October 9, 2009 THE LAST TIME IN HONDURAS U.S., Mathis get 2-1 WCQ win in 2001
Former Red Bull and MetroStar Clint Mathis scored the game-winner in the 87th minute of the U.S.'s 2-1 WCQ win in Honduras in 2001. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras -- The U.S. National Team has played in this Central American country only four times before Saturday night's World Cup qualfiier.
They have a 2-1-1 record here, the most recent confrontation a 2-1 victory in a qualifier on March 28, 2001.
As was his custom, U.S. coach Bruce Arena refused to give the small American media contingent his lineup because his team was reeling from several injuries, including to Brian McBride, Joe-Max Moore, Landon Donovan, Claudio Reyna, Eddie Pope and Ben Olsen.
At a late-afternoon practice two days before the match that had been off-limits to the Honduras media, Arena told six American journalists at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano: “I don’t know who you are rooting for in this game, but we would prefer this story doesn’t get out until Wednesday because we don’t want to give [the Hondurans] a day to think about what’s going on. . . . We have enough to worry about.”
But so much for that strategy. One of the local newspaper had photos of the team practice and a story about the probability of a weakened U.S. lineup -- with Moore and Olsen listed as possibilities.
Without those injured players, the Americans managed to overcome a hostile crowd, heat and humidity and an insistent and sometimes dazzling Honduran side to register a thrilling and dramatic triumph.
The drama was provided by then MetroStars standout Clint Mathis, who had replaced the ailing Reyna (groin muscle). The 24-year-old's star continued to rise as the dynamo played a role in both U.S. goals. He set up the first one -- Stewart's score in the 33rd minute -- and connected on the game-winner off a dramatic, 22-yard free kick in the 87th minute before an estimated SRO crowd of 50,000.
The victory was a gutsy performance by the Americans, who won only for the fifth time in 22 games in Central America (they're 5-10-7 overall). They remained atop the final round group with a maximum of six points in their first two matches. It was the Americans' first win in Central America in more than 11 years, since a 1-0 qualifying victory over El Salvador in Tegucigalpa, Honduras on Sept. 17, 1989. Honduras fell to 0-1-1.
"To get six points in the first two games and to defeat two fine teams in Mexico and Honduras, we're very pleased," Arena said.
"That puts us in an extremely strong position," goalkeeper Brad Friedel said. "Anyone who watched the game saw we had our backs against the wall for a lot of different reasons. That's going to happen when you're here."
Stewart, who was named captain for the match in Reyna's absence, enjoyed a memorable 32nd birthday. In the 33rd minute, defensive midfielder Chris Armas won the ball in the midfield and found Mathis, who shuffled off a short pass to Stewart. Stewart then rifled a slightly arching 30-yard line drive out of the reach of goalkeeper Noel Valladeres for his 12th international goal.
"Captain, scoring a goal and winning on my birthday," Stewart said. "It doesn't get much better than that."
With time running down, Armas was fouled by Maynor Suazo 22 yards out. Up stepped a tiring Mathis, who fired a low shot around the right side of the wall to the right corner past Valladeres for his third international score in 10 matches.
"The keeper was kind of far over towards the far post," Mathis said. "I had time to get it over the wall to dip in. I kind of kept it tight to the post. The keeper got a hand on it and it was able to go in.
"Any time you score a goal of this magnitude in a World Cup qualifier, it's a great feeling."
Besides Mathis, there were many heroes. Friedel stopped just about everything kicked his way, making several important saves, although he couldn't deny Julio Cesar de Leon's 25-year bullet in the 59th minute. Central defenders Jeff Agoos and Carlos Llamosa were rocks, clearing crosses and passes out of harm's way.
The only downside was second-half substitute Cobi Jones, who was red-carded in the 90th minute for tripping a Honduran player. He would miss the next match.
The U.S. had a month to bask in the glory -- the next match wasn't until April 26 in Kansas City -- as MLS started its sixth season.
