U.S. plays Bolivia to scoreless draw
Meola records shutout as Arena runs record to 0-0-2
Posted: Monday January 25, 1999 09:25 AM
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Meola was the hero of the 1994 U.S. World Cup team Mike Powell/Allsport |
SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia (AP) -- Tony Meola returned to goal for the
United States for the first time in 4 1/2 years, and the Americans
played their second straight scoreless draw under new coach Bruce
Arena, this time against Bolivia on Sunday.
Meola, 29, was the starter for the United States in the 1990 and
1994 World Cups but had not played an international game since July
4, 1994, when the Americans lost to Brazil 1-0 in the second round
of the World Cup. Meola had four saves in his 28th career
international shutout.
Kasey Keller of England's Leicester City was the starter during
last summer's World Cup in France and Liverpool's Brad Friedel was
his backup.
Arena, who took over as coach from Steve Sampsn following the
World Cup and made his debut as coach against Australia on Nov. 6,
was Meola's coach at the University of Virginia in the late 1980s.
| U.S.-Bolivia Stats | | | U.S | Bolivia | Shots
Saves
Corners
Fouls
Offsides
| 6
4
11
12
3
| 11
5
2
16
2
| | |
Meola left soccer after the '94 World Cup to pursue careers in
acting and in the NFL, then returned with the launch of Major League
Soccer and has started for the New York/New Jersey MetroStars for
the past three seasons.
Arena started a lineup that included a mix of the players on the
World Cup roster (defenders Jeff Agoos and Eddie Pope; midfielders
Claudio Reyna and Cobi Jones; and forwards Brian McBride and
Joe-Max Moore) and youth.
"This was a pretty good result for us, considering we were
playing on foreign soil," Arena said. "We created a number of
chances, and it was unfortunate that we didn't score a goal.
Tactically, we played almost a perfect game."
The U.S. team outshot Bolivia 11-6. The exhibition game marked
the debut of Bolivia coach Hector "Bambino" Veira of Argentina.
Lineups
United States: 1-Tony Meola, 4-Robin Fraser, 12-Jeff Agoos, 23-Eddie Pope (C.J. Brown, 64), 7-Eddie Lewis (6-Imad Baba, 75), 14-Chris Armas, 21-Claudio Reyna (Capt.), 13-Cobi Jones, 8-Jovan Kirovski, 20-Brian McBride, 9-Joe-Max Moore (10-Roy Lassiter, 68).
Bolivia: 1-Jose Carlo Fernandez, 7-Sergio Castillo, 3-Eduardo Jiguchi, 5-Ronald Arana, 4-Lorgio Alvarez, 8-Ruben Tufino (Capt.), 6-Raul Justiniano, 20-Raul Gutierrez (13-Luis Liendo, 45), 10-Mauricio Ramos (17-Gonzalo Galindo, 68), 9-Jefferson Gottardi (22-Juan Berthy Suarez, 68), 11-Limberg Gutierrez (21-Roger Suarez, 68).
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