Beasley propels U.S. past Grenada

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The United States opened qualifying for the 2006 World Cup with a modest win over Grenada, not a rout.

DaMarcus Beasley scored twice and Greg Vanney added a goal in second-half injury time, giving the Americans a 3-0 victory Sunday in the first game of the home-and-home, total-goals series.

“We basically choreographed this game,” U.S coach Bruce Arena said. “The team that’s the fitter team is our team. Over 90 minutes it was going to be obvious. After 35 minutes you could see they were basically done.”

Grenada put forth a valiant effort in the first half. Defender Kennedy Phillip cleared Carlos Bocanegra’s header off the goal line in the 39th minute. Four minutes later midfielder Ricky Charles cleared shots by both Claudio Reyna and Brian McBride.

Although they used an attack-oriented lineup, the Americans didn’t break through until the 45th minute, when Beasley headed a lofting cross from Claudio Reyna over goalkeeper Kellon Baptiste from about 4 yards out.

Kasey Keller got his 38th victory, surpassing Tony Meola for the lead among U.S. goalkeepers, blanking a tiny nation ranked 138th in the world, one with a population estimated at 100,000. It was the U.S. team’s fourth straight shutout.

The No. 9 Americans, a quarterfinalist at the 2002 World Cup, outshot the Spice Boyz 34-6 and piled up a 17-1 advantage on corner kicks.