Davies stable following serious accident

The U.S. men's soccer team has gone from celebrating one of its greatest highs to one of its lowest of emotional lows within a matter of days.

On Saturday night in Honduras, Team USA secured its sixth consecutive berth into the prestigious FIFA World Cup, set for next year in South Africa. Team USA, which beat Honduras, 3-2, was looking forward to sharing that thrill of victory on American soil tonight when it plays in its final qualifying match against Costa Rica in RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

Although the team is elated to make the World Cup, there is also sadness and concern weighing on the players heading into the game in the nation's capital. Team USA forward Charlie Davies, who started against Honduras, is in serious but stable condition following several hours of surgery to treat injuries he suffered in a one-car accident on the George Washington Parkway early Tuesday morning. There was a fatality in the accident.

The injury means Davies, who assisted one of the goals against Honduras and had a breakout summer for Team USA, likely will miss the 2010 World Cup. He is expected to remain in the hospital for at least a week, with additional surgeries expected. In a news release, U.S. Soccer physician Dr. Dan Kalbac predicted Davies could require six to 12 months of recovery time.

Fans are planning a tribute to Davies during the ninth minute of the game tonight, in honor of Davies' No. 9 jersey.

"Obviously, as a team we were saddened to learn this news," said U.S. men's national team coach Bob Bradley. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Charlie and his family, as well as the people in the car and the families of the others involved. As a team, we are relying on each other in a moment that has for sure hit us all hard.'' 

Somehow, the team will try to regroup as it heads onto the field tonight. With a World Cup berth in hand, there is no pressure for the United States to win against Costa Rica, but the United States does not want to close out World Cup qualifying on a down note.

And there are still other goals for the team to try to obtain. Team USA (6-2-1, 19 points) can clinch first place in CONCACAF (the governing body of North America, Central America and the Caribbean) with a victory against Costa Rica.

Oddly enough, tonight the Hondurans will be big USA fans. Mexico (6-3-0, 18 points) plays at Trinidad & Tobago, the group's last-place team (1-6-2). Honduras, currently in fourth place, can leapfrog Costa Rica and grab the third World Cup berth with a USA victory Wednesday and a Honduras win over El Salvador. Otherwise, Honduras faces a playoff game against the No. 5 South American team to qualify for the World Cup.
 
There is little question that the USA wants to top rival Mexico for the coveted No. 1 spot. Mexico edged the USA 2-1 in a qualifying game August 12 at Mexico City and the Americans also lost 5-0 to Mexico in the CONCACAF Gold Cup championship game.
 
"We're in position going into the Costa Rica game to finish first in the group, and that's the goal," Bradley said.

This has been a good year for the United States, which upset heavily favored Spain and then went on to finish second in the Confederations Cup this summer.

But Team USA is still reeling from poor performances in other major tournaments. Team USA did not win a game in the 2006 World Cup played in Germany, and then the under-23 squad did not advance out of pool play at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

"Obviously, it was a little bit disappointing how we performed," said USA midfielder Benny Feilhaber, a member of the 2008 Olympic team who played late in the match against Honduras. "It overshadowed a little bit the whole spectacle (of the Olympic Games)."

Qualifying in Honduras gave Team USA some much-needed breathing room. 

"You don't want to go into the last game leaving anything to chance," said Landon Donovan, who competed in the World Cup in 2002 and 2006. "As we see around the world, even with qualifiers today, anything can happen in one soccer game and we didn't want to leave that opportunity open. It was nice to get it done."

 Among the happiest of the Americans was Conor Casey, who scored his first two career international goals in the game. A striker with the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer, Casey, 28, is the second-leading scorer in that league. He started the game Saturday before being subbed by Feilhaber late in the second half.
 
"I was a little surprised, but definitely excited to get the start," Casey said.

He wasn't the only happy American.

"The celebration was a very good one," Bradley said after his squad beat Honduras. "Because when you have a group that has come together, that has worked hard, that has grown, when they've accomplished something, it's a special feeling.''

Tonight, however, the biggest challenge for the Americans will be handling all of their feeling, both good and bad.
 

Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc. Paul D. Bowker is a freelance contributor for teamusa.org. This story was not subject to the approval of any National Governing Bodies.

Tags: Benny Feilhaber, Bob Bradley, Charlie Davies, Conor Casey, FIFA World Cup, Landon Donovan, Paul D. Bowker, USA Soccer