Five Things to Know About #USAvPER
Five Things to Know About #USAvPER
RFK Stadium History
Though originally built in 1961 to house Washington, D.C.’s National Football League and Major League Baseball teams, RFK Stadium has become a cathedral of sorts for soccer in the United States.
Having served as a host venue for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, 1996 Summer Olympics, 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2009 and 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cups, RFK has been a center piece of international soccer in the United States for more than two decades.
Outside those competitions, the U.S. MNT has its own storied history at the venue that dates back to a 1-1 draw with China on Oct. 6, 1977. The 22 Men’s National Team matches hosted at the old ground are more than any other stadium, and along the way some very memorable MNT moments have been made.
Here’s a few:
- Former captain Claudio Reyna’s standout arrival on the international scene in a 4-0 win over Mexico at the 1995 U.S. Cup.
- Joe-Max Moore’s late blast in a 1-0 upset over Argentina in 1999.
- Important World Cup qualifying victories against Guatemala in 1996 and 2000.
- Jonathan Bornstein’s dramatic stoppage time equalizer to eliminate Costa Rica from World Cup qualifying in 2009.
- And most recently, the team’s 4-3 win over then No. 2-ranked Germany in U.S. Soccer’s 2013 Centennial Celebration match.
Check out some of the best moments throughout the years at RFK Stadium.
Jurgen Talks RFK Stadium and Peru
U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s only match at RFK Stadium was the Centennial win over his home nation back in 2013. Klinsmann signaled his appreciation for the MNT’s history in the nation’s capital ahead of a tough preparation match Friday against Peru.
“It’s definitely a pleasure being back here in D.C. and a stadium that has always treated us nicely. We’re looking forward to an interesting game with a very good side. It’s a team that did extremely well in the Copa America – finished third and surprised a lot of people in South America and all over the world. It’s going to be a good benchmark for us and hopefully we see a good performance by our guys. It hopefully gives us a couple of answers to a lot of questions we all have. We’re really looking forward to have that match tomorrow night in the special venue here.”
History vs. Peru
The U.S. MNT holds an even 2-2-1 record against Peru all-time. The two nations first met on June 4, 1989, when goals from Bruce Murray, Tab Ramos and Brian Bliss gave the MNT a 3-0 win over Los Incas at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. At the time, the win tied the team record for largest margin of victory over a non-CONCACAF opponent, which to that point had been the MNT’s 3-0 win over Paraguay at the 1930 FIFA World Cup.
Wednesday’s meeting will be the first between the two nations in 15 years, with the sides last matching up during the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage. Played on Feb. 16, 2000, future U.S. all-time cap winner Cobi Jones headed home the game’s only goal off a cross from Eddie Lewis in the 59th minute to give the MNT a 1-0 victory over Peru.
Alejandro Bedoya on Peru
As U.S. players arrived into camp at the start of the week, head coach Jurgen Klinsmann set an early tone for each of them to prove they belong on the roster for the CONCACAF Cup match against Mexico on Oct. 10.
Joining Klinsmann for the pre-match press conference Thursday at RFK Stadium, veteran U.S. midfielder Alejandro Bedoya indicated players have responded well to the challenge this week.
“These two games will serve as a good starting point for us players to see where we’re at,” Bedoya said. “This is where every player has to pull up their socks, look in the mirror and really show themselves what they’re capable of and prove to the coach we deserve a starting spot to be part of the team moving forward.”
Goals at RFK Stadium
Two players on the current MNT roster have scored goals at RFK Stadium and both of them were memorable.
Jermaine Jones tallied his first career international goal and the game-winner during a 2-0 Gold Cup quarterfinal win over Jamaica on June 19, 2011. The son of an American serviceman, Jones memorably celebrated his goal with a salute to the fans in attendance.
In the team’s last visit to RFK Stadium, Jozy Altidore buried a picture-perfect volley off a cross from Graham Zusi to open the scoring in the USA’s wild 4-3 win over Germany.
Moore Shots
Joe Max Moore takes a shot in the U.S. MNT’s 1-0 victory over Guatemala in CONCACAF Semifinal Round Qualifying for the 2002 FIFA World Cup on Sept. 3, 2000 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
Heading Home
Brian McBride gets airborne for a header in the U.S. MNT’s 1-0 victory over Guatemala in CONCACAF Semifinal Round Qualifying for the 2002 FIFA World Cup on Sept. 3, 2000 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. McBride would score the game’s lone goal in the 72nd minute.
Back in the Day at RFK
Earnie Stewart takes on a Honduran midfielder in the U.S. MNT’s 3-2 defeat to Honduras in CONCACAF Hexagonal Round Qualifying for the 2002 FIFA World Cup on Sept. 1, 2001 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. Stewart scored both U.S. goals in the match.
Oh Say Can You See...
The U.S. MNT stands for “The Star Spangled Banner” prior to a World Cup sendoff friendly against Uruguay on May 12, 2002 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
Sanneh Strikes
Tony Sanneh celebrates his sixth minute strike in the U.S. MNT’s 2-1 victory against Uruguay in a World Cup sendoff friendly against Uruguay on May 12, 2002 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
Celebrate Good Times
DaMarcus Beasley celebrates what would stand as the game-winning goal in the U.S. MNT’s 2-1 win against Uruguay in the first of three World Cup sendoff friendlies played May 12, 2002 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
A Day to Savor
U.S. fans celebrate a goal during the team’s 6-0 CONCACAF Semifinal World Cup Qualifying victory over Panama on October 13, 2004 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
Hat Trick Hero
U.S. forward Eddie Johnson celebrates his hat trick in the team’s 6-0 CONCACAF Semifinal World Cup Qualifying victory over Panama on October 13, 2004 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
Congrats
Michael Bradley congratulates Brian Ching on his 63rd minute goal in the U.S. MNT’s 6-1 defeat of Cuba during CONCACAF Semifinal World Cup Qualifying on October 11, 2008 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The win secured the team’s passage to the following year’s final qualification round.
The Link Up
Sacha Kljestan and DaMarcus Beasley celebrate after linking up for the first goal in the U.S. MNT’s 6-1 defeat of Cuba during CONCACAF Semifinal World Cup Qualifying on October 11, 2008 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The win secured the team’s passage to the following year’s final qualification round.
Goal Celebration
U.S. supporters celebrate a goal in the U.S. MNT’s 6-1 defeat of Cuba during CONCACAF Semifinal World Cup Qualifying on October 11, 2008 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The win secured the team’s passage to the following year’s final qualification round.
Strong in the Challenege
Kyle Beckerman challenges a Honduran midfielder in the U.S. MNT’s 2-0 victory over los Chapines during the group stage of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup played July 8, 2009 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
Knock Out Punch
Jonathan Bornstein celebrates his stoppage time equalizer in a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica in the final match of the team’s 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign on October 14, 2009 at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C.. The goal knocked Costa Rica out of automatically qualifying for the World Cup, helping Honduras to the tournament.
The Break Through
Santino Quaranta breaks through for the U.S. MNT in the 75th minute of the team’s 2-0 victory over Honduras during the group stage of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup played July 8, 2009 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
Cheers Charlie
During the U.S. MNT’s final Hexagonal Round Qualification match for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, U.S. supporters raise the number 9 in the ninth minute to show solidarity with forward Charlie Davies who was seriously injured in a car accident the night before the team’s 2-2 draw with Costa Rica on October 14, 2009 at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C.
Open Account
Jermaine Jones celebrates his first career goal for the U.S. MNT in the side’s 2-0 victory over Jamaica in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup Quarterfinals played June 19, 2011 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
Deuce Deuce
Clint Dempsey celebrates as he ices a 2-0 victory over Jamaica in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup Quarterfinals played June 19, 2011 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
Centennial Chat
U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann chats with his former assistant and current Germany head coach Joachim Lowe prior to the U.S. MNT’s Centennial Celebration match played June 2, 2013 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The U.S. MNT won a wild 4-3 affair.
A+B=Goal
U.S. forward Jozy Altidore celebrates with Michael Bradley after opening the scoring in the team’s 4-3 win over Germany in U.S. Soccer’s Centennial Celebration match on June 2, 2013 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
Salute the Fans
Clint Dempsey recognizes the crowd after scoring in the team’s 4-3 win over Germany in U.S. Soccer’s Centennial Celebration match on June 2, 2013 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.