By Elaine Donnelly
Extending sexual misconduct to combat units
Donovan, whose asked club coach Bruce Arena for an extended offseason after the Galaxy's MLS Cup triumph early last December, said Thursday that it will take some time to regain his form.
A scoreless tie with Mexico moved the U.S. (1-1-1) into third place in World Cup qualifying for the North and Central American and Caribbean region after three of 10 matches, one point behind Panama (1-0-2). The Americans and Costa Rica have four points, but the Ticos are ahead on goal difference.
The United States heads into World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico with an inexperienced defense after dropping captain Carlos Bocanegra and learning eight players are injured or ill.
The 33-year-old Bocanegra, captain since 2007, has lost his starting job with Racing Santander in Spain's second division. He was in the U.S. squad for the 2-1 loss at Honduras last month in the final round of qualifying but didn't play.
Goalkeeper Tim Howard was the captain for the match in San Pedro Sula as the Americans opened the final round of qualifying in North and Central America and the Caribbean. Chandler took over on the right from Steve Cherundolo, sidelined by a knee injury.
Clint Dempsey put the Americans ahead in the 36th minute but the Americans, using a new-look defense that featured Omar Gonzalez and Timmy Chandler, gave up the lead when Juan Carlos Garcia tied the score in the 40th at San Pedro Sula.
Defender Timmy Chandler is among 24 players selected for the United States' World Cup qualifier at Honduras on Wednesday and is set to make his competitive debut for the Americans.
U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann changed all 11 starters from November's 2-2 tie at Russia and is likely to change the entire lineup against for the Feb. 6 qualifier against Honduras at San Pedro Sula.
If Omar Gonzalez has absorbed one lesson over the past year, it's that the fast track to stardom isn't without its hurdles.
For the past six years, whether or not their play justified it, the Los Angeles Galaxy have been branded as America's answer to the superclub. In the parity-driven culture of MLS, the presence of international icon David Beckham and American star Landon Donovan put them a cut above the rest in terms of sheer talent, name value and exposure.
As the U.S. wrestles with its biggest whooping cough outbreak in decades, researchers appear to have zeroed in on the main cause: The safer vaccine that was introduced in the 1990s loses effectiveness much faster than previously thought.
Omar Gonzalez and A.J. DeLaGarza had seen this wonderful story before.
D.C. United scrambled to salvage a tie Saturday against Los Angeles at RFK Stadium, collecting a point and ending a two-game losing streak.
Villarreal forward Jozy Altidore and Los Angeles Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez have been added to the U.S. roster for Tuesday's exhibition against Brazil in place of Schalke midfielder Jermaine Jones and Columbus defender Chad Marshall.
"It could be great for us," Gonzalez said. "He's just another option to threaten teams behind. He brings a lot of speed. Teams respect him, teams respect who he is, and he's also a great leader."
Landon Donovan ready to work way back to U.S. national team →
Galaxy teammate Omar Gonzalez, who's emerged as a key defender during the national team's push to make its seventh-straight World Cup Finals appearance, says he would welcome Donovan's help in that qualifying effort.
Landon Donovan ready to work way back to U.S. national team →
