While the Dynamo were dispatching Guatemalan power CSD Municipal in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup quarterfinals, Houston stars Stuart Holden and Patrick Ianni were facing international competition of a different kind.
The duo played major roles for the United States U-23 national team as it played in the CONCACAF Olympic qualification tournament in Tampa, Fla., and Nashville, Tenn. Of the United States' five games in the tournament, Holden started four and Ianni three as the United States qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, thanks to its 3-0 semifinal win over Canada. Despite a 1-0 overtime loss to Honduras in the tournament final, both players said it was "mission accomplished."
"I think we're happy with the way we performed," Ianni said. "Obviously we wanted to win the game against Honduras at the end. It wasn't like we gave up after the Thursday game at all, but having said that, we have what we wanted: going to the Olympics."
The U.S. went 2-0-1 in group play but scored only three goals and received plenty of criticism for its failure to score a goal from the run of play - one goal came from a corner kick and two more came from penalty kicks.
"It weighed more on people's minds than ourselves, because we were winning games and that's what matters," Holden said. "If you score goals, you win games, and it doesn't matter how they were scored."
Streaker stuns Stuart
The tournament received plenty of media attention due to the defection of seven Cuban players after the game against the United States, which left Cuba with 11 players for the remainder of the tournament. In the U.S. game against Honduras, however, a female streaker stole the show by running on the field draped in the American flag. Holden had the ball when she appeared, and Ianni enjoyed his friend's dilemma.
"I thought Stuie was going to play a through ball to Chad Barrett at the moment," Ianni said. "Stuie being Stuie - the single guy here in Houston - it caught him off guard, and he maybe didn't play his best pass."
Holden had a different take on the event.
"I thought it was a sub that coach had put in," Holden deadpanned. "I was trying to play her a one-two, and she just ran straight past the ball. She was wearing the U.S. jersey, so next time she needs to tell me she's going to be doing some streaking act."
Duo watch Dynamo from afar
Despite the streaker, the U.S. advanced to the winner-take-all semifinal on March 20 against North American rival Canada, one day after the Dynamo hosted CSD Municipal in the second leg of their Champions' Cup tie. After listening to the first leg on internet radio, Holden and Ianni joined several players and coaches in watching the second leg on television, and both were proud of what they saw.
"It was a great feeling to watch the guys win and see the great crowd we had out here at Robertson for what was essentially a pre-season game," Holden said. "Hopefuly we can continue that form, and Pat and I can contribute and help in the next game against Saprissa."
Ianni said he continued to be impressed by the Dynamo's work ethic and tenacity against the Guatemalan power.
"Every time I'm not able to be there, and I watch our team, I just have a sense of pride watching our team and the way we work," Ianni said. "I don't think it's like any other team in MLS, and that's pretty much known throughout the league - that we're the hardest-working team."
Securing a spot in Beijing
With the Dynamo's advancement secure, Holden and Ianni looked for a similar result against Canada. Ianni did not start after the arrival of West Ham United defender Jonathan Spector, but Holden started at left midfield in the crucial match.
The United States controlled the match and went ahead 2-0 on a pair of free kicks from Benfica's Freddy Adu, but the trip to Beijing was not secured until the 78th minute, when wonderful U.S. buildup through six players got the ball to Holden on the left, and he set up Sacha Kljestan for the final goal, the only U.S. goal from open play in the tournament.
"It was a nice goal that was put together with some good passes, and it ended with a pass from myself, so I was happy to get an assist," Holden said. "It was a great goal, and it kind of put the icing on the cake."
Flush with success, Kljestan and Holden ran to the sideline to celebrate with the entire roster, where the squad's pure glee provided the most memorable U.S. moment of the tournament.
"Even at 2-0 it's not a for-sure win, so that third goal with 10 minutes to go kind of kills them off, and for Sacha to run over there and the whole group to be together celebrating was awesome," Holden said. "It ranks up there close to the MLS Cups, because those were really special and great moments in my career, but it was a great feeling and looking back on it, it's un-describable."
Ianni said the style of the goal - and the two players that finished it off - made the celebration even more appropriate.
"That third goal, with Stuie and Sacha - two guys that are leaders because they're jokesters - for them to hook up was perfect for the team to see two guys that have worked so hard together and have been with the team since the beginning," Ianni said. "[Kljestan] always incorporates the group, and obviously there were 20 of us celebrating that last goal, so it was good stuff."
Holden and Ianni both started the tournament final against Honduras, but Holden picked up a yellow card and was substituted toward the end of regulation. The U.S. lost in overtime, but Holden and Ianni know they are favorites to be picked for the Olympic team and head to China in August.
For more with Stuart Holden and Patrick Ianni, tune in to next week's edition of Total Dynamo.
