Clark’s recent itinerary: soccer upset, a daughter

Ricardo Clark is having a very good week.

First, the U.S. men’s soccer team, which includes Clark, knocked off Spain, the No. 1 team in the world, and almost beat Brazil, the most famous team in the world, in the Confederations Cup tournament in South Africa.

Second, Clark was added to the roster Thursday for the U.S. team participating in the Gold Cup.

But playing for his country and helping put the U.S. soccer team back on the world’s radar paled to the birth of his second child, daughter Amaya, on Wednesday.

“Not a bad week,” said Clark, who grew up in Jonesboro and attended St. Pius High School. From his position as a defensive midfielder, Clark played in four of five games in last week’s tourney. He missed the 3-0 loss to Brazil in the first round because he was given a red card in the opening 3-1 loss to Italy.

After the two losses it appeared the U.S. team was headed for another “know your place” showing in a world tourney. To make the next round, the U.S. had to defeat Egypt, and Brazil had to beat Italy, the defending World Cup champions, by any combination of six goals.

Clark returned to the lineup for the game against the Pharaohs, and good things started to happen.

The U.S. team took a 1-0 lead into halftime, when it heard that Brazil was pummeling Italy 3-0 halfway through their game. Suddenly, there was hope.

“It put more fight into the guys,” Clark said.

The U.S. team came out and scored two more goals to hit that magic six-goal swing it needed to advance. That fight, that spirit, that “yes, we can” was the difference in the first two losses and the past three games, Clark said.

“Just more fight and more desire and more belief,” said Clark, who has 23 caps, or appearances, for the team.

The fight carried the U.S. team to a 2-0 win over Spain, which was the No. 1-ranked team in the world after a 35-game unbeaten streak, and a 2-0 lead against Brazil at halftime.

The Selecao eventually stormed back with three goals to earn the championship and deny the U.S. team its first international trophy.

But to come so close, only to be beaten, hasn’t deflated Clark or the team, he says.

“To prove to everyone that we are a good team,” Clark said, “to move into the finals of a Confederations Cup —- not too many people have done that in their career —- beating the No. 1 team in the world, it all goes together as one big accomplishment.”

Clark is back in Houston, where he’s in the last year of his contract with the Dynamo in Major League Soccer. He’s not sure what’s next. He says he has opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic, either staying with MLS or signing with a team in England, Spain or France.

However, the U.S. team isn’t done. Despite its impressive showing in South Africa, it hasn’t secured a spot in next year’s World Cup.

The Gold Cup, a regional tournament, starts Saturday with the U.S. playing Grenada in Seattle. The Gold Cup final is July 26 at Giants Stadium in New Jersey.

The U.S. will then turn its attention back to the World Cup with an important qualifying game against rival Mexico on Aug. 12 in Mexico City.

“If we have that same attitude and belief, we will do well,” Clark said.