Szetela a surprise match for Adu in scoring

Associated Press

July 4, 2007 at 6:49 PM EST

MONTREAL — That Freddy Adu has three goals at the FIFA U-20 World Cup doesn't shock anyone, but Danny Szetela?
But there the self-described "defensive midfielder" was on Wednesday morning — tied with Adu, his long-time roommate on U.S. national development teams, each with three goals from the squad's first two games of the tournament.
"It is a surprise and I think it's a surprise for Danny as well," said U.S. coach Thomas Rongen. "But it's a welcome surprise because you need to get goals from different people, not just (star midfielder) Freddy Adu and (striker) Josy Altidore.
"It has allowed other players to get involved because the focus has been on our big-name players."
Szetela, who plays for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer, had not scored in six pre-tournament games.
"Yeah, three goals for a defensive midfielder is not bad in the World Cup, I guess," he said. "I'm a little surprised.
"My contract's up this year in MLS and I'm trying to play well. I hope it continues."
Szetela got the American goal in a 1-1 draw with South Korea, then added two more while Adu scored three in a 6-1 romp over Poland on Tuesday night. Altidore was the other American scorer in that game.
It was a huge confidence boost for the Americans, who now travel to Ottawa to face Brazil, the team that was supposed to dominate Group D but which was upset 1-0 by Poland and then nearly blew a three-goal lead in a 3-2 win over South Korea.
Brazil has won the biannual under-20 tournament four times, most recently in 2003, and while they have displayed flashes of brilliance on attack, they have also shown some sloppy defence that the Americans will try to exploit.
The U.S. can lock up first place in the group with a win (and possibly even a tie), while Brazil could also take first with a win.
"For us it's a special game because any time you see their yellow jersey, you know you're playing against a formidable team," added Rongen. "So for us to be in position to play for first place, you couldn't script a better scenario.
"I think we're ready for it. I know we'll play well. What that means results-wise I don't know, but we will play for three points, that's for sure."
It will help to have a team coming off a near-perfect performance against Poland, aside from conceding a goal in the fifth minute.
Szetela, whose parents are Polish and who holds a Polish passport, erased the lead with a flick header in off the cross-bar only four minutes later, Adu added two before halftime and the rout was on.
Now Szetela can't wait for the big test against Brazil.
"We're doing very well in counterattacks and it looks like the counterattack is open against Brazil," he said. "We have to continue doing what we did against Poland — move the ball around and create opportunities."
Szetela said having fellow midfielder Michael Bradley on the squad allows him join in the attack. Bradley joined the squad after helping the U.S. win the Gold Cup last week. They take turns covering the back while the other goes forward to join Adu on attack.
"I'm not that much of a goalscorer," Szetela said. "Usually I try to win balls and get them to our attacking players, but this time, I'm getting more opportunities to go forward.
"And I've been finishing them."
Rongen's midfielders, including Sal Zizzo, Robbie Rogers and Tony Beltran, caught the Polish defence flatfooted continually by darting into the attack at unexpected moments.
"Danny's done a great job in finding spots inside the penalty area from deep positions, when he's hard to mark," said the coach.
Szetela has been in the national team program since 2002 and signed with Columbus in 2004, when he was 17. He started 13 games for the Crew in 2005, but missed nearly the entire 2006 season with a knee injury.
Like Adu, he dreams of playing on a top Europe club.
"But I'm not really worrying about that now," he said. "I'm just concentrating on the U-20 World Cup. I want to be on the first American team to win it."
Defender Julian Valentin, who took stitches in his face from a collision with Poland's Dawid Janczyk, took part in practice Wednesday with a bandage on his face and should be OK to play against Brazil.

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