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Battle of home-based youth Slow start dooms U.S. as Argentina wins friendly 1-0Posted: Saturday February 08, 2003 2:30 PMUpdated: Sunday February 09, 2003 2:21 PM
MIAMI (AP) -- Argentina felt right at home from the outset on Saturday, even though the United States was the side playing host to the match. (Postgame quotesheet) Spurred on by a crowd of 27,196, seemingly all clad in the visitors' colors, Argentina dominated the opening moments and made a ninth-minute goal stand up for 1-0 victory in an exhibition game at the Orange Bowl. The goal by Luis Gonzalez was part of an early barrage by the Argentineans, who tested goalkeeper Tim Howard several times in the opening 10 minutes, while the Americans failed to muster any serious threats. "Obviously, that was the difference in the game," said Landon Donovan, the 20-year-old U.S. midfielder who played in his 31st international match. "When they scored, that was it. Especially in international matches against good teams like that, we have to be ready to play or else it's all over."
Both teams played with youthful rosters in an attempt to deepen their respective player pools before World Cup qualifying begins again. The Americans, 1-1 in 2003 following a quarterfinal finish in last year's World Cup, used only players from Major League Soccer. The Argentine roster was filled by domestic-based players as the two-time World Cup champions rebuild following a first-round exit from last year's tournament in Japan and South Korea. U.S. coach Bruce Arena said he looked at the game as a teaching and evaluation tool for some of his less-experienced players. Intimidation, he said, was among his primary concerns during the early stages -- and the worry proved legitimate. "The way we came out and started the game, I thought we demonstrated a lack of confidence," Arena said. "It took us 20 minutes to get into the game." .It was the first U.S. loss in its last three meetings with Argentina, which leads the series 5-2. Teammates from perennial Argentine power River Plate combined for the only goal. Gonzalez carried the ball uncontested past midfield, then tapped a pass to Andres D'Alessandro, one of the top playmakers in the Argentine system. D'Alessandro quickly returned Gonzalez's pass to the top of the penalty area, and Gonzalez flicked a one-timer over Howard. "We gave them too much time and respect on the ball in the first 15-to-20 minutes," said U.S. midfielder Pablo Mastroeni, who was born in Argentina and lived there until he was 4. "We started playing after they scored the goal." D'Alessandro was ejected for a second yellow card in the 90th minute after a dramatic flop, but it was too late to give the Americans an opportunity to exploit the man-up situation. The best U.S. chance came in the 55th minute, on an opportunity set up by Donovan. He collected an errant cross inside the American penalty area, carried the ball 80 yards up the left side, then was pushed off the ball by Federico Inzua, who was given a yellow card for the hit. Donovan played the restart to the far post, where Carlos Bocanegra's header went just wide. Howard, who allowed his first goal in five international appearances, did all he could do to keep the Americans close, including a spectacular point-blank save on Cesar Garignano in the 63rd minute. "We did better in the second half, but there was too much of a feeling that we needed to prove something," Mastroeni said. "You lose focus on what your job is at times when you are going against a great team." Notes: Clint Mathis served as U.S. captain. ... None of the players on either side were involved in the last United States-Argentina matchup in 1999. ... The Americans play at Jamaica on Wednesday, then are off until March 29 against Japan in Seattle. ... The American find out their three first-round opponents at the FIFA Confederations Cup on Wednesday. ... Sacha Victorine left in the 56th minute with a right quadriceps bruise. ... The U.S. team is 2-5-2 at the Orange Bowl and 2-9-3 in Miami. SummaryUnited States 0 Argentina 1 - result International soccer friendly Scorer: Luis Gonzalez 9 Halftime: 1-0; Attendance: 27,196 Red card: Andres D'Alessandro (Argentina) 90 Teams: United States: 18-Tim Howard, 15-Bobby Convey, 2-Dan Califf, 4-Carlos Bocanegra (13-Steve Ralson 90), 12-Sasha Victorine (3-Nick Garcia, 56), 7-DaMarcus Beasley, 25-Pablo Mastroeni, 14-Ben Olsen (11-Taylor Twellman 46), 17-Chris Klein (20-Jeff Cunningham, 79), 10-Landon Donovan, 9-Clint Mathis Argentina: 1-Sebastian Saja, 2-Nicolas Burdisso, 4-Ariel Garce, 5-Sebastian Battaglia, 6-Gabriel Milito, 3-Pablo Guinazu, 7-Mariano Gonzalez (19-Cesar Garignano, 46), 8-Luis Gonzalez, 9-Diego Milito (16-Clemente Rodriguez, 85), 11-Federico Inzua (18-Leandro Romagnoli, 77), 15-Andres D'Alessandro. Referee: Carlos Batres (Guatemala) Misconduct Summary: ARG - Andrés D'Alesandro (caution) 13th minute
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