Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Tuesday 18 June 2019
For U.S. men, Gold

Cup finally brings

chance for revival

By DAVE CAMPBELL ing under pressure, play-
AP Sports Writer ing in big events, and this
BLAINE, Minn. (AP) — The is a great opportunity for
overarching goal for the us to learn.” The 20-month
fledgling U.S. men’s soccer gap between competi-
team, as frequently stated tive games is the longest
by new coach Gregg Ber- for the Americans since
halter, has been to improve a 38-month span follow-
the perception of this sput- ing a loss to Costa Rica
tering program within the on May 31, 1985, their final
cutthroat hierarchy of qualifier for the 1986 World
global soccer. Cup. Their next match that
Though a strong perfor- counted was a draw at
mance in the CONCACAF Jamaica on July 24, 1988,
Gold Cup probably won’t their first qualifier for the United States midfielder Duane Holmes, center, and forward Jozy Altidore, center right, meet
move the needle much, 1990 World Cup. on the field during warmups before an international friendly soccer match against Venezuela,
the Americans surely would The U.S. won the biennial Sunday, June 9, 2019, in Cincinnati.
benefit, simply, from win- Gold Cup in 2017, a sixth Associated Press
ning. title in 14 editions of the players DeAndre Yedlin, fan angst that has followed other, of course, is Christian
Their opening game championship of North and John Brooks and Tyler Ad- them for nearly two years, Pulisic , who is joining Eng-
against Guyana on Tues- Central America and the ams, all first-choice starters. either, but they can at least lish Premier League power
day night at Allianz Field Caribbean. Mexico, the “If it doesn’t go well you take a meaningful step for- Chelsea from Germany’s
in St. Paul, the new home clear favorite, has won sev- can just feel that more pres- ward in the Berhalter era by Borussia Dortmund for a $73
of Major League Soccer’s en such crowns. sure is going to build, more displaying some potential million transfer fee. That is a
Minnesota United, will mark Before any mental energy questions will be asked, within the pressing, posses- record price for an Ameri-
the first competitive match can be spent on assess- more scrutiny will be on sion-prioritized style he has can player.
for the U.S. since the infa- ing the ability to compete Berhalter and the federa- rolled out . Veterans of the national
mous defeat at Trinidad with their border rival to the tion, and the outside noise “We want to progress. Of side like Jozy Altidore and
and Tobago on Oct. 10, south, though, the Ameri- is only going to get louder,” course that also means Michael Bradley are still
2017, that kept the team cans, who are ranked 30th said former U.S. midfielder winning the games, but around, among just six
for qualifying for the 2018 in the world, must advance Stu Holden, now a Fox an- we want to develop our holdovers from the roster
World Cup. It follows a from the group stage. alyst. “That’s why it’s really style,” midfielder Weston that went to Trinidad. They
stretch of 18 consecutive On the surface, Panama important that this team McKennie said. “Our goal are joined by Pulisic, de-
friendlies. (75th), Trinidad and To- has a really good showing is to make people see U.S. fenders Omar Gonzalez
“There will be some nerves, bago (92nd) and Guyana in this tournament.” Soccer as something differ- and Tim Ream, and for-
but for us it’s just about (177th) don’t appear to With the U.S. women lead- ent as what they see now, ward Paul Arriola on what
continuing to make prog- be daunting competition, ing their side of the world probably.” McKennie is has become a youngster’s
ress throughout this tourna- but the way the U.S. team rankings and off to a domi- one of the 20-year-old up- team. Getting this team in
ment,” Berhalter said last played this month in exhibi- nant start this month in and-comers the program sync, socially and psycho-
week after a training ses- tion losses to Jamaica (1-0) France at the Women’s has staked itself to in the logically, might be just as
sion at the National Sports and Venezuela (3-0) there World Cup , the men’s team quest to not only return to important of a task for Ber-
Center in Blaine, a suburb will be no guarantees of won’t be able to avoid the the World Cup in 2022 but halter as with the techni-
of Minneapolis. “I think part automatic wins. The Ameri- comparison game. The do some damage on the cal implementation of his
of our profession is play- cans are missing injured Americans can’t mute the sport’s biggest stage. The system.q

Bell wins at Iowa for 4th victory of 2019

By LUKE MEREDITH Custer briefly snagged the with my dad here,” said
AP Sports Writer lead with 32 laps left on Bell, who won for the 12th
NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — a restart, but Bell quickly time in the series. “It was
Christopher Bell won the grabbed it back as the pretty special.”
NASCAR Xfinity series race two cars made contact The first race of Sunday’s
Sunday at the Iowa Speed- on Bell’s low pass. Bell then doubleheader produced
way, his fourth victory of the held Custer off on a restart some unexpected drama,
season and second straight with 10 to go by grabbing as Truck series winner Ross
in Newton. Bell led 186 of the high line. Chastain had his victory
250 laps in the No. 20 Toyo- Bell gave Joe Gibbs Racing taken away from him after
ta to claim his second short its fifth win in its last seven his truck failed the post- Christopher Bell crosses the finish line to win a NASCAR Xfinity
track win of 2019 by nearly starts at Iowa, and Bell was race inspection. Series auto race, Sunday, June 16, 2019, at Iowa Speedway in
two seconds. He also won able to celebrate back-to- Bell ensured that the night- Newton, Iowa.
at Bristol in April. back wins with his parents cap was largely a snoozer. Associated Press
Pole-sitter Cole Custer was in attendance. Custer won his 10th career this season. Bell increased gave Custer a shot at over-
second, followed by Justin “Man, I got to win at Dover pole earlier Sunday and led his edge over the next 60 taking Bell. But Bell held
Allgaier and Harrison Bur- (the week before) Mother’s the first 54 laps. But Bell took laps, pushing his lead to as Custer off by going high
ton. Zane Smith of JR Mo- Day weekend...with my over after a restart late in much as six seconds to take — an approach that ap-
torsports was fifth in just his mom there. Now I just won the first stage and won a the second stage as well. peared to become quite
fifth start in the series. on Father’s Day weekend frame for the seventh time A caution with 72 laps left popular this weekend. q