Zeno
Ancient
FULLERTON, Calif. (AP) -- While a 15-game unbeaten streak is nothing to scoff at, Bruce Arena knows the U.S. soccer team's real tests are yet to come.
"It's still about us building the depth, giving young players the experience," Arena said after the United States defeated Colombia 3-0 Wednesday night in an exhibition match.
"But at the end of the day, it's all about putting together a team that can qualify for the World Cup and win games in the World Cup."
Pat Noonan and Chad Marshall scored first-half goals, and Clint Mathis added another in the second half as the United States ran its record to 10-0-5.
The last loss was to the Netherlands in February 2004.
Steve Ralston set up the first two goals against Colombia with some fine dribbling and passing.
"Steve Ralston did a heck of a job contributing to the first couple of goals," Arena said.
Ralston said he and his teammates planned to be aggressive from the start.
"I think that's the trademark of this team. We don't sit back, we're not afraid to play anybody. We want to go out there and pressure them and make it hard for them to play," Ralston said. "I think we did that tonight."
Arena fielded a team made up entirely of Major League Soccer players. The United States had none of its players from European leagues, and also was without injured defenders Eddie Pope and Frankie Hejduk.
The Colombian team included a number of players from its under-20 squad.
Jon Busch got the shutout in goal for the United States, with the defense keeping the pressure off him most of the game.
Eddie Johnson, who had six goals in his first four games for the U.S. team, was shut out in the fifth. On one chance, in the 23rd minute, a Colombian defender cleared the ball from deep in the box, just in front of the charging Johnson.
"I'm happy because we won 3-0. It's not like I didn't have my chances. I was just unlucky," Johnson said.
Mathis built the lead to 3-0 with his first goal for the national team since January 2003. He scored on a curling corner kick in the 66th minute.
Ralston set up the second U.S. goal by bulling his way into the box with the ball from the right side, then sending a hard cross. Marshall got the goal on a diving header in the 33rd minute.
After the United States threatened several times early in the game, including Chris Albright's volley in the box that sailed over the crossbar, Noonan scored in the 25th minute.
On the first goal, Ralston was near the goal line on the right side and chipped the ball over goalkeeper Juan Henao. The ball ticked off the crossbar, bounced in front of the goal near the left post, and Noonan quickly boomed it ball back into the right rear corner of the net.
Colombia didn't put together many serious scoring threats. Luis Gabriel Rey was wide right on his free kick from outside the box in the 36th minute, and teammate Humberto Mendoza kicked the ball over the bar on a free kick from similar distance four minutes later.
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
"It's still about us building the depth, giving young players the experience," Arena said after the United States defeated Colombia 3-0 Wednesday night in an exhibition match.
"But at the end of the day, it's all about putting together a team that can qualify for the World Cup and win games in the World Cup."
Pat Noonan and Chad Marshall scored first-half goals, and Clint Mathis added another in the second half as the United States ran its record to 10-0-5.
The last loss was to the Netherlands in February 2004.
Steve Ralston set up the first two goals against Colombia with some fine dribbling and passing.
"Steve Ralston did a heck of a job contributing to the first couple of goals," Arena said.
Ralston said he and his teammates planned to be aggressive from the start.
"I think that's the trademark of this team. We don't sit back, we're not afraid to play anybody. We want to go out there and pressure them and make it hard for them to play," Ralston said. "I think we did that tonight."
Arena fielded a team made up entirely of Major League Soccer players. The United States had none of its players from European leagues, and also was without injured defenders Eddie Pope and Frankie Hejduk.
The Colombian team included a number of players from its under-20 squad.
Jon Busch got the shutout in goal for the United States, with the defense keeping the pressure off him most of the game.
Eddie Johnson, who had six goals in his first four games for the U.S. team, was shut out in the fifth. On one chance, in the 23rd minute, a Colombian defender cleared the ball from deep in the box, just in front of the charging Johnson.
"I'm happy because we won 3-0. It's not like I didn't have my chances. I was just unlucky," Johnson said.
Mathis built the lead to 3-0 with his first goal for the national team since January 2003. He scored on a curling corner kick in the 66th minute.
Ralston set up the second U.S. goal by bulling his way into the box with the ball from the right side, then sending a hard cross. Marshall got the goal on a diving header in the 33rd minute.
After the United States threatened several times early in the game, including Chris Albright's volley in the box that sailed over the crossbar, Noonan scored in the 25th minute.
On the first goal, Ralston was near the goal line on the right side and chipped the ball over goalkeeper Juan Henao. The ball ticked off the crossbar, bounced in front of the goal near the left post, and Noonan quickly boomed it ball back into the right rear corner of the net.
Colombia didn't put together many serious scoring threats. Luis Gabriel Rey was wide right on his free kick from outside the box in the 36th minute, and teammate Humberto Mendoza kicked the ball over the bar on a free kick from similar distance four minutes later.
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
