Chivas...more USA than you would think: Heath Pearce, Part 3...

Chivas...more USA than you would think: Heath Pearce, Part 3...

• By John Santos, Chivas USA Examiner

After the US had secured its qualification in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, then Coach Bob Bradley had the arduous job of finding the right 23 men to make the trip to South Africa.  If Pearce was to make a statement, it would have to be soon as the US would only schedule 4 friendlies before selecting the team.

Up first was Honduras at the Home Depot Center.  If not for a Jimmy Conrad red card early on, the match might have had a different outcome.  However, 10 vs. 11 (while unfortunate) gives the coach a chance see how players deal with added pressure.   And while not a starter, Pearce did come in during the second half. But with the US down 3-0, and Honduras content with the result, there was not much to do on defense.   

A month later against El Salvador though, Pearce played the entire match at left back and was very active on offense.  Setting up players throughout the course of the match, his precise cross in the 75th minute found Brian Ching for the equalizer (the US was down 1-0).  His efforts on the day earned him a trip to Holland the following week with the 1st team to take on the Netherlands.   However he only came on in the last 20 minutes with the US down 2-0 (the US would lose 2-1).  While his play during the MLS regular season got him on the 30-man preliminary roster for the World Cup, he was one of the 7 dropped when the official 23-man roster was submitted to FIFA (interestingly enough two former Goats made the roster).   A recall in October of last year saw him go 45 minutes in a scoreless draw vs. Colombia.

Advertisement With that, it seemed Pearce might have seen his last camp.  But with a new coach for the US National team in Jürgen Klinsman looking for different ideas in defense, Pearce saw himself recalled to the fray for the first time in nearly a year.  And while he didn’t get on to the field in the 1-1 draw vs. Mexico, he was able to display his abilities to the new coach first hand.

“I think if you asked every player here, they’d have an interest of playing for the national team,” stated Pearce on mlssoccer.com.  “Obviously, Klinsman is an accomplished player and coach as well so he’ll be a great addition to US Soccer, and there is potential to do great things under him.”  



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