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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Holden surprises everyone

Midfielder shines for U.S. in Gold Cup

Nancy Armour Associated Press

CHICAGO – Stuart Holden is a notorious practical joker, always hiding around corners in hopes of taking somebody by surprise.

Oh, he’s surprising people, all right.

On a team of young and inexperienced players eager to make their mark, no American has stood out more in the CONCACAF Gold Cup than the 23-year-old midfielder. Holden has scored twice in five games, and he had assists on both goals Thursday as the United States beat Honduras 2-0 to advance to its third straight Gold Cup final.

The Americans play archrival Mexico in Sunday’s final at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. It’s a rematch of the 2007 final, where the United States beat El Tri to win its second straight Gold Cup title.

“I enjoy this. It’s not only my job, it’s something I enjoy doing and the big games are what you live for,” Holden said. “These are the kind of games I want to play in and want to be a part of. … If you shy away from these, why would you want to play on this team and be at this level?”

U.S. coach Bob Bradley turned to his JV roster for the Gold Cup, giving most of his regular starters a break following their stunning run to the Confederations Cup final.

The United States is the two-time defending champion, and Bradley made sure the youngsters understood the responsibility that came with their shirts.

“Anytime I’m on the field, I want to impress and I want to win,” Holden said. “I’m a competitor and anything I can do to help the team win goes a long way.”

Off the field, he’s been key to team chemistry. With his practical jokes and killer impressions – Gonzaga University product Brian Ching, one of the few regular starters on the Gold Cup roster and Holden’s teammate in Houston, said Holden does good imitations of both Bradley and former U.S. assistant coach Peter Nowak – he has a knack for putting anyone at ease.

“Stuart is a player that has been on the verge of getting into our team for a while,” Bradley said. “The timing of this tournament was good for him and, like others, he’s taken advantage of it.”