Onyewu debuts in loss for AC Milan

Oguchi Onyewu, who this month became the first American-born player to sign a contract with AC Milan, made his debut for the team to begin the second half Wednesday in Atlanta in the World Football Challenge.

While he was on the losing side in Club America’s 2-1 exhibition victory, the defender was looking at the positive side.

“We have a long time before the season starts,” Onyewu said. “This preparation will only help me and the team get better.”

Daniel Marquez headed in the winning goal as Club America got its second straight victory in the tournament.

Just one day after practicing for the first time with his new teammates, Onyewu had been on the field only 10 minutes when Salvador Cabanas’ pass looped over his head and Enrique Esqueda used a high kick to beat goalkeeper Marco Storari’s late dive to the left.

AC Milan’s Filippo Inzaghi scored on a breakaway 66 minutes into the match. Marquez made it 2-1 in the 84th minute.

Gold Cup

If the national soccer teams of the U.S. and Mexico win their CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal games at Soldier Field in Chicago tonight, they will meet in the final in East Rutherford, N.J. on Sunday.

Coach Bob Bradley’s U.S. squad and Coach Javier Aguirre’s Mexican team have each won the tournament four times. The U.S. is the defending champion and will be seeking a third consecutive title.

The U.S. plays Honduras at 4 p.m. PDT, with Mexico playing Costa Rica afterward.