U.S. Eases Past New Zealand, 2-1
The United States, playing its final warmup match before taking on Turkey, Brazil and Cameroon in the FIFA Confederations Cup in France later this month, Sunday defeated New Zealand, 2-1, at Richmond, Va.
The U.S. team played better and deserved the victory, achieved on goals by Chris Klein and Jovan Kirovski. It did not dominate the match, however, even though the Americans (tied for 10th) are positioned 41 places higher than the Kiwis (51st) in FIFA’s international rankings.
Former UCLA player Eddie Lewis, now with Preston North End in the English first division, was by the far the most lively and dangerous of the U.S. players, and it was his pass that set up Klein for the game’s first goal, with the Kansas City Wizard winger finding the net from a sharp angle in the 21st minute.
New Zealand, which played midfielder Simon Elliott for 86 minutes even though he had played 90 minutes for the Galaxy on Saturday and then flown across the country, answered almost immediately with a goal of its own.
A pass from Ivan Vicelich put striker Vaughan Coveny in behind the U.S. defense, with only defender Steve Cherundolo and goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann to beat. Coveny held off Cherundolo’s challenge and his powerful volley gave Hahnemann little chance.
Hahnemann was making his first national team appearance in nine years and in the second half was replaced by Joe Cannon, who made his U.S. debut. Coach Bruce Arena also gave defender Cory Gibbs his first cap, as a second-half substitute, and Gibbs almost scored when his left-foot shot struck the left post in the 80th minute.
By then, the U.S. already had retaken the lead, however. Kirovski was given credit for the 65th-minute goal when his intended cross from the right deflected off the shoulder of New Zealand’s Gerard Davis and looped over goalkeeper Michael Utting, who had been near unbeatable up to that point as the U.S. outshot the Kiwis, 18-6.
The victory, in front of 9,116 at the University of Richmond stadium, improved the U.S. team’s record to 5-1-1 in 2003.
New Zealand will play Japan, France and Colombia in the eight-nation Confederations Cup, which starts June 18.
Argentina Romps
Javier Saviola scored one goal and assisted on another Sunday as Argentina crushed Japan, 4-1, in the opening game of the three-nation Kirin Cup in front of a sellout crowd at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan.
Coach Marcelo Bielsa’s squad led, 2-0, at the half on goals by Javier Zanetti and Saviola and, after Yutaka Akita had pulled one back for Japan in the second half, goals by substitutes Bernardo Romeo and Maximiliano Rodriguez finished off the home team.
“We didn’t play at all well in the first half,” said Zico, Japan’s Brazilian coach. “ I don’t think it’s a question of skill or technique but just a feel for the game.”
South Korea Falls
Goals in each half by German Hornos and Sebastian Abreu gave Uruguay a 2-0 victory over World Cup semifinalist South Korea in front of a capacity crowd of 64,000 at the World Cup Stadium in Seoul on Sunday.
The Koreans played their usual attacking game, but the shutout means they have scored only once in the last four games under Portuguese Coach Humberto Coelho.
“Although we managed some great combinations of play, we couldn’t link them to score a goal,” said Coelho, whose team next plays host to Argentina on Wednesday.
“They couldn’t defend against our speed,” was the verdict of Uruguay Coach Juan Ramon Carrasco.
Mexican Final
Monterrey, coached by 1978 Argentine World Cup winner Daniel Passarella, reached the Mexican league championship final for the first time in a decade when it overcame its local rival Universidad de Leon (UNL), 5-3, on aggregate, in the two-game semifinal series.
Passarella’s squad lost Saturday’s second game, 2-1, to UNL, but had romped, 4-1, in the first match and was never in danger of being overtaken.
Monterrey will meet Morelia in the two-game final series. Morelia lost its first semifinal, 1-0, away to Veracruz, but rebounded to win the second, 2-0, at home on two goals by Adolfo Bautista.
Honduras Beaten
Venezuela’s soccer fortunes continued to rise when first-half goals by Gabriel Urdaneta and Juan Arango earned it a 2-1 victory over Honduras at the Orange Bowl in Miami on Saturday.
Honduras cut the deficit in half just before the halftime whistle on a goal by Wilmer Velazquez, and although Coach Edwin Pavon’s side dominated the second 45 minutes it failed to score again. The loss was Honduras’ first in four games under Pavon, while Venezuela has won five of its last six matches.
