Donovan leads U.S. past weary Canada

SEATTLE – Landon Donovan has always been adept at scoring. Now, he’s doing it late in matches and in important situations for the United States.

Donovan scored on a header in the 90th minute, and the United States beat Canada 2-0 Saturday to advance to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Donovan’s goal, off a nicely played cross by DaMarcus Beasley, moved him into third place on the American career goal list with 25, passing Joe-Max Moore. Only Brian McBride (28) and Eric Wynalda (34) have scored more.

On Thursday, Donovan entered as a sub and scored twice in the final minutes as the Americans beat Cuba 4-1 – once off a pass from Beasley. Donovan now has eight goals in Gold Cup play.

This time, it was Beasley entering as a sub in the 67th minute, and setting up his young counterpart.

“I told Bruce (Arena), I don’t want to get use to coming off the bench,” Donovan said. “But his theory of how he wanted to play these two games worked out, so we’re in great shape.”

The United States has six points in Group B – tied with Costa Rica – and earned a spot in the final eight of the tournament, the championship of soccer’s North and Central American and Caribbean region. Costa Rica beat Cuba 3-1 earlier Saturday and will play the Americans in a first-rouind finale on Tuesday night in Foxboro, Mass.

In the first two games, Arena accomplished his goal of giving some inexperienced players an opportunity. Of the 23 on the roster, 22 saw action. Goalkeeper Matt Reis was the lone exception. Those who didn’t play much, or at all, against Cuba had fresh legs, and in the second half wore down the Canadians.

“We played much better in the second half and obviously some fatigue set in for the Canadians,” Arena said. “Overall, it was not a bad performance on our part.”

There were plenty of scoring chances for the Americans as the match was played almost entirely on Canada’s half of the field. Yet for most of the second half, it appeared an own goal by Canada would be the difference.

In the 48th minute U.S. midfielder John O’Brien chipped a pass into the penalty box. Canadian defender Atiba Hutchinson attempted to head the pass away from trouble, but instead deflected the ball past his goalkeeper, Greg Sutton.

The Americans outshot Canada 13-5.