The USA opened its defense of the Gold Cup title with a 2-0 win over El Salvador July 12 in Foxboro, Mass. Before a crowd of 33,652, of which about two-thirds supported the visitors, the Americans controlled the play throughout the game.
In the 28th minute, Eddie Lewis laid the ball off to Brian McBride 10 yards outside the penalty area and stormed toward the goal. McBride chipped the ball over the Salvadoran defense. Lewis met McBrideÆs return pass and hit a low right-footed shot from 15 yards inside the far post.
McBride made it 2-0 in the 71st minute on a close-range header set up by Steve RalstonÆs hard-driven, half-volley cross. Ralston had been released down the right flank by a long pass from Pablo Mastroeni.
El Salvador had failed to threaten the U.S. goal during the first half while the Americans forced two easy saves from Salvadoran Juan Jose Gomez. Mastroeni hit the Salvadoran crossbar with a volley from 25 yards. A few harmless long-range Salvadoran shots reached U.S. keeper Kasey Keller in the second half.
Claudio Reyna, in his first start for the USA since the 2002 World Cup — having suffered an ACL tear last October — played as an attacking central midfielder in front of Mastroeni.
The USA faces Martinique on Monday in its final Group C game. Two teams from the three-team group advance to the quarterfinals.
July 12 in Foxboro, Mass.
USA 2 El Salvador 0
Goals: Lewis 28, McBride 76.
USA — Keller, Hejduk, Califf, Bocanegra, Vanney, Stewart (Ralston, 71), Mastroeni, Reyna (Mathis, 60), Lewis (Convey, 84), Donovan, McBride.
El Salvador — Gomez, Velasquez, Gonzalez (Julio Castro, 90), Pacheco, Moran, Torres Cabrera, Corrales, Murgas, Torres Alegria (Sanchez, 44), Campos (Santos Cabrera, 74), Mejia.
Yellow cards: USA — Califf 90. El Salvador — Santos Cabrera 78.
Referee: Ramos (MEX)
Att. 33,652.