Murray Gets U.S. Off on the Right Foot, 3-0 : Soccer: He scores early to spark a 3-0 victory over Guatemala. Trinidad and Tobago defeats Costa Rica.
Coaches of the U.S. soccer team have preached to their players many things during this week’s Gold Cup tournament. Chief among the lessons has been the importance of taking control of the game and scoring within the first 15 minutes.
The U.S. players were nothing if not accommodating Monday night against Guatemala, scoring their first goal in the 11th minute of the first half and their second only 20 seconds into the second half.
The team never really struggled against Guatemala and coasted to a 3-0 victory before 6,344 at the Rose Bowl. The United States was paced by midfielder Bruce Murray, who had a goal and an assist.
In an earlier game, Trinidad and Tobago beat Costa Rica, 2-1.
The Gold Cup, an eight-nation tournament sponsored by the Confederation of North and Central American and Caribbean Assn. Football, runs through July 7. On Wednesday, four matches will be played at the Coliseum: Jamaica vs. Canada at 2:30, Trinidad and Tobago vs. Guatemala at 4:30, the United States vs. Costa Rica at 6:30 and Mexico vs. Honduras at 8:30.
U.S. assistant coach Ralph Perez said before the game that the team’s strategy would be to press early and force Guatemala into mistakes. It was a successful tactic as Guatemala appeared confused by the Americans’ uncharacteristic aggressiveness. The Americans out-shot Guatemala, 18-10.
Typical of the Americans’ new freewheeling style under Coach Bora Milutinovic was the play of Murray. Murray scored the first goal on a hard left-footed shot and assisted on Eric Wynalda’s goal in the second half. Brian Quinn scored the second U.S. goal.
U.S. defender Marcelo Balboa was red-carded in the final minute and will be suspended for one game.
Murray, 26, has played in a record 60 full international matches for the United States. Under former coach Bob Gansler, Murray played at forward, an unnatural position for him. At last summer’s World Cup, Murray was frustrated and often angry.
His frustration came to a boil earlier this year during a match against Bayern Munich at Miami. Murray simply moved himself from the forward line to the midfield and played the game there, ignoring shouts from Gansler on the sidelines. Murray had a good game.
The next match, Gansler started Murray at midfield. That was also Gansler’s last game as the U.S. coach.
Murray has welcomed the arrival of Milutinovic. “It’s like I have a new lease on life, I really mean it,” Murray said.
In the earlier game, Trinidad’s Leonson Lewis hit a powerful shot that hit the crossbar and teammate Alvin Thomas knocked in the rebound for the winning goal.
