SOCCER : U.S. Loses Grip on Rare Victory, Ties Moldova

For those wondering why the U.S. national soccer team has scheduled two matches against fledgling Moldova, the answer might be found in the Moldovans’ style. However, after they rallied to salvage a 1-1 tie Saturday night, substance also is an appropriate answer.

The first thought in playing Moldova--beside the fact it has had an open schedule in the three years since the former Soviet republic gained independence--was that the team plays similarly to Romania, a U.S. opponent in this summer’s World Cup.

Moldova proved to be more than stylistic stand-ins for Romania and gained a moral victory with the tie. Vladimir Kosse’s goal on a penalty kick in the 85th minute provided a lift to a team sluggish from jet lag and dragging from the Florida humidity.

“The result will be a pleasant one at home,” Kosse said, smiling.

So, too, was the tie disappointing for the United States as it appeared to have the game in hand after solving Moldova’s defensive puzzle in the second half. Although the game had no impact on anything other than the U.S. team’s record, no American player was happy with allowing a rare victory slip away.

“In my opinion, we need to win these games,” said Janusz Michallik. “What happens if we do this in the World Cup?”

All games point to the World Cup at this stage, and Michallik is correct in noting that bad habits have a way of hanging around. But there was something positive gained from the game, played before 6,103 in Wolfson Park, a minor league baseball stadium with a panoramic view of several freeway ramps.

Moldova mimicked a defensive strategy favored by Romania. When the team is back on defense the two attacking forwards cover the wings, leaving space in the middle of the field. That neutralized the Americans’ speed on the outside and left their midfielders to distribute the ball. In the first half, they were notably unsuccessful.

“We weren’t penetrating in the first half,” Cobi Jones said. “They were dropping back and we were taking long shots. But we were able to get through in the second half.”

The United States suddenly found its skill in the second half with an impressive display of ball control. At times, the play approximated Coach Bora Milutinovic’s practice drills in which he stresses a one-touch style with minimal dribbling.

Not all their runs were fruitful, but--for the first time in many games--they were thoughtful and creative.

In the 60th minute, the Americans launched a poised attack--Thomas Dooley dashed up the left side and with a heel pass left the ball for Claudio Reyna. Dooley cut to the center and Reyna crossed the ball to him. Dooley tapped it to Jones, whose powerful shot was stopped by goalkeeper Vasiliy Koshelev.

Just before that exchange Jones had teamed with Michallik for another scoring opportunity. Jones received Michallik’s pinpoint cross on the volley and shot. His shot was saved.

The U.S. goal came in the 47th minute from Mike Sorber, who had not scored since Sept. 3, 1992. The goal on Saturday figured to hold up.

But Andrei Stroenco raced toward the U.S. goal on a breakaway and had entered the penalty area when he was pulled down from behind by defender Alexi Lalas. Kosse took the penalty kick and scored when his shot bounced in off the left post.

Afterward, the Moldovans celebrated as if they had won and the United States trudged off the field to ponder what it had learned. The teams play again Wednesday at Davidson, N.C.