Sean Johnson has been asked about the El Salvador game so many times his answers don’t seem rehearsed, but they do seem familiar.
“I’ve moved past that whole thing,” he said. “Just one of those things that you deal with it and move on.”
Johnson, a Lilburn native, was in goal for the U.S. men’s Olympic soccer team against El Salvador in Nashville in March during qualifying for the Summer Games. The U.S. team was winning 3-2 and was poised to advance to London. Johnson was in goal because starter Bill Hamid suffered an injury in the first half.
With less than two minutes remaining, El Salvador’s Jaime Alas tried a shot from more than 20 yards. The ball skipped just in front of a diving Johnson, went off his hands and bounced high into the air before settling into the goal. The fluky shot may have tied the game and eliminated the U.S. team, but it didn’t cause a crisis in confidence for Johnson.
With the Olympics starting next month and the U.S. team not preparing to go, Johnson has used that moment as a teaching tool.
“I’m using it as motivation, instead of a negative issue,” he said.
Johnson rejoined the MLS’ Chicago Fire, where coach Frank Klopas quickly sat down with him to share his experiences shaped by tough situations.
Even before they talked, Johnson was ready to get back between the posts. Klopas started Johnson in some games with the reserve team before inserting him back into the Fire’s starting 11, where he’s played well. The Fire are 6-5-3 this season. They will host Columbus on Saturday.
“You have to be able to move on,” Klopas said. “There’s going to be setbacks. It’s important how you deal with them. That’s one of the things that he did. As a young keeper, you are going to make mistakes. The important thing is he’s learned from those mistakes and gotten better.”
Johnson has started 11 games this year. His 1.40 goals-against average is the 10th best in the league.
Klopas said he likes what he’s seen from his young keeper, noting he makes saves during practices and games that make him take notice. Johnson reads the game better and makes quicker decisions, and his positioning has improved. Klopas said Johnson will still make errors, but more important he learns from most of them.
Klopas believes Johnson has the tools to join the line of world-class stoppers produced by the United States, a list that includes Tottenham’s Brad Friedel, and Everton’s Tim Howard, the current U.S. No. 1.
“This country produces a lot of good goalkeepers,”’ Klopas said. “He’s definitely one of them.”
Johnson has become a bit of a sports celebrity in Chicago, doing a commercial for the Marines and another funny spot for the team in which he is shopping at a grocery store and he prevents shoppers from dropping things onto the floor. Both can be seen on YouTube.
He seems to have gotten over the El Salvador game, just as he said. He hopes to continue to play well enough to earn a shot at making the U.S. squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. But taking care of his duties with the Fire is his primary responsibility.
“[I’m] learning every single game,” he said. “My mental strength has gotten a lot better.”
