Donovan - sparkled for USA. (Allsport)
MLS REJOICES FOR HOME-BASED HEROES
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The United States' 2-0 victory over Mexico in
the second round of the World Cup has sent ripples of delight through Major
League Soccer (MLS), the burgeoning professional league in the country.
The US squad draws 11 of its 23 man squad from MLS teams, and five of Monday's
starting line-up - including goalscorers Brian McBride and Landon Donovan - ply
their trade there.
MLS spokesman Alan Plum described the result as a tribute to the growing
quality of the MLS in developing players capable of achieving success at the
highest level.
"It's a massive achievement in itself and a huge success for a professional
football league that is only seven years old," said Plum.
"These are guys who grew up playing their football at home, and they've
learned to play here."
He was particularly pleased with the emergence of 20-year-olds Landon Donovan
and DaMarcus Beasley, who both ply their trade in the MLS.
The pair first sprang to the attention of the international footballing world
at the Under-17 World Cup in New Zealand in 1999, where Donovan was voted player
of the tournament, with Beasley in second.
"The fact that these guys are only 20, and Beasley has only ever played
professionally in the US, shows we are now producing attacking players," said
Plum.
"One of the criticisms of US soccer for a while has been that we produce
great athletes who can run and run, but are not that creative."
"But we have showed - particularly against Portugal - that now we have these
guys who have learned their football in the US who can attack and be creative,"
he said.
"Our biggest success is that most of the players in this team have learned
their football in our league."
"We're not under the illusion that we are there yet, alongside leagues like
the Premiership or Serie A, but everything is a little step."
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