Georgia native still looking for first goal of season

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Posted 8:21AM on Friday, June 3, 2005

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Clint Mathis is as brash as ever.The Mohawk hairstyle that he sported during the 2002 World Cup made a brief return, and the yellow cards and general feistiness that made him one of the most popular players in American soccer are still there. But scoring has been a struggle lately. The Real Salt Lake midfielder/forward and U.S. national team regular is sitting out this round of World Cup qualifiers the American squad hosts Costa Rica on Saturday, then visits Panama next week. ``It'd be nice to be a part of it, but it's not the end of the world if I'm not,'' said Mathis, who hopes to be back with the national team in time for the World Cup next year. Mathis has played 46 games and scored 12 goals for the men's national team. He had a goal and an assist in two exhibition games this year, but coach Bruce Arena didn't put him on the latest roster for a friendly against England last week and the two qualifiers. ``They make the decisions,'' said Mathis, 28. ``That's the way it is. I'm at the point in my life where it would be great. If Bruce decided to bring me back in, that'd be awesome. I'd love to go.'' Mathis will play Saturday in his new home stadium, but for expansion Real Salt Lake against FC Dallas after the national team opens the doubleheader against the Costa Ricans. Three years ago, Mathis sporting his signature Mohawk became a U.S. soccer star with the only American goal in a 1-1 tie against South Korea in the 2002 World Cup. Just 25 at the time, Mathis appeared to have a promising future with the U.S. team. If there's any frustration about not being able to play with the U.S. team on Saturday, Mathis downplays it. He's more frustrated with his pro club, which has been shut out in two straight games. Real badly needs scoring from Mathis and the rest of the team. If he starts scoring again, it could help Mathis get another look from Arena. ``As the MLS season continues to move forward, we'll see how Clint's doing and give him consideration for our next roster,'' Arena said. If Arena is trying to humble Mathis, it's not likely to work. Mathis made a frustrating season abroad a memorable one after scoring a goal late in a game for Hannover 96 last September. Frustrated over a lack of playing time and having to come in late, Mathis turned toward his bench, grabbed his crotch and then pointed to his wrist to indicate he thought he should have been in much sooner. ``He's still fiery. He's still got a swashbuckling style as a player,'' Real coach John Ellinger said. ``He brings so much on the field.'' It didn't help an already icy relationship with Hannover coach Ewald Lienen. And that still doesn't really bother Mathis. ``I get into the game. A lot of emotions are out there and I let them all out,'' he said. ``When I'm off the field, I'm pretty reserved.'' The German experience, although trying, actually helped reunite him with Ellinger, who coached Mathis in the 1997 World University Games. Mathis told Ellinger he'd play for him if he ever got an MLS team. The league gave Salt Lake Mathis' rights in January, and the Georgia native was headed for Utah. ``It's nice. I was going to go to another team, but the only reason I came back was because of John Ellinger,'' he said. Mathis has 48 career MLS goals with Los Angeles and the MetroStars, the last American team he played for before heading overseas. Mathis, who had 16 MLS goals five years ago, hasn't scored for struggling expansion club Real. Mathis has three assists this season, but none since a pass to Jason Kreis for the decisive goal in a 2-1 victory over Los Angeles on May 14. Mathis likes to joke that he's waiting for Kreis, the MLS career leader with 95 goals, to hit 100 before he starts scoring again. ``We just aren't playing consistently enough to get the job done,'' Mathis said. ``I think just more chances will come, and that's the problem we're not getting a lot of chances.'' Mathis has had several nagging injuries already this season. He had a rib injury that finally has healed enough that he can breathe without trouble. He took a shot to the back in another game and last week took a cleat to the ankle in the opening minute of a 3-0 loss to Chicago. It was the referee's cleat, signifying the kind of freak bad luck Mathis is having lately. Mathis said he's focusing on trying to win with Real and not worrying about rejoining the national team, although playing in front of a large home crowd in an international game that counts would have been nice. The United States plays next month for the Gold Cup, the championship of the North and Central American and Caribbean region, and Mathis could be invited back to the U.S. team. He said there is no animosity because he is sitting out this round of qualifiers. ``I'd love to represent my country,'' he said. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)