US Win At Home
The US Men’s National team strung together their third win in as many matches under interim coach Bob Bradley against a lack luster Ecuadorian side in Tampa, Florida today. The US squad featured eight MLS players and ten international players.
Landon Donovan scored the first of his three goals only forty-five seconds into the match. Poor clearance from the box by the Ecuadorian captain put the ball at Donovan’s feet who was able to blast home on the far right hand side of the goal. Despite the early goal, neither side really looked dominant. The US had a few good opportunities, but so did the South Americans and it was they who would tally the next in the eleventh minute through Felipe Caicedo. Caicedo carried into the box, and managed to elude three or four American defenders. Eventually Tim Howard came out of goal to shut down the angle, but Caicedo’s shot caught Howard’s knee and subsequently found the back of the net. Just a minute prior to this goal Caicedo had beat the offside trap and forced Howard to come out off his line and make a great one on one save.
The rest of the first half really didn’t see much from the North Americans as it was Ecuador who seemed to be the better team, although not that much better, as the US developed some good chances through Eddie Johnson and DeMarcus Beasley, and Brian Ching in injury time.
After only two matches of a triangular Futsal competition between Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama, it was clear who would advance to the 2007 Pan American Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Guatemala defeated Panama rather handily (12-3), on Wednesday. The second match, on Thursday, between Costa 
Rica and Panama saw Costa Rica pick up a win with a bit of a closer score line, 7-4. The third match to be played today will be between Costa Rica and hosts Guatemala to determine the winner.
Groups for the 2007 Copa América in Venezuela were announced yesterday evening. Hosts Venezuela were drawn into group A along with Uruguay, Bolivia, and Peru. Brazil, the current holders of the Copa América, look to be the heavy favorite in group B as they will be taking on Mexico, Chile and Ecuador. The final group, group C will most likely be won by Argentina, leaving the United States, Paraguay, and Colombia to battle for the second place spot.
