US advance to cup quarter-finals

Costa Rica's Jervis Drummond, top, heads the ball over Haiti's J. Michel Alexandre Boucicaut, center, as Costa Rica's Randall Azofeifa looks on during their 2007 Gold Cup soccer game in Miami on Saturday. PHOTO: AP

The US soccer team keeps on winning, even though the Americans are not impressing.

Despite depleted defense and a tepid attack, the US advanced to the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 2-0 victory on Saturday over Trinidad and Tobago.

Brian Ching scored in the first half and Landon Donovan set up Eddie Johnson for a second-half goal.

"I'm disappointed at the team," US coach Bob Bradley said. "We had good chances, and I think we had opportunities to score two more goals."

Ching his fifth international goal in the 29th minute off a long pass from Justin Mapp, and Johnson doubled the lead in the 54th.

The US improved to 6-0-1 since Bradley replaced Bruce Arena as coach and remained unbeaten in 21 group-play games in the Gold Cup, the championship of soccer's North and Central American and Caribbean region. The Americans are seeking their second straight Gold Cup title.

While Americans never appeared in danger of losing, they appeared flustered and unorganized late in the first half, giving Trinidad and Tobago several scoring chances.

El Salvador goalie Juan Gomez jumps in the air as a shot by Guatemala's Carlos Ruiz sails over the crossbar during their Gold Cup game in Carson, California, on Saturday. PHOTO: AP

Trinidad to El Salvador in its Gold Cup opener and remained winless in the tournament since 2000.

The Americans, who finish the opening round tomorrow against El Salvador, used 10 different starters from Thursday's opening 1-0 win over Guatemala. Midfielder Benny Feilhaber was the lone holdover.

Ching after missing several chances earlier, including a pair of one-on-ones against goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams.

Donovan, who entered at the start of the second half, created the second goal after taking a long pass from Ching. Donovan crossed the ball and Johnson scored easily.

Johnson, coming off a pair of three-goal games for MLS's Kansas City Wizards, came off in the 71st minute with a mild knee strain.

Saturday's reported sellout crowd of 27,000 was largely due to Guatemala's 1-0 victory over El Salvador earlier in the day, but the US had a majority of the Southern California fans pulling for them, a rarity in a tournament that features mostly Latin American teams that are extremely popular in the region.

Meanwhile Jocelyn Angloma and David Fleurival scored in the first half and Guadeloupe held off Canada for a 2-1 victory in their Gold Cup group match on Saturday night.

Guadeloupe a 2-1 lead into the second half and withstood Canada's attempts to equalize.

The victory gives Guadeloupe four points after two Group A matches played in the Orange Bowl in Miami. Guadeloupe drew with Haiti in their first match.

Canada on three points following a 2-1 victory over Costa Rica in their first group match.

Guadeloupe first through Angloma's goal in the 10th minute. Angloma was 35m out when he lobbed a shot that eluded Canadian goalie Greg Sutton and bounced once before going into the net.

Canada drew level six minutes later when De Rosario's shot hit the right post.

Ali Gerba eventually scored the equalizer in the 35th minute after receiving Patrice Bernier's center from the right wing, chesting it and converting from close range.

Guadeloupe the lead two minutes. Fleurival ran unmarked for 10m and blasted a shot from 25m that went in inside the left post.

Later Saturday night Alexandre Boucicaut's goal with 18 minutes remaining in the second half helped Haiti salvage their second 1-1 draw of the tournament.

Earlier, Costa Rica had taken a 1-0 lead on Walter Centeno's goal in the 62nd minute.

Boucicaut to Centeno's goal with a blast from 15m which beat Costa Rica goalkeeper Jose Francisco Porras.

Costa Rica, who needed three points to move up in the Group A standings after a 2-1 loss against Costa Rica on Wednesday, applied repeated pressure early in the second half but were denied by diving saves from Haiti goalkeeper Gabart Fenelon.

Fenelon dove to stop shots from Michael Barrentos in the 51st and 52nd minutes.

Guadeloupe leads the group with four points.