After clinching a quarterfinal berth with victories against Grenada and Honduras, the U.S. Men’s National Team will face Haiti to determine first place in Group B. The Men's National Team can win the group with a victory or a tie at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, July 11, at 4 p.m. PST. The U.S. is 6-0-1 in Gold Cup matches at Gillette Stadium, and has rolled with wins in the first two games of the Gold Cup for the 10th time. So far six different players have produced six goals for the U.S., and Troy Perkins has held strong in goal with his first two career shutouts.

U.S. ROSTER AGAINST HAITI: U.S. head coach Bob Bradley will have 21 of his 30-player roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup available for selection to the game day roster against Haiti on Saturday night. Freddy Adu and Benny Feilhaber have left the team to begin preparations for their 2009-10 club seasons in Europe. Adu scored a goal in the opener against Grenada, and Feilhaber helped create both U.S. goals against Honduras. Four players on the roster have yet to debut for the U.S. and are looking for their first cap: goalkeeper Luis Robles, defender Jay Heaps and midfielders Colin Clark and Sam Cronin.

USA SITS ON TOP OF GOLD CUP GROUP WITH WIN OVER HONDURAS

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 8, 2009) — Second half goals by Santino Quaranta and Brian Ching four minutes apart fired the U.S. to a 2-0 victory against Honduras and the top spot in Group B before an enthusiastic crowd of 26,079 at RFK Stadium.

The U.S. currently sits in first place in Group B as the only team with six points after two games. Honduras and Haiti each have three points, while Grenada sits in last place with zero. A win or a tie for the U.S. against Haiti in their final group match on Saturday, July 11, in Foxborough, Mass., would clinch the top spot in the group. With a five-goal advantage over second place Haiti in goal differential, the U.S. could also still finish first or second in the group even with a first-ever loss in group play in the Gold Cup. Their current all-time record stands at 22-0-3 through 10 regional championship appearances.

“We knew that this would be a good challenge tonight,” said U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley. “Honduras is a good team and this was the game that was going to go a long ways towards determining who would finish first in the group. I thought the response of our team was quite good. Games like this there's got to be a good collective effort from start to finish, you have to have the ability at certain points to bring on subs who help and in all ways I thought it was a good solid team effort.”

For each of the goal scorers, the match marked a return to international action after a layoff – although Quaranta’s was by far the most notable and longest. The 24-year-old, who was a member of the U.S. Gold Cup champion team in 2005 and made his most recent appearance more than three years ago, provided a storybook return by netting the game-winner – and first career international goal – in his home stadium in front of family and friends.

Quaranta broke the deadlock after a nice build-up that started on the right sideline when Chad Marshall reacted quickly to step around his man and win the ball just across the midfield line. The ball found the feet of Heath Pearce and he squared the ball for Benny Feilhaber, who entered the game only 10 minutes earlier. Feilhaber played a quick combination with Ching and then found his fellow substitute Charlie Davies with his back to goal about 16 yards out. Holding off his man, Davies smartly guided the ball to his right toward a charging Quaranta near the top of the box and the D.C. United midfielder directed a hard, first-time shot low and to the left of goalkeeper Donis Escobar.

“It was a very special night for me, personally,” said Quaranta. “But to be back wearing the jersey was probably more special. Just to be back with the team and to listen to the anthem was very emotional for me because it's been such a fun and long road back. It was a special night.”

The goal took the wind out of the Hondurans’ sails, and off a restart in the 79th-minute the U.S. doubled the lead. Ching, who hadn’t played for the U.S. since April 1 due to a hamstring strain, drew a foul trying to turn with the ball 40 yards from goal on the left side of midfield, and after Honduras brought on Georgie Welcome for Carlos Costly, Feilhaber quickly restarted play and switched the ball to Steve Cherundolo who had acres of space on the right side. Cherundolo served a cross into the six-yard box, where Ching out jumped his defender and headed the ball off Nery Medina’s shoulder and into the top of the net.

The goal was Ching’s 10th of his career, becoming the 18th player in U.S. history to tally double digits in his career. It was also Ching’s second career Gold Cup goal, with the last coincidentally coming in the second group match of the 2007 Gold Cup.

The two goals were well deserved as the U.S. controlled most of the pace throughout the match even though both teams had chances during the scoreless first half in front of a festive atmosphere charged by partisan fans supporting both sides.

Bradley brought in three new faces to the starting lineup from the Group B against Grenada on July 4 by Quaranta starting on the right, Ching starting at forward, and Michael Parkhurst stepping into the back line.

The U.S. got the first chance in the 15th minute when a series of passes and a nice flick from Freddy Adu put Robbie Rogers through to the baseline. He chipped a ball to the penalty spot, where a charging Quaranta put a diving header just wide. Seven minutes later, Kyle Beckerman played Ching through the back line but was shouldered off as he attempted to shoot and slipped the ball past the goalkeeper but off target before it was cleared.

After the U.S. had grabbed control of possession, finding space on the wings for the combination of Robbie Rogers and Pearce on the left and Cherundolo on the right making advances, Honduras began claiming the momentum in the last 15 minutes of the first half with pressure on the U.S.

In the 30th minute, the U.S adverted disaster after a bad giveaway in midfield providing a quick counter for Honduras. In behind the U.S. defense and all alone, Walter Martinez had only Troy Perkins to beat. Choosing to go near post, his effort struck the outside of the side netting.

The U.S. had two more scoring opportunities in the 34th and 38th minute. Adu’s golden chance came as the U.S. countered off a Honduran free kick. Ching sent Pearce off to the races down the left wing, where he picked out Adu alone 10 yards out, but his header went straight into the hands of Escobar. Four minutes later, Rogers hit a bouncing volley over the crossbar on a back-post cross by Quaranta.

The second half opened with neither team staking claim, although as the game carried on the U.S. began playing downhill. Bradley went to his bench in the 64th minute and brought on a pair of veterans from the team that finished second at the Confederations Cup, bringing on Davies and Feilhaber in favor of Adu and Logan Pause, respectively.

The hustle of Davies saw the U.S. nearly steal a goal in the 71st minute. As Honduran goalkeeper Donis Escobar received a back pass and set up to clear, Davies closed quickly and blocked the kick, sending the ball towards the Honduran goal. Mercifully for Honduras, it lacked the pace to cross the line and Escobar was able to collect.

Four minutes later, Quaranta put the U.S. ahead and Ching followed suit to put the game away. After the second goal, Kenny Cooper replaced Ching and the U.S., through the work of Feilhaber’s fresh legs, kept possession to finish off the game. Cooper ended up with three shots, but none could beat Escobar.

In stoppage time, Perkins was called upon one final time as Honduras had a free kick from 30 yards out. As Honduras pushed their attackers forward for a cross at the far post, Martinez attempted a surprise shot, but Perkins pushed the blast wide of his left post to preserve his second shutout in three appearances.

Following last night’s match, both Adu and Feilhaber will join their clubs in Europe to begin preseason training for the upcoming season.

The U.S. improved to 12-3-3 at RFK Stadium, and closes out Group B play at against Haiti on July 11 in another familiar location, Foxborough, Mass., where the U.S. is 16-1-4 all time, including a 6-0-1 record in the Gold Cup at Gillette Stadium. Kickoff on Saturday is 7 p.m. ET live on Fox Soccer Channel, TeleFutura and the Futbol de Primera Radio Network.

Haiti currently sits in second place in the group with three points and a plus-one goal differential, following a 2-0 victory against Grenada in the first match of the evening. Honduras is third with three points and a minus-one goal differential, and faces Grenada on Saturday.

SHOCKING: Onyewu to A.C. Milan

In what has to be the summer's most shocking transfer AC Milan have signed the USA international from Belgian side Standard Liege.

AC Milan have completed the transfer signing of Standard Liege centre back Oguchi Onyewu.

The 27-year-old apparently impressed the italians during the recent Confederations Cup for the United States, but it comes as a surprise that the Rossoneri have moved to snap him. Particularly, here at Ninetieth Minute, we have always been very critical of Onyewu's ability, or lack of, to play at a high level. Although he is a physical presence no matter where he is placed on the pitch, he definitely lacks the technical skills to play as a central defender.

 

Having followed A.C. Milan's last campaign very closely and realizing their back line was responsible for missing the Scudetto, Onyewu's signing does absolutely nothing to help them in that department. Time, and a very short one, will prove that statement true.

"AC Milan would like to inform that they have signed Oguchi Onyewu on a permanent basis from Standard Liege," a statement on the club's official website reads.

The contract is for three years. 

Onyewu arrives on a free transfer as his contract at Liege had expired. The 6' 4" centerback  possesses a Belgian passport, and so will not take up Milan's final non-EU slot.

Formerly with Newcastle United, Metz, and La Louviere, he has won 47 caps for the United States, and is expected to fight it out with Thiago Silva for a place alongside Alessandro Nesta in the center of the Milan defense next season.

U.S. Debuts With a Win in Gold Cup

SEATTLE (July 4, 2009) — The U.S. Men’s National Team continued their dominance in opening matches of the CONCACAF Gold Cup this evening with a 4-0 victory against Grenada at Qwest Field in Seattle.

Robbie Rogers, who was named Man of the Match for his excellent play at left midfield, assisted on the first two goals by Freddy Adu and Stuart Holden. In the second half, Rogers buried his own goal to cap off his second appearance for the national team, while Charlie Davies also tallied to give the U.S. their highest output in the calendar year.

With two goals in each half, the U.S. has now won all 10 of their Gold Cup opening matches, six of which have been shutouts. Overall, the U.S. improves to 22-0-1 lifetime in group play in the Gold Cup.

The four goals tied for the second most ever scored by the U.S. in the Gold Cup. In 2003, Landon Donovan scored four goals in a 5-0 victory against Cuba in the quarterfinals. The U.S. also scored four goals three other times: against El Salvador (4-0) in the quarterfinals in 2002, against Cuba (4-1) in their opening match in 2005 and against El Salvador (4-0) in their final group match in 2007.

"It's important to start the Gold Cup the right way," said U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley, who improved his record in Gold Cup play to 7-0-0. "There were a lot of good things – a good team effort and four different guys scoring goals. All those things are important as we start the tournament.”

“We said at halftime that there is a professional way to finish this game that involves discipline and knowing to respect the opponent, but in a good smart way knowing how to finish the game. We also understand that this is the first round and there are three games to play. Those are all important lessons and things you want to take from tonight."

The U.S., which only played on July 4 once before when they fell 1-0 to Brazil at the Rose Bowl during the World Cup fifteen years ago, was coming off an impressive performance at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, but entered the opening match of the Gold Cup with a fairly inexperienced lineup. Steve Cherundolo, who was playing his first match since October of last year due to injury, had the most caps by far of any player in the starting lineup, earning his 52nd at right back and was chosen by Bradley to wear the captain’s armband for his first time ever.

Three players earned their first cap on the night, including Holden, Logan Pause and Brad Evans, who came on as a substitute to make his debut on the home field for his club team, the Seattle Sounders. Overall, seven players in the lineup had a combined 11 caps before stepping foot on Qwest Field.

Despite the young lineup, the U.S. took control of possession from the opening whistle, combining crisp passing and incisive moment to put Grenada on the back foot almost immediately. In the seventh minute, the USA’s overwhelming pressure took its toll when Rogers stole the ball from Ricky Charles near the left sideline and quickly darted up the field towards goal. Dribbling along the edge of the penalty area, he deftly rounded defender Marc Marshall and slotted a perfect ball across the box for the trailing Adu who hit a one-timer that goalkeeper Desmond Noel got a hand to, but couldn’t keep out of the net. The goal was Adu’s second for the full national team.

The U.S. continued to press the attack, finding combinations all across the park to unlock the Grenadian defense. Rogers proved a menace throughout the half, his speed and delivery of dangerous crosses creating a multitude of scoring opportunities, and also taking chances as well. In the 17th minute, a beautiful series of passes put Cherundolo through on the right side and he hit a curling ball to the far post that found the head of Rogers, but his attempt was just wide.

Five minutes later, Grenada had one of their only chances on the night. The ball was served in from the right side and a glancing header from Kithson Bain seemed destined for the far side netting, but U.S. goalkeeper Troy Perkins was equal to the task, making a fine sprawling save to preserve the 1-0 lead. The save was the only one Perkins was required to make on the night.

After that scare, the U.S once again regained control and in the 31st minute took a two-goal lead. The play started when Holden played a ball across the goalmouth that eluded Davies, but Rogers hustled to keep it in and returned the favor for Holden. Rogers served the ball towards the back post where Holden took the initiative and darted in front of a flat-footed Anthony Modeste from six yards out and headed a ball down and off the underside of the crossbar. With the goal, Holden is the 45th player in U.S. history to score in his first appearance.

The second half was much of the same with the U.S. continuing to press forward and get numerous looks on goal. Rogers finally got one of his own on the hour mark, after a well-timed Pause through ball sliced open the Grenada defense and sent Rogers off to the races. In alone on Noel, Rogers calmly tucked the ball just inside the left post.

"We had a great team effort tonight,” said Rogers. “The chemistry was really good, and we were able to create a lot of chances. For us, it is a fantastic way to start the Gold Cup, and at the same time we know it is only the beginning."

Eight minutes later, the U.S. tallied their final goal on the night. From his center back position, Chad Marshall hit a long ball over the top to Pearce, who was streaking down the left flank. Perfectly in stride, the defender deftly touched a first-timed pass to his right, directly into the path of the unmarked Davies. The striker took one touch before slipping the ball low past Noel for his third goal in 10 career appearances.

The U.S. will travel to Washington, D.C., on Sunday in preparation for their second group match on July 8 against Honduras at RFK Stadium. The match kicks off at 9 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel and TeleFutura.