A win certainly seemed unlikely in the United States’ first game ever in Peru.

The Peruvians, who held Argentina to a 0-0 tie in a World Cup qualifier in Lima this summer, faced a depleted U.S. team Oct. 16 and won 4-1, with three goals coming in the last 23 minutes after a 1-1 halftime score.

U.S. veterans — players who saw action this year or in the last three major tournaments — refused to join the team because of a deadlock in negotiations with U.S. Soccer regarding a compensation package that would cover them through the 1998 World Cup.

An agreement was finally reached Oct. 22, but only after several players at the deep end of the national team pool relished international action.

“I didn’t really know what was going on when I got the call,” said Ted Eck, an infrequent starter with the Dallas Burn who last played for the U.S. in 1992. “I heard of a dispute between some national team guys and U.S. Soccer and felt that it was none of our business. I didn’t see it as crossing a picket line. It was an honor for us to represent our country.”

A strike had never been called, although there may have been a poorly disseminated call for solidarity.

“It was a difficult position to be in,” said the San Jose Clash’s Tayt Ianni, who made his debut at marking back. “We definitely sided with the players. I consulted with some players, lawyers, coaches and some neutral people. Everyone felt that things were sure to get resolved. When we felt like we weren’t stepping on anybody’s toes, we believed that signing a one-game contract would be all right. Obviously, it’s exciting any time you get called up for the national team.”

In the game that saw seven U.S. players receive their first cap, the U.S. tied the game late in the first half on a goal by German-based Dario Brose off an Eddie Lewis assist.

“We played well in the first half,” Ianni said. “We knew they’d come out in the second half to destroy us, and we held on for a while, then they got their rhythm and we began to break down.”

U.S. Soccer did not release details of the agreement, but president Alan Rothenberg had said he believed the compensation offered — believed to include win bonuses and marketing and licensing royalties — puts the U.S. players in the top five among the world’s national teams.

by Soccer America Senior Editor Mike Woitalla