by The following is a press release issued June 16 by the U.S. national team press
office:
STRONG SECOND HALF, FRIEDEL HEROICS NOT ENOUGH
AS USA FALLS TO URUGUAY 1-0 IN COPA AMERICA
AMBATO, Ecuador (Wednesday, June 16, 1993) -- The U.S. National Soccer Team
suffered a 1-0 loss to Uruguay in its opening game of the Copa America
Tournament in front of a capacity crowd of 20,000 at Bella Vista Stadium.
U.S. goalkeeper Brad Friedel was outstanding throughout and the American
offense found its flow after halftime, outshooting Uruguay 8-5 in the second
half. But Uruguay captain Santiago Ostolaza's 50th minute near-post header from
Hector Moran's corner kick eluded Friedel and found the net for the only goal
of the match. Just before halftime Friedel made difficult saves on shots by
Adrian Paz and Moran.
The USA built its counter-attack through the midfield play of Tab Ramos and
found its most dangerous chance of the half in the 30th minute when Cobi Jones
struck a 20-yard shot off the dribble, which deflected off a Uruguayan defender
and rolled wide of the goal. The U.S team finished the half with two shots.
U.S. defender Desmond Armtrong was forced to leave the game in the 42nd
minute with a pulled right hamstring. He was replaced by Jeff Agoos. Armstrong
is listed as doubtful for Saturday's game and could be out for the tournament.
The U.S. team returned fire when substitute Bruce Murray's free kick knocked
Hector Moran unconscious, forcing a stoppage of play to remove the Uruguayan
midfielder.
In the 88th minute, Harbor shook three defenders inside the penalty area,
faking right and spinning left to chip just beyond the far corner with his
right foot.
The best chance of the day for the USA came just seconds later when Ramos
made a diagonal cross to Alexi Lalas, whose 27-yard rifle shot forced Uruguayan
goalkeeper Robert Siboldi to make a flying save, tipping the shot around the
post.
Lineups:
USA -- Brad Friedel, Desmond Armstrorg (Jeff Agoos, 43), Mike Lapper, Cle
Kooiman, Fernando Clavijo, Paul Caligiuri, Alexi Lalas, Cobi Jones, Peter
Woodring (Bruce Murray, 61), Tab Ramos, Jean Harbor.
URU -- Robert Siboldi, Daniel Sanchez, Fernando Kanapkis, Guillermo Sanguineti,
Santiago Oztolza, Cesilio de los Santos, Walter Pelletti, Hector Moran (Moas,
72), Jorge da Silva, Marcelo Saralegui, Adrian Paz (O'Neil, 81).
Statistical Summary:
US URU
Shots 10 11
Saves 9 2
C kicks 8 11
Fouls 15 l8
Offside 4 6
Misconduct Summary:
USA - Kooiman (caution)29.
URU - Kanapkis (caution)38.
URU - da Silva (caution)88.
Officials:
Referee: Alberto Tejada, Peru.
Linesman: Carlos Custodio, Peru.
Linesman: Francisco Heller, Chile.
Reserve: Ivan Guerrero, Chile.
QUOTES FROM THE NATIONAL TEAM:
U.S. National Team Coach Bora Milutinovic:
We have a lot to be proud of today. People may see that we lost, but our team
played a good game against one of the best South American teams. Uruguay has a
great defense which is a big help for their goalkeeper. We made only one
mistake today and they scored. Next time it's a different game.
U.S. Midfielder Tab Ramos
(On playing against his native Uruguay):
It's a special feeling for me to play against Uruguay at this level. But once
the whistle blows, for me it's just like any other game and my teammates and I
have to do anything we can to get a good result.
(On the altitude in Ambato):
After playing against Germany, nothing could affect this team, not even the
altitude. You can feel the altitude's effects after a long run, but I don't
think we'll really feel it 'til about five days from now.
U.S. Goalkeeper Brad Friedel
(On his saves):
I felt from the beginning that we could be in this game. As for the saves,
that's my job. I have to make those saves so we can stay in the game.
Unfortunately, we lel one of the best headers on their team (Ostolaza) free
from 7 yards out and that's tough to stop.
(On the goal):
On the corner kick, we were marked up but they set a pick on one of our players
and then blocked out myself and Mike Lapper. We'd been clearing those corners
all game but if you have one lapse it'll cost you. But we feel this will be the
toughest game in our bracket. Hopefully we/ll get three or four points the next
two games and go through.
U.S. Midfielder Alexi Lalas
fOn his shot):
I thought I had a pretty good chance at tying it up. Every time I hit a ball
toward the goal I'm confident it has a chance. But the goalkeeper made a great
save on one of his few opportunities. That's what the goalkeepers get paid for.
Now we have to make them earn their money a lot more than one or two times (a
game).
Copa America standings: Group A
Pts. W L T GF GA
Ecuador 2 1 0 0 6 1
Uruguay 2 1 0 0 1 0
USA 0 0 1 0 0 1
Veneza 0 0 1 0 1 6
Note: top two teams advance to second round.
Results:
June 16: Ecuador 6, Venezuela 1
June 16: USA 0, Uruguay 1
Upcoming USA matches in Copa America:
June 19: USA-Ecuador, Quito, 6:30 p.m. EDT
June 22: USA-Venezuela, Quito, 6:30 p.m. EDT
Finis,
Rolf Olsen The University of Tulsa, UNIR-TU
phone: (918) 631-2653 Tulsa, OK 74104-3189
fax: (918) 631-2035 U.S.A.