The USA, looking for its first win on European soil under Coach Bruce Arena, fell, 2-1, to Ireland in a downpour in Dublin April 27. The Americans had lost in Italy (1-0) and in Germany (4-2) earlier this year, and in Russia (2-0) in April 2000. The loss to Ireland comes five days before Arena will name his 23-man roster for this summer+s World Cup. After Ireland and the USA exchanged first-half goals, Gary Dougherty scored the 83rd-minute gamewinner. He headed home a Steve Staunton free kick, beating Kasey Keller from close range after moving past Tony Sanneh. Ireland had opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Mark Kinsella, with his back to the goal, volleyed a rocket past Brad Friedel after receiving a Steve Finnan cross. On a John O+Brien corner kick, Eddie Pope equalized in the 34th minute by bouncing his header past Irish keeper Shay Given. International Friendly April 17 in Dublin Ireland 2 USA 1 Goals: Kinsella (Finnan) 7, Doherty (Staunton) 83; Pope (O+Brien) 34. Ireland — Given; Finnan (Kelly, 46), Harte (Staunton, 46), O+Brien (Cunningham, 46), Breen (Dougherty, 72); Healy, Delap, Kinsella (Holland, 46), Kilbane (Reid, 46); Duff (Connolly, 46), Keane (Morrison, 83). USA — Friedel (Keller, 46); Sanneh, Pope, Berhalter (Vanney, 46), Agoos; Stewart (Donovan, 46), Armas, Reyna (Hejduk, 72), O+Brien (Lewis, 46); McBride (Moore, 46), Mathis (Wolff, 64). Statistics
| Stat | Ireland | USA |
| Shots | 6 | 5 |
| Saves | 2 | 3 |
| Corner Kicks | 4 | 5 |
| Fouls | 10 | 13 |
| Offside | 3 | 5 |