A young Argentina playing without foreign-based players defeated the USA, 1-0, in SaturdayÆs friendly at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
The Americans, also fielding a squad of domestic-based players, had far less possession than the Argentines, whose goal came on a superb 20-yard shot from Luis Gonzalez in the ninth minute. Gonzalez, taking a pass from Andres D'Alessandro, curved his shot past the finger tips of U.S. keeper Tim Howard.
''I thought todayÆs game was a very good game for our team to play,'' said U.S. coach Bruce Arena. ''If we could be at fault for anything, I think it is the way we came out and started the game. I thought we demonstrated a lack of confidence in the early going and it took our team 20 minutes to really get in the game.''
In the second half, ArgentinaÆs Gabriel Milito headed against the post and DaMarcus BeasleyÆs desperate lunge prevented Ariel Garce from pulling the trigger on a close-range shot.
The USA plays Jamaica in Kingston on Wednesday.
USA-ARGENTINA SUMMARY
Feb. 8 in Miami, Fla.
USA 0 Argentina 1.
Goal: Gonzalez (D'Alessandro) 9.
USA — Howard, Convey, Bocanegra (Ralston, 90), Califf, Victorine (Garcia, 56, Mastroeni, Beasley, Klein (Cunningham, 79), Olsen (Twellman, 46, Donovan, Mathis.
Argentina — Saja, Garce, Burdisso, Milito, Bataglia, Guinazu, Gonzalez (Garignano, 46), Gonzalez, Milito (Rodriguez, 85), Inzua (Romagnoli, 77), D'Alessandro.
Yellow cards: USA — Olsen 20, Convey 45, Bocanegra 71; Argentina — D'Alessandro 13, Milito 42, Inzua 54, Guinazu 74, D'Alessandro 91+.
Red card: Argentina — D'Alessandro 91+
Referee: Carlos Beltran (GUA)
Weather: 81 degrees, warm and humid.
Att.: 27,196