Keller likes this neighborhood

SEATTLE – Kasey Keller made sure coach Bruce Arena knew he wanted to play in the Gold Cup.

Especially with the United States playing only about 50 miles up Interstate 5 from the egg farm Keller grew up on in Lacey, Wash.

“This is a tournament where sometimes guys are given a little bit of a break,” Keller said as the team prepared to face Cuba tonight at Qwest Field. “I saw those two games in Seattle and I was like, ‘No problem, Bruce, I’d be more than happy to play.’ “

The Gold Cup is the championship of soccer’s North and Central American and Caribbean region that is played every two years. Typically, several of the top American players are given the tournament off, as Arena looks at others further back in his talent pool.

This year, the tournament is serving as an audition for those trying to land on the 2006 World Cup roster.

“A lot of them are fighting for spots,” Arena said. “Any player that treats the Gold Cup competition lightly is going to hurt his cause to be a part of the team in Germany in 2006.”

The U.S. plays Canada on Saturday and will face Costa Rica next Tuesday in Foxboro, Mass. The final is July 24 at East Rutherford, N.J.

With Keller’s play lately, it’s hard to sit the goalkeeper.

In his last four starts, Keller has posted three shutouts, all in World Cup qualifying. He made three spectacular saves in the first half of the Americans’ 3-0 win over Panama on June 8. The Americans (4-1) are second at the midpoint of the final round of the North and Central American region with 12 points, one behind Mexico (4-0-1).

Keller wasn’t overwhelmed with shots in victories over Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama, but his play has nonetheless been impressive.

“He hasn’t been tested that much, but when he has, he’s come up big,” Arena said. “He’s been the difference in a bunch of games.”

Now Keller gets to show his talents in his home state.

Keller has played every game in the last two Gold Cups, posting a 12-3-1 career record in the tournament with 10 shutouts.

He was the MVP of the 1998 Gold Cup after the U.S. team posted a 1-0 victory over Brazil in the semifinals, before falling to Mexico in the championship.

Keller is the national team’s all-time leader in wins (45) and shutouts (39) in 81 international appearances.

•In Miami, Luis Tejada scored midway through the second half to give Panama a 1-0 victory over Colombia in the opening Gold Cup match Wednesday night.

Panama and Colombia are in Group A with Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago, which played to a 1-all tie in the day’s late match at the Orange Bowl.