Best USMNT Goalkeeper Performances

Discussion in 'USA Men' started by soccersubjectively, Dec 20, 2013.

  1. soccersubjectively

    soccersubjectively BigSoccer Supporter

    Jan 17, 2012
    Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Define "best" as you will.

    Off the top of my head...

    - Friedel v. South Korea 2002 WC - Several big saves including a penalty.
    - Keller v. Brazil 1998 Friendly - Shutout in the only win over Brazil although a lot of the shots at right at him.
    - Vanole v. Costa Rica 1988 WCQ - Mainly the penalty save and the follow up save.
    - Howard v. Mexico 2012 Friendly - First win at Azteca with two (or three) big saves in the final minutes
    - Howard v. Spain 2009 Confed Cup - 2-0 win to snap Spain's winning streak. Howard is all over the place.
    - Hahnemann v. Guatemala 2005 WCQ - Preserves the shutout with this top notch save at 2:25

    There's a great save a 2:50 in this video. Does anyone know what game that was?
     
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  2. truefan420

    truefan420 Member+

    May 30, 2010
    oakland
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I believe it was USA vs Argentina 2008 friendly... Leading up to the confederation cup.
     
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  3. Brandinho

    Brandinho Member

    None
    United States
    Feb 22, 2007
    New Jersey
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Howard's game against Argentina in 08 was awesome. My first cap, dude stoped Julio Cruz 1v1 3 different times.
     
  4. ussoccer97531

    ussoccer97531 Member+

    Oct 12, 2012
    Club:
    --other--
    Howard against Argentina comes to mind.
     
  5. soccersubjectively

    soccersubjectively BigSoccer Supporter

    Jan 17, 2012
    Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Any other big World Cup performances?
     
  6. raza_rebel

    raza_rebel Member+

    Dec 11, 2000
    Club:
    Univ de Chile
    Guzan at the Azteca durin gthis WC cycle was pretty good.
     
  7. LouisianaViking07/09

    Aug 15, 2009
    Howard won Man of the Match against England in the WC. That was a lot of pressure and he came up BIG

    As stated, also his performance against Spain in Confed Cup 2009
     
  8. LouisianaViking07/09

    Aug 15, 2009
    Surely Guzan has had a performance worth mentioning
     
  9. joe cleats

    joe cleats Member

    Jun 17, 2010
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Keller had a great game against Costa Rica in Salt Lake City, I think a WCQ for the 2006 WC.
     
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  10. soccersubjectively

    soccersubjectively BigSoccer Supporter

    Jan 17, 2012
    Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Here's Howard v. Argentina:
     
  11. Bluecat82

    Bluecat82 Member+

    Feb 24, 1999
    Minneapolis, MN
    Club:
    Minnesota United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    btw, the Keller match against Brasil? Not a friendly. That was the Gold Cup semifinal.
     
  12. Bluecat82

    Bluecat82 Member+

    Feb 24, 1999
    Minneapolis, MN
    Club:
    Minnesota United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That point where Romario shakes Keller's hand after Kasey stones him for the 3rd or 4th time in the half?

    Awesome.
     
  13. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    I remember Romario saying “That is the best performance by a goalkeeper I have ever seen,” after the match.
     
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  14. United1

    United1 Member+

    Feb 23, 1999
    Arlington, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Keller vs Brazil. Brazil could have won that game 6-1.
     
  15. LouisianaViking07/09

    Aug 15, 2009
    For those who watched the USA/Brazil game or who followed it during the time, how big was that win and Keller's performance?
     
  16. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    It was huge. No one really thought we would win that match. And Keller was just amazing. You could just tell from the very first save something magical was in the air.

    But then we goofed it all up by losing to Mexico in the final. :p
     
  17. LouisianaViking07/09

    Aug 15, 2009
    Like how does it rank compared to the win against Spain or the win against Algeria or the US qualifying for the 1990 WC? In your opinion.
     
  18. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    Not as big as those matches you mention since that Brazilian Gold Cup squad was not really made up of World Cup regulars.

    That said, it was still "Brazil" and they were ashamed to lose to us.
    I remember the unique way they walked off the field that day with their hands behind their back. It was like dogs with their tails in between their legs.
     
  19. oberkorn

    oberkorn New Member

    Sep 15, 2006
    Spain
    Tony Meola v. England 1993 US Cup
     
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  20. Mahtzo1

    Mahtzo1 Member+

    Jan 15, 2007
    So Cal

    In some ways, much more important (except for qualifying in 1990) because it was less expected and more of a shock. Brazil was Brazil and we had nowhere near the team we have now. We also had much less of a reputation worldwide and even within CONCACAF. We are now a giant in CONCACAF but that really wasn't too far removed from losing against Costa Rica in a world cup qualifier at El Camino College (a jr. college) that wasn't even sold out (approx 10k capacity if I remember correctly).
     
  21. HomietheClown

    HomietheClown Member+

    Dusselheim FC 1971
    Sep 4, 2010
    Club:
    --other--
    We must keep things in proper context though.
    Within that 1998 Gold Cup both Jamaica and Guatemala were able to steal points from that Brazil squad within the Group stage. So finding a way to sneak out a 1-0 victory was not as shocking to me (but it was still a bit surprising.)
     
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