Clint Dempsey (Ben Olsen, 69), Josh Wolff (Eddie Johnson, 58), Taylor Twellman (Brian Ching, 68)

Subs not used: Matt Reis.