East Rutherford, NJ (My Sportsbook) - On a night where arguably the top goalkeeper in United States soccer history - Kasey Keller - was honored for his 100th cap before a friendly against Argentina at Giants Stadium, his successor, Tim Howard, put on a show, helping lead the U.S. national team to a 0-0 draw against FIFA's top-ranked squad.
Sunday's friendly - in front of one of the largest crowds to ever watch the U.S. play on home soil, 78,682 to be exact - was about more than a draw, however. It was about showing the world how far U.S. soccer has come.
"Tonight we stood up and made ourselves accountable, we didn't back down," Howard said. "We stuck our heads and our feet in every challenge. That's what we are going to need to go forward for us to be successful."
The draw caps off a series of friendlies for the U.S. against some of the top teams in the world to prepare for World Cup qualifying, which starts next Sunday vs. Barbados at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.
"I thought the performance tonight was very good," Howard said. "If you look over the last three games, it has gotten better and better."
"I think we are getting stronger," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "I think we are understanding what it takes to play in the better games and even though Barbados is a different kind of opponent I think we understand how to stick together as a team. We feel good about some of the depth we now have and so I think these are things that are building and putting us in the right direction."
Sunday's game started out with Argentina controlling the early play, getting a number of quality chances before the U.S. could sustain any consistent possession of the ball.
"You know it is Argentina, they are going to have their chances no matter how well you play defensively and those chances seem to come one-on-one," said Howard, who made seven saves in the game, all in the first half. "I was looking at the way I play and that is probably one of my stronger points [going one-on-one]. Once I made the first save I felt comfortable. The saves kind of kept coming a little bit and I think we got better as the game went on."
Howard made a number of big stops on Julio Cruz in the opening minutes before the U.S. finally got its first shot on goal in the 19th minute. Forward Eddie Johnson headed a Landon Donovan free kick right at Argentina goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri, who easily made the save.
The 26-year-old Donovan, who is the U.S.'s all-time goal-scoring and points leader, became the fourth youngest player in history to reach 100 caps for is national team with the start Sunday.
"Landon is a key player for our team," Bradley said. "He has the experience, he certainly has the ability on the run to play balls. He's got different gears in terms of his speed, his ability to get away from people in the right time. I was pleased tonight to see moments when he was daring. I think that is important for him. He is a team player but there are still times where you want to see him with the energy, trying things, taking chances in the right moments because I think it means a lot to the team."
The U.S.'s best chance in the first half came in the 35th minute when Heath Pearce volleyed a chance from long range, but Abbondanzieri got his fingertips on it to keep it from squeaking in at the near post.
Howard came up big again, just before the first-half break when he robbed Cruz to ensure that the game was scoreless.
The U.S. came out stronger in the second half, aided by the fact that Argentina took out all-world forward Lionel Messi, replacing him with Jose Sosa.
"It's a different game when Messi comes off the field because he is so unique," Bradley said. "His ability to find spaces, his ability to draw defenders, play little balls, accelerate, get it back, open up holes, he's special. But all you have to do is look at all the club teams the rest of them play for, that is the number one ranked team in the world."
The U.S. had a number of chances in the second half, but were unable to capitalize before the chances of beating the world's top team were crippled when holding midfielder Pablo Mastroeni was booked for his second yellow card, prompting referee Joel Aguilar Chicas to eject him in the 71st minute.
"I'm told that after the foul Pablo picked up the ball and threw it to Danny Califf, just to buy a little bit of time," Bradley said. "You never know for sure but there is part of you that thinks the referee in that moment didn't realize he had already given him a yellow card."
"One thing about Argentina, I promise ya, those guys play so hard every time they step on the field," Bradley said. "Whether it's with the club teams, the reason they are successful around the world is the heart and the passion those players have. That's how they play."
