Johnson could get one game of forgiveness

PROVO — Eddie Johnson isn't exactly the most popular player in Salt Lake City these days. He's the FC Dallas player who later admitted to taking a dive during a game against Real Salt Lake in late April— a sequence that led to a red card and one-game suspension for RSL defender Eddie Pope.

For one weekend at least, soccer fans in Utah can forgive Johnson. After all, he isn't coming to town in an FC Dallas uniform, but rather a U.S. National Team jersey.

Even though Johnson is questionable for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica with the right toe injury, if he's even close to 100 percent U.S. coach Bruce Arena will start him. In less than a year, Johnson has established himself as the premier goal scorer in this country — someone the National Team needs on the field.

It's amazing what a difference a year makes.

In summer 2004, the 20-year-old Johnson was busy trying to help the U.S. under-23 team qualify for the Olympics, in addition to coming into his own as a forward with the Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas). It was Johnson's consistent performance during the Major League Soccer season that impressed Arena enough to finally give Johnson a call up to the full squad.

He took advantage of the opportunity, and he's been a vital contributor to the U.S. team ever since.

In his first game, on Oct. 9, he entered as a 71st-minute substitute against El Salvador and scored a goal in a 2-0 win. Four days later, he came on as a substitute again and scored a staggering three goals in the final 25 minutes against Panama. Then on Nov. 17, he scored the United States' only goal in a 1-1 tie with Jamaica. All three games were World Cup qualifiers.

"He's a very talented forward, and he has a nose for the goal and he finishes chances very well," said Arena.

Johnson this year picked up right where he left off, starting five games and scoring three goals.

"He's taken advantage of his opportunities," Arena said.

His success isn't really surprising to anyone involved with U.S. Soccer. During his 48 career games with the U.S. U-17s, U-20s and U-23s, he has scored 33 goals. He won the Golden Boot with the U-20s as the top goal scorer during the 2003 World Youth Championships in the United Arab Emirates with four goals.

A big reason for Johnson's success, aside from great passing from his teammates, is his athleticism. Johnson is a phenomenal athlete, with speed that virtually no defenders can compete with.

He's only 21 years old but already has scored eight goals in eight games. At his current pace, he'll easily surpass Eric Wynalda's record of 34 goals with the U.S. National Team.

---

E-mail: jedward@desnews.com