U.S. midfielder Joe Corona (6) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal in the first half against El Salvador at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Sunday. (Photo: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports)
BALTIMORE - Who says soccer is a slow game?
Entering as a substitute midway through the second half, Eddie Johnson needed just 14 seconds to make his presence known. The striker elevated over the defense and powered a header into the net with his first touch of the contest. He later tallied an assist, sealing the U.S. men's soccer team's 5-1 victory against El Salvador in the Gold Cup quarterfinals.
The U.S. will play the winner of Costa Rica-Honduras in a semifinal in Dallas on Wednesday.
The Americans entered Sunday's knockout round boasting a 15-1-5 record all-time against El Salvador, and it didn't take long for them to continue the string of dominance. Off of a short corner in the 21st minute, midfielder Landon Donovan's low cross found defender Clarence Goodson, who one-timed it into the vacant net. Eight minutes later, Joe Corona's patience at the top of the box paid dividends as he held the ball long enough to shake off a defender before firing a low, curling shot that gave the U.S. a two-goal advantage.
Though the Americans mostly controlled the game, the Salvadorans created plenty of their own opportunities on the counterattack. Early in the contest, Darwin Delgado begged for a penalty kick when his attempted cross appeared to deflect off Goodson's hand in the box. No foul was called. But the referee awarded a penalty kick in the 38th minute when DaMarcus Beasley took down Rodolfo Zelaya. Goalkeeper Nick Rimando could do nothing to stop Zelaya's chip as the midfielder cut his team's deficit to one.
Zelaya, who has scored all four of Los Cuscatlecos' goals in the Gold Cup, threatened to equalize on several occasions in the second half, but his shots couldn't beat Rimando. And when Johnson entered in the 60th minute, it was all but over.
Playing to earn a spot on the U.S. team in World Cup qualifying and a possible trip to Brazil next summer, Donovan demonstrated why he is widely recognized as the best American soccer player of all time. After assisting on the opening goal, he nearly scored on a breakaway late in the first half before recording his second and third assists in the second half on goals by Johnson and Mix Diskerud. Johnson returned the favor, flicking a through ball to Donovan as the midfielder tallied his 54th career goal for the national team.
As expected, M&T Bank Stadium was overflowing with Salvadoran fans, and some pelted American players and fans with beer late in the second half. But by then, the result was all but decided as the U.S. advanced a step closer to capturing its first Gold Cup title since 2007.
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