SOCCER : U.S. Will Play Host to Iceland

Iceland makes its 1993 international soccer debut tonight at 7:30 in a match against the U.S. national team at Orange Coast College.

The United States, which defeated Saudi Arabia, 2-0, on April 9 for its first victory of the year, will be without the country’s all-time goal leader, midfielder Bruce Murray. Murray, who has started in more U.S. games (81) than any other player, suffered a concussion 30 seconds into the game against Saudi Arabia. He has scored 24 goals in his national team career.

Scoring goals is something Iceland has had difficulty doing, although defensively it poses a challenge. In World Cup Group 5 qualifying last year, Iceland lost consecutive games by 1-0 scores against Greece (twice) and Russia. The bright spot in 1992 came in a friendly (nonconference) match last June that resulted in a 2-1 victory over Hungary. Iceland was 2-5-1 internationally last year.

Joe-Max Moore, of UCLA and the U.S. Olympic team, is expected to start at forward and will probably draw early marking from Iceland. He scored one of the goals against Saudi Arabia.

The United States is 1-3-6 against international competition.