Geezer goalie has a 'Keller' instinct

After 35-year-old goalkeeper Kasey Keller helped preserve a 3-0 victory by the United States men's national soccer team over Costa Rica on Saturday at Rice Eccles Stadium, one might be wont to say "score one for the geezers."

Well, "score" might not be appropriate, since keepers like Keller are more intent on shutouts and stifling any opposing goals.

Which is exactly what Keller did in Saturday's World Cup qualifying match. Another in a long list of shutouts. No goals. Six saves — all in the second half — against Costa Rica's 10 total shots and five corner kicks.

Not bad for a guy who's old enough to be a full-fledged "soccer dad" and who in fact was a teenager when U.S. teammate and 21-year-old scoring sensation Eddie Johnson was born.

"I feel good that I haven't lost a step and that I'm able to keep up," said Keller after the match. "I don't see any reason why I can't play a couple more years."

Neither can U.S. coach Bruce Arena. "He's every bit as quick as he was five years ago," said Arena, adding, "I think Kasey Keller's play in the first part of the second half was the difference."

Said Keller on a key stretch at the start of the second 45 minutes: "It got a little hairy there for 20 minutes, but I was able to get a couple of saves and then the team cleaned up after me."

In home matches played on U.S. soil since 1998, Keller is now 23-2-4. In World Cup qualifiers, he has tallied 16 shutouts in 28 appearances.

He's the winningest keeper in U.S. national team history, with 80 career appearances (76 as a starter), 44 victories and 38 shutouts.

CAREER SCORING: With Landon Donovan logging two U.S. goals and Brian McBride the third, some adjustments for the two current players need to be made in U.S. all-time top-five scoring lists.

McBride now has 27 career goals, seven behind leader Eric Wynalda (34). With 21 goals, Donovan is now tied for fourth with Bruce Murray, behind Joe-Max Moore's 24.

Wynalda is a runaway leader in career points, with 84 (two points for a goal, one for an assist). Rounding out the top five are McBride (63), Moore (62), Donovan (60) and Cobi Jones (52).

THIS IS THE PLACE: McBride, Keller and Donovan all complimented the crowd and atmosphere in Saturday's qualifying match.

"This was special today," McBride said. "They were very good fans and they were very knowledgeable fans."