Funny, teammates thought he might get a dead leg the night before: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=683875&sec=us&root=us&cc=5901 Also, Conrad talks about security around the team, a training camp recap (not much there), an interview with Landon and a Jozy twitter "quote."
Good article. I remember that goal quite well. It was beautiful, and it reminded me of one that Zidane had scored for Juventus against Man Utd in the Champions League several years before. Most of all I remember how quiet the stadium fell as soon as the ball went into the net. I mean, it went from the kind of rowdy and raucous atmosphere that is typical of Central American stadia to complete and total silence. I guess giving up a winner at home in the 87th minute will do that. I seem to remember that game being on PPV back then, too. Can anyone confirm that? Anyway, here's the goal at minute 1:42 [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s5E3Zcu9a8"]YouTube - USA soccer-Part 1 Past[/ame]
i remember that goal. it gave us hope he was going to have a great career. he subsequently squandered it all with poor decisions, poor discipline, and poor work ethic, all of which continues to this day. what a waste.
I really miss this guy, too bad he has about fitness and behavior. Mathis is one personality that US couldn't replace, Mathis gave extra edge on our attack from midfield or striker, few American willing to shoot from outside and not over think it. How Mathis split open mexico when he played or scored against Korea.
Just a quick correction: Venezuela's CopaAmerica was 2007, not 2003. CLetus was great. When he was on he was on.
so 5 times in his whole career he was on. the rest of the time he has been off, completely, and utterly off.
Anyone who discredits Mathis forgets his injury in 2001. Up to that point, he was the most prolific forward in MLS from spring 2000 till his injury in camp with the nats. I'd go so far as to say that, during that stretch, he was the best forward MLS had ever seen. Even after the fact, Mathis was still a very good player but lacked that special burst that he needed to evade defenders. I firmly believe that if hadn't torn up his knee in 2001, he'd have been the first Yank field player to take the field for a Bayern Munich or a Liverpool or a club of that stature.
So if we find ourselves in the same situation tomorrow, with one of our players being fouled just outside the Honduran box, who is going to step up and curl the ball over the wall and into the top corner? Who is the free kick specialist on this current U.S. team? I remember Cooper scoring on one this season for FC Dallas, although it's not something he does regularly, and he'll most likely be on the bench. Adu has the ability -- too bad he's not even on the squad. Let's see. We had Wynalda, then Joe-Max Moore, then Mathis. I even remember Jeff Agoos (!) scoring on a real beauty several years ago. But not since Eddie Lewis retired have we had a serious threat for a direct strike on goal from free kicks.
On Mathis goal in Honduras, trivia question (answer in 10 minutes): Who drew the foul to set up the direct kick?
I haven't watched many Houston games - how's Holden? Feilhaber maybe? Of course, it's a moot question - we all know Landon would take it.
From Soccer Times: Midfielder Chris Armas set up the decisive set piece with a quick cutback move into the center resulting in him being chopped down a foul that earned Maynor Suazo a yellow card. Mathis bent his boot over a five-man wall and off the fingertips of goalkeeper Noel Valladares into the left corner to make it 2-1. The rest of the match report is definitely worth checking out: Mathis strikes in 86th minute and U.S. has key 2-1 road victory over Honduras
Mathis had a part in all 3 goals. His pass led to Stewart's run and score (Mathis received an "assist" in the record book). Then Mathis argued with the ref allowing Honduras to break out and which led to them getting off a shot that scored. Finally, Mathis nailed the winner. Mathis was quite a character in those days. We have had no one like him since. Btw, the only reason he was playing was because Reyna was injured.
I remember this game too. It was on PPV & I watched it from home. The other thing I remember from this match (in addition to Mathis' wonderful goal) was the Honduras goal. It was a long-range bomb. I remember that it seemed that Friedel was taken by surprise, probably because the Honduras player was so far from the goal. In any case he was beat. It was a golazo that's for sure.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN2dKih1Sjs&feature=related"]YouTube - Eric Wynalda free-kick, World Cup 1994, USA - Switzerland[/ame]
Goose scored the first Quakes' goal in a similiar fashion to Mathis' strike during the Greatest MLS Game Of All-Time (official name).