LA Galaxy boss Bruce Arena is delighted for the US and skipper Landon Donovan after their dramatic World Cup qualification on the weekend. "It's fabulous,'' said Arena. "I'm happy for the team and certainly happy for Landon. That's certainly the goal of the national team, and they've achieved it.

"You're certainly not going to bet on the U.S. to win in Honduras ... you never know how those games are going to go. The last 10 minutes were a little bit hectic, and they got fortunate on the missed penalty kick, but at the end of the day they still got three goals and still dealt with the conditions and the pressure of trying to get a result.

"They got that accomplished. Certainly they didn't want to go into the last game (Wednesday against Costa Rica) needing to win. That's nice to get it done."

Arena also was among those who raved about Donovan's play.

"He's playing to his potential," he said. "That's all you could ask of a player. The consistency he's demonstrated over the last six months is important because that's what should be expected of your leaders and your top players.

"He's doing that and my hat is off to him."

Defender Gregg Berhalter, who has 44 caps and retired from the national team after the 2006 World Cup, said Donovan is securing his place among the best players in the world.

"I think Landon is just proving what type of player he is," Berhalter said. "Everyone has these high expectations, and sometimes it's hard to live up to them, but he's doing that and more so. For our team and the national team he's been really solid ... he's bringing that component we need him to bring."