Tim Howard is one step closer to winning the second FA Cup of his career.
The U.S. national team goalkeeper kept a clean sheet for 120 minute against Manchester United side made up mostly of reserves, then Howard saved penalty kicks from Dimitar Berbatov and Rio Ferdinand to help Everton post a penalty kick shootout victory over United in the FA Cup semifinals.
Howard saved United's first two penalty attempts, helping to off-set Tim Cahill's opening penalty miss. Howard dove to his right on Berbatov's soft kick down the middle, but stuck his leg out to stop the attempt. On Ferdinand's attempt, it was trademark Howard, diving perfectly to his right to make the acrobatic stop.
Here are the highlights:
The victory sets up a final of Everton vs. Chelsea at Wembley on May 30th. For those wondering, that is just four days before Howard and the U.S. national team faces Costa Rica in World Cup qualifying.
What did you think of Howard's performance today? Think he can lead Everton past Chelsea? Think Sir Alex Ferguson wishes he still had Howard? Has Howard cemented his place as your favorite U.S. national team player?
Share your thoughts below.
TOFFEES! Too excited to type anything else.
Except, well, Everton should have done better in regulation vs. what was mostly a U-21 team. Great players in their own right, but Everton was also working with and has been working with a depleted roster.
GO BLUES!
Sweet, sweet redemption Timmy. Loved the look on Sir Alex’s face after the first save. I like to think he doubted himself at that moment, letting Timmy go so quickly, even just for a second. You’ll always be a Metro.
I’m not in the know, and would love an answer to this question: Why was the Man U. team mostly reserves? FA Cup semi-final is a pretty big deal to play reserves don’t you think?
“America has the best goalkeepers in the world!”
How exactly? Because there are American No.1 goalkeepers in Aston Villa and Everton? As opposed to say… Spain who have No.1 goalkeepers in Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Villarreal, Sevilla… Or Brazil, who among other goalkeepers have the No.1 in the world today, Julio Cesar.
No offense to the great American goalkeepers, but just because they are better that American field players doesn’t mean they are better than goalkeepers from other countries.
Is it really so miraculous that from millions of American kids playing ‘soccer’, something like 5 good goalkeepers emerge?
To be “the best in the world”, it would be nice if even one of them could be brought to the conversation “who is the best in the world?”
But anyway, Howard was my hero yesterday. Not that I’m a fan of Everton, but I had quite wild celebrations when ManU failed! I’m still hoping Barce wins the UCL and hopefully Liverpool or Chelsea can still take the EPL.
Timmy is a *fiend* fans appreciate it, and his teammates do too – this is pro’lly our most respected player
man Timmy you’re awesome! great saves
Is there any actual chance Howard could move to Arsenal? Almunia is a decent GK but Howard is still better. BUt i’d rather he stay at Everton.
EXCELLENT!!! The Howard players almost pulled his arms out at the end due to the celebration.
The Howard Arsenal thing could work seeing as how they really dont have a stand out keeper since Lehmann left .
If Howard helps Arsenal win the FA Cup, he will be a LEGEND. He’s their no doubt no.1 for years to come.
Howard is For The People and Their Club! Vote Howard!
I became a United fan when they signed Howard. And I am still a United fan. But I am a Howard fan first. Fantastic play T-Ho!
Love the crowd reactions more than anything!
Props to Tim, way to go!
Berbatov was ridiculous in his penalty shot.
YAY!!!! Good job Timmy!
This Guy,
Are we talking about the same Arsenal that has Simpson, Hoyte, Gibbs, and Wilshere, and the same Arsenal that had Frank Simek and had Danny Karbassiyoon and Frank Simek in its youth system?
highlights are..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpd2RU2BR2M
HOWARD OUSTED MAN UTD…
HOWARD OUSTED MAN UTD…
HOWARD OUSTED MAN UTD…
THE REDS GO CRYING HOME!!!
Howard started that FA Cup final didn’t he? Anyway, grats to our boy, I hope he and Everton can lift the cup once more, down those damn mancs!
I recall in an interview a long time ago that Howard accredited playing basketball and football growing up that helped develop some of his goalkeeping skills. Obviously some of it is just his nature talents but I can’t discredit playing other sports gave him a bit of a boost either.
I’m a United supporter but if someone had to stop us on penalties, I was glad it was Howard.
It’s obvious that all kids grow up, and have a natural tendency to pick up a ball, thus we have better eye hand coordination. I let two small kids pass a soccer ball around at a park last week, and they both immediately picked it up and dribbled it like a basketball. It’s just the way kids are raised (not mine).
I hope Everton shows up with more heart on May 30th than they did today. It will be a great game and I will be routing for Timmy and crew.
What other team did he win a FA Cup with? Man U? Was he starting, or had he been relegated to the bench by Van Der Sar?
I wish the best for him and his career, by far my favorite player on the MNT.
Americans are taught to catch and the earliest of ages… We also understand being aggressive goalkeepers which is why ours control the box better than most in the world. Howard actually has decent foot skills, much better than Keller ever did.
I think it’s because we’re batshit crazy.
It’s simple really, playing goalkeeper requires the least amount of “soccer” skills. It’s about agression, cutting down angles, reading players and reacting. If you’ll notice, Timmy isn’t the greatest with his feet. These goakeeping skills are transferrable to and from other sports, basketball defense, football, etc. Soccer is such a specific sport, and it comes with continued and constant practice, goalkeeping has the lowest threshold for specific skills
The theory I heard once and agree most with is that we don’t just stick the last kid there. We have kids that want to be goalies, work on it, practice it, study it. Sure, other nations have good ones, but on the whole, they don’t treat it as being as important as, say, having a good #10, like maybe we have all along, without really realizing that’s what we were doing.
America has the best goalkeepers in the world! Is it because we play mostly upper-body sports (football, basketball, baseball)?
Just a thought/hypothesis.
Arsenal doesn’t sign Americans or English players.
That stopped with Walcott.
Arsenal please sign Howard!!!
Timmy for president in 2012. At the very least MVP 2010 World Cup. Go Timmy!
I vote Kriz today’s #1 negative nancy.
do u have any highlights of the save Ives?
if only we could produce field players of the same quality of the keepers we produce….