Soccer Capsules: U.S. beats Panama 2-1, advances in Gold Cup

PHILADELPHIA — Worn down and undermanned, the United States found a way to rally.

Now the Americans remain in position to win their third straight CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Kenny Cooper converted a penalty kick in the 105th minute, giving the two-time defending champions a 2-1 victory over Panama and a semifinal berth against Honduras, which beat Canada 1-0 in the opener of Saturday’s doubleheader.

With just one regular in the starting lineup and down a goal early, U.S. coach Bob Bradley told his team at the first break it was time to get going and play like defending champions.

"Bob told us, ‘All right, we’re in a tough one,"’ midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. "He told everybody to step up and play better, and we’ll get our chances."

They made the most of them the rest of the way.

"It was ideal to finish it off in regulation, but it took 30 extra minutes and that still says something about this group," Bradley said.

Blas Perez put Panama ahead in first-half stoppage time, but Beckerman tied the score in the 49th.

In Sunday’s quarterfinal doubleheader, Guadeloupe meets Costa Rica and Mexico faces Haiti in the first sporting event at the Dallas Cowboys new stadium at Arlington. The semifinals are Thursday in Chicago.

"It’s going to be another tough one," Beckerman said. "This definitely took a lot out of us."

Cooper was kicked in the gut by Panama’s Roman Torres as they went for the ball, and the penalty was awarded by Mexican referee Benito Archundia, who also worked Italy’s victory over Germany in the 2006 World Cup semifinal. Goalkeeper Jaime Penedo correctly dived to his right, but Cooper’s low kick went in off the post.

Panama’s Felipe Baloy received a his second yellow card, and a red, for arguing with Archundia following the final whistle.

The Americans, who beat Honduras 2-0 in the first round, have not lost at home to an opponent from the North and Central American and Caribbean region since a 3-2 defeat to the Catrachos in a World Cup qualifier at Washington, D.C., in 2001. The U.S. won this tournament in 1991, 2002, 2005 and 2007, and the Americans haven’t failed to reach the semifinals since 2000, when they were defeated by Colombia on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals

Forward Brian Ching was the only regular on the field, with the others dispersed to their clubs or on vacation ahead of the European season.

Jimmy Conrad, U.S. captain for the game, left the field in the 44th minute after he was hit in the face, which drew blood. Conrad has a concussion and his status for Thursday’s game was not immediately known.

The United States was already short-handed because four of the 23 players on the original roster returned to their European clubs: forwards Charlie Davies (Sochaux) and Freddy Adu (Benfica), and defenders Steve Cherundolo (Hannover) and Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaellands). Midfielder Benny Feilhaber also went back to Aarhus after playing for the U.S. in the first round.

Panama, which lost to the U.S. on penalty kicks in the 2005 Gold Cup final, went ahead when Perez scored about 45 seconds into stoppage time. He beat goalkeeper Troy Perkins with an acrobatic right-footed kick for his third goal of the tournament.

Beckerman tied the score after Davy Arnaud cut back a cross for him.

"I let the swing and fortunately it went in," Beckerman said.

NOTES: The Americans practiced this week across the street at the Philadelphia Eagles facility, where they chatted with Brian Westbrook and David Akers. ... A crowd announced 31,087 attended the doubleheader, with about 75 percent of the lower bowl full at Lincoln Financial Field and maybe 2,000 fans were scattered around the second level. The U.S. is bidding to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022, with FIFA due to make a decision in December 2010, and Philadelphia hopes to be selected as a site. ... This was the U.S. men’s national team’s first match in Philadelphia since a 4-0 loss to Israel on Sept. 25, 1968.

Honduras beats Canada 1-0, advance in Gold Cup

PHILADELPHIA — Walter Martinez helped Honduras temporarily put aside thoughts of the political turmoil in its country with a goal in the 36th minute of the first half to beat Canada 1-0 and advance into the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal.

Honduras (3-1) will play the winner of the game between the United States and Panama. The second game of the doubleheader is Saturday night at Lincoln Financial Field, the home of the NFL’s Eagles.

Donis Escobar was flawless in goal for Honduras, making a few nice stops in the second half to preserve the lead.

With the state of their country’s leadership in flux, the Honduran faithful came out by the thousands to cheer on their team. The fans waved the flag or draped it over the railing in several sections of the stadium, and greatly outnumbered the Canadian fans.

Canada’s Paul Stalteri was penalized for interfering with Martinez as he attempted a bicycle kick near goal. That gave Martinez a shot at putting the first goal on the board during a spirited first half.

Martinez shot the ball on the penalty kick to the left of Canadian Greg Sutton while the goalie dove toward the right and could not make the stop.

Martinez was mobbed from behind by his teammates and ran to the corner where the fans in their blue-and-white shirts went wild. Martinez was patted on his head as he celebrated.

When Martinez left the game in the 72nd minute, he clapped at the crowd and cheered as he headed toward the bench. The fans responded in kind, blowing horns and pointing in tribute at their star of the game.

"I was ready to score," Martinez said.

Honduras could use something to celebrate.

Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was hoping mediators would reach an agreement that would restore him to power. Zelaya was ousted in a June 28 military coup.

The chief mediator in the Honduras crisis talks has proposed to resolve the conflict by reinstating Zelaya as head of a national unity government, holding early elections and issuing a general amnesty.

"It’s difficult for all of us," Martinez said. "Coach has his family in Honduras as do all of us."

Martinez said he wanted to take the opportunity to ask the government to "seek peace."

Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda said through a translator his team was "dedicated to offering peace and tranquility."

Far from home, Martinez and Honduras did enough to advance to the semifinal for the first time since 2005. The fans erupted at the end of the gams as Honduras mobbed each other at midfield, then clapped and waved to their supports as they left the field.

Canada, which won the Gold Cup in 2000, was eliminated. It went 2-1-1.

"I think we showed a lot of character in a few games," Canadian national team coach Stephen Hart said. "In the second half today, we showed we could come away with another result."

The semifinals will be held July 23 in Chicago with the championship game set for Sunday, July 26, at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

-- Dan Gelston

MLS

Boswell gives Dynamo 1-1 tie with Toronto FC

TORONTO — Houston defender Bobby Boswell scored the tying goal in the 75th minute as the Dynamo rallied to a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC on Saturday.

Boswell, sent in alone on a pass from midfielder Geoff Cameron, was foiled on his first attempt by goalie Stefan Frei, but the ball came loose. Boswell then buried a shot for his third goal of the season.

Houston (9-4-5) improved the MLS’ best record.

Toronto (7-6-5) took the lead in the 38th as fullback Marvell Wynne, pushing forward, made a pass that sent Dwayne DeRosario in alone on goalie Pat Onstad. DeRosario scored his team-leading sixth of the season.

"We didn’t play anywhere near the standard we know we can," Toronto FC coach Chris Cummins said. "What I will say is that point might be vital to us looking for the push to get into the playoffs. And I think, two months ago, we might have lost a game like that."

The goal came just after Toronto fan-favorite striker Danny Dichio entered the game, replacing defender Adrian Serioux, who bruised a knee in a leg-on-leg collision with Houston’s Dominic Oduro.

Serioux’s injury will be reassessed on Monday, but Cummins said it doesn’t appear to be serious.

Onstad expressed concern over the condition of artificial turf surface at BMO Field.

"It’s got to be tough for Toronto FC when they have to play on that field," he said. "That field is nothing short of awful."

Dichio quickly made an impact, helping to freeze the Dynamo defenders during Wynne’s pass to DeRosario and setting up the goal.

Houston played without four prominent players. Leading scorer Brian Ching and midfield standout Stuart Holden (United States) and defender Andre Hainault (Canada) are all competing in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. MLS assist leader Brad Davis didn’t make the trip because he has the flu.

Blanco helps Fire end six-match home winless skid

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — Cuauhtemoc Blanco scored a goal and added an assist to help the first-place Chicago Fire snap their franchise-record six-game home winless streak Saturday night with a 2-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes.

Blanco set up the winning goal in the 82nd minute when he intercepted a pass from defender Brandon McDonald and found forward Patrick Nyarko alone in the center of the box.

Nyarko, who scored his third goal of the season, was starting in place of forward Brian McBride, who is sidelined for at least three months after undergoing shoulder surgery Friday.

Chicago, which had gone 0-4-2 in its last six home games, also ended a club-record 406-minute scoreless streak there.

Blanco, who entered the game as a substitute in the 60th minute, followed up Nyarko’s goal with one of his own eight minutes later. The Mexican playmaker collected a pass from defender Wilman Conde at the top of the box and chipped a shot over Earthquakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon.

The Fire (7-3-7), who had 10 shots, lead the Eastern Conference by one point over Columbus and D.C. United.

San Jose, last in the West, had its franchise-record road winless streak extended to 18 matches (0-11-7) dating back to a 2-0 win at Columbus on June 7, 2008.

Sturridge leads Chelsea past Seattle

SEATTLE — One exhibition match into his career at Chelsea FC and teenager Daniel Sturridge is already making his mark for the Blues.

Sturridge scored in the 12th minute and assisted on Frank Lampard’s goal later in the first half as the Blues opened their preseason tour of America with a 2-0 win over the Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday.

The 19-year-old Sturridge was making his debut following an offseason move from Manchester City to Stamford Bridge, and he helped make a winner out of new manager Carlo Ancelotti following his offseason move from AC Milan.

Sturridge’s goal early in the match quieted the 65,289 fans — most in Seattle green — who turned out to see the first of two international exhibitions the Sounders will host this season.

The match was Chelsea’s first on-field test since the Blues beat Everton FC 2-1 in the FA Cup final on May 30. They are using the tour of the United States — which includes matches against Inter Milan, AC Milan and Club America — as their training leading up to the Aug. 15 English Premier League opener against Hull.

To that end, a number of stars either sat or played only one half. Didier Drogba and Michael Essien never took off their warmups, while Ashley Cole, John Terry and Petr Cech were among the Chelsea starters to only a half.

The only Chelsea regular to play the full 90 minutes was Lampard.

Seattle is in the middle of its MLS season and had to balance upcoming matches with trying to make a good showing against the Blues. Goalkeeper Kasey Keller and forward Nate Jaqua only played a half, while Swedish star and former Chelsea nemesis Freddie Ljungberg played into the second half before departing.

The Sounders host Houston in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals on Tuesday. They will play Chicago next Saturday.

Seattle played host to Chelsea in 2004 when the Blues faced Celtic in an exhibition match that drew 30,504 and was part of an increased run of international exhibitions in the Pacific Northwest.

But Saturday was the first time those Northwest fans were cheering for their own team.

With the blazing rave green of the Sounders easily dwarfing the royal blue of Chelsea’s in the stands, the Sounders were clearly the more fit side. Yet the constant sprints by Ljungberg and Fredy Montero into the box didn’t translate into many strong scoring opportunities. Seattle’s effort was sloppy overall with poor passing and ball control leading to easy turnovers.

Meanwhile, the Blues continually found gaps in Seattle’s shaky defense that has cost them during MLS games this season. Sturridge took full advantage in the 12th minute, accepting a pass from Florent Malouda near the top of the box, stopping while Seattle defender Tyrone Marshall slid past and beating Keller with a right-footed strike.

Just over 20 minutes later, Sturridge got Chelsea’s next goal started. His pass from near midfield found the foot of Nicolas Anelka running free in the box. Anelka chipped a centering pass that Lampard easily deposited past the helpless Keller.

The second half was a matchup of mostly younger reserves, highlighted by Seattle defender Zach Scott twice saving goals by clearing balls off the goal line after keeper Terry Boss was beaten.

-- Tim Booth

Beckham to make home debut against AC Milan

CARSON, Calif. — Seven weeks after wearing AC Milan’s jersey, David Beckham is ready to compete against the perennial Italian power with the MLS’ Los Angeles Galaxy.

Beckham and the Galaxy will play AC Milan on Sunday night in an exhibition, Beckham’s first home game since returning from Italy on July 10.

"I’m looking forward to it but it’s going to be funny," Beckham said about playing against recent teammates. "You’re always going to come up against teams you’ve played with and against in the past. It won’t be too strange."

Despite losing stars Kaka to Real Madrid and Paolo Maldini to retirement, AC Milan still has Ronaldinho, Alexandre Pato and Andrea Pirlo.

"We’ll be competitive, that’s for sure," Galaxy forward Landon Donovan said. "For a lot of our guys, this is a very good opportunity. We don’t want to stand around like cones and get embarrassed."

One of AC Milan’s newest acquisitions is defender Oguchi Onyewu, who started for the United States in last month’s FIFA Confederations Cup and in the 2006 World Cup.

Onyewu signed with Milan on July 7 but is expected to play later this week, as AC Milan competes in the World Soccer Challenge.

Beckham played in his first MLS game this year Thursday night against New York in East Rutherford, N.J. During the Galaxy’s 3-1 victory, fans booed Beckham every time he touched the ball.

How does the midfielder expect to be received at home?

"We’ll have to wait and see," Beckham said. "It’s great for myself to be back playing in front of the fans that we’ve got. They’ve always been amazing to me since I’ve been here. I hope it continues."

Beckham, who played 70 minutes against New York, said he wants to increase that total Sunday night.

"Coming back after a while of not playing, it’s easy to get an injury," Beckham said. "It’s important that I work hard and don’t put myself in any silly positions."

The match was part of the last-minute agreement between the Galaxy, Major League Soccer and AC Milan to extend Beckham’s loan to the end of the Serie A season in May. Originally, Beckham had to return to the Galaxy in March.

Elsewhere

Owen scores winner on Man United debut in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Michael Owen made an immediate impact in his Manchester United debut Saturday, coming off the bench to score with five minutes left in a 3-2 victory over a Malaysian all-star squad in the team’s Asian tour opener.

The striker, who joined Man United on a free transfer from Newcastle, scored after the Premier League champions surrendered a two-goal lead to Malaysian XI before a crowd of 85,000.

Owen pounced on a loose ball after Darron Gibson’s pass to Ryan Giggs was blocked by goalkeeper Mohamad Farizal Marlias. Owen replaced Wayne Rooney in the 61st minute.

"Michael is different to the other strikers we have here," manager Alex Ferguson said. "He’s always searching for that space in and around the box, and he reacted really well to take his goal."

Rooney put United ahead in the eighth minute and set up a goal in the 27th minute with a cross to Nani. as the half ended, Mohamad Amri Yahyah chipped a 25-yard shot over United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar. Malaysia tied it in the 52nd, with Amri beating substitute goalie Ben Foster.

Man United plays Malaysian XI again Monday in Kuala Lumpur after its trip to Indonesia was canceled because of Friday’s bombing of the Jakarta hotel where the team was to stay. The team will depart Wednesday for the next leg of the Asia tour in Seoul and then head to China.

Adebayor completes move to Man City from Arsenal

MANCHESTER, England — Emmanuel Adebayor is the third striker to join Manchester City in the offseason, leaving Arsenal to boost the Premier League rival’s already extensive attacking options.

The Togo international signed a five-year deal Saturday at the end of a week that began with Argentina forward Carlos Tevez joining from Manchester United. Manager Mark Hughes recruited Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn last month.

"I can’t wait to play for City’s fans and show them what I can do," said the 2008 African player of the year.

The transfer fee for the 25-year-old Adebayor was reported to be about $41 million.

"Emmanuel has been one of the top forwards in the Premier League since he arrived from France and we are delighted he has agreed to come and join us," Hughes said