Far from being intimidated by big stage, Holden shines brightly at Gold Cup

Gold Cup gives Holden chance to shine

CHICAGO — Stuart Holden is a notorious practical joker, always hiding around corners in hopes of taking somebody by surprise.

Oh, he’s surprising people all right.

On a team of young and inexperienced players eager to make their mark, no American has stood out more in the CONCACAF Gold Cup than the 23-year-old midfielder. Holden has scored twice in five games, and he had assists on both goals Thursday night as the United States beat Honduras 2-0 to advance to its third straight Gold Cup final.

The Americans play archrival Mexico in Sunday’s final at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. It’s a rematch of the 2007 final, where the United States beat El Tri to win its second straight Gold Cup title.

“I enjoy this. It’s not only my job, it’s something I enjoy doing and the big games are what you live for,” Holden said. “These are the kind of games I want to play in and want to be a part of.

“If you shy away from these, why would you want to play on this team and be at this level?”

Especially considering what it’s taken for Holden to get here.

Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, Holden moved to Houston when he was 10 (his father, Brian, worked for Chevron). After two years at Clemson, Holden signed in March 2005 with Sunderland, then in England’s League Championship.

But after playing in just two games with the Black Cats’ reserves, Holden was attacked while waiting for a taxi with his brother, Euan.

“I guess they were trying to cut in front of us in the taxi line, and one of the guys in our group said something to them,” Holden said. “Next thing you know, I was the one, the small guy who got hit.”

Holden’s left eye socket was broken in three or four places, and he had double vision for three months. By the time he’d recovered, his contract was up and Sunderland was looking for more established players, having been promoted to the Premier League.

He had a tryout with Leicester City, only to break his ankle the first game.

“I’d always maintained the mentality I was going to give it the full go until I just couldn’t anymore. But I’d be lying to you if I said it never crossed my mind at one point or another,” Holden said. “How am I going to play soccer if I see two balls every time I look in the air?

“It was tough at the time. I was 19, living by myself. But it’s worked out for the best.”

When his ankle healed, Holden signed with the hometown Houston Dynamo. After playing in 13 games his first season, he had a breakout year in 2007 with five goals and a team-high five assists in 22 games.

Last year, as part of the U.S. Olympic team, he scored the winning goal in the Americans’ opener against Japan. That helped earn him an invitation to the senior national team training camp before a Jan. 24 friendly against Sweden.

U.S. coach Bob Bradley turned to his JV roster for the Gold Cup, giving most of his regular starters a break following their stunning run to the Confederations Cup final. Not only do the younger players get experience, the Gold Cup gives Bradley an idea of who might help in the lead-up to next year’s World Cup in South Africa.

But this is hardly a field trip.

The United States is the two-time defending champion, and Bradley made sure the youngsters understood the responsibility that came with their shirts.

“Anytime I’m on the field, I want to impress and I want to win,” Holden said. “I’m a competitor and anything I can do to help the team win goes a long way.”

His goal in the opener against Grenada was the first by an American in his international debut since Eddie Robinson against Sweden in January 2008. Holden salvaged a 2-2 tie against Haiti with a 25-foot shot in the first minute of second-half injury time.

And while he didn’t score Thursday, his contributions were no less important.

While the Americans were practicing corner kicks Wednesday, Bradley went to a spot in front of the goal and told Holden that was where he should deliver the ball. Sure enough, his corner kick went to that exact spot just before halftime Thursday, and Clarence Goodson headed it into the net for the 1-0 lead.

Late in the second half, Holden collected a back-heel flick from Ching and sent a cross to Kenny Cooper, who one-timed it for a 2-0 lead.

Off the field, he’s been key to that all-important team chemistry. With his practical jokes and killer impressions — Brian Ching, one of the few regular starters on the Gold Cup roster and Holden’s teammate in Houston, said Holden does good imitations of both Bradley and former U.S. assistant coach Peter Nowak — he has a knack for putting anyone at ease.

“Stuart is a player that has been on the verge of getting into our team for a while,” Bradley said. “The timing of this tournament was good for him and, like others, he’s taken advantage of it.”