U.S. Is Heard Loud and Clear

Next time, send the first team.

That was the soccer message the United States sent to Colombia on Wednesday night as the U.S., featuring no fewer than six players making their first start for the national team, rolled to a 3-0 victory over the South Americans in front of a near-capacity crowd of 7,086 at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Stadium.

Coach Bruce Arena’s experimental squad, selected entirely from Major League Soccer teams and including four players making their debut, was superior in every respect. It was faster, had more flair and its finishing was far better.

The Colombians, a second-string outfit that Coach Reinaldo Rueda opted to bring, perhaps expecting an easier time of it, looked stolid by comparison.

Just to rub it in, it was Pat Noonan, making his first start and playing in only his second game for the U.S., who scored the first goal, driving the ball into the roof of the net in the 25th minute after Steve Ralston’s chip from the right had bounced down off the crossbar.

Eight minutes later, 6-foot-3 defender Chad Marshall, making his debut but already viewed as the center back of the future for the U.S., made it 2-0 when he rose to head in Ralston’s cross.

Considering that the 11 players Arena started had never played as a team, it was an impressive beginning.

Arena used the match to give national team debuts to goalkeeper Jon Busch of the Columbus Crew and central defenders Marshall of Columbus, Ritchie Kotschau of the Colorado Rapids and, as a late substitute, Nat Borchers of Colorado.

Making their first starts were San Jose Earthquake winger Brian Mullan at right back and New England midfielders Noonan and Clint Dempsey.

Rounding out the starting lineup were Galaxy defender Chris Albright at left back; midfielders Ralston of New England, Pablo Mastroeni of Colorado, Clint Mathis of Real Salt Lake; and forward Eddie Johnson of FC Dallas.

Colombia looked more lively in the second half, but fell further behind when Mathis, the most experienced player on the roster with 45 appearances for the U.S., scored directly off a corner kick from the left in the 66th minute. The in-swinging shot went into the net of goalkeeper Juan Henao.

Arena, declining to be drawn into a debate over whether foreign teams should start bringing stronger lineups to the U.S., said the increasingly deep U.S. talent pool is paying dividends.

“If we had to play our best 1,000 against Brazil’s best 1,000, we’d never have a chance,” he said. “But when you get it down to 11 against 11, the odds are a little bit more favorable for us.”

Taylor Twellman was red-carded for a tackle from behind eight minutes after going in, leaving the U.S. to play a man short for the last 14 minutes.

Johnson, who had scored in each of his four games for the national team, was shut out, but Arena was not concerned.

“I think the more important statistic for Johnson is that it’s another game he’s been with us that we’ve won,” he said. “Since Eddie’s been with us, we’re winning.”

Next for the U.S. is a move to Colorado Springs today for high-altitude training, a game against Honduras at Albuquerque on March 19 and the all-important World Cup qualifying games against Mexico at Mexico City on March 27 and against Guatemala at Birmingham, Ala., on March 30.