SOCCER : U.S. Will Play Host to Iceland

The U.S. national soccer team faces Iceland, making its 1993 international debut, tonight at 7:30 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.

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