The U.S. under-23 men's national team, preparing for CONCACAF's Olympic qualifying tournament, closed a grueling camp Friday night, rallying for a 2-1 victory over Salvadoran club Aguila in a heated match at East Los Angeles College's Weingart Stadium.

Alecko Eskandarian finished a Kyle Beckerman feed in the 60th minute and Conor Casey converted an 85th-minute penalty kick for the U-23s, who have been training nearly two weeks at the National Training Center in Carson, Calif.

Rudis Corrales, one of four Salvadoran national team players in Aguila's lineup, scored in the 50th minute following a superb sequence, to the delight of a partisan crowd of about 4,500.

Midfielders Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley and Bobby Convey played the first half for the U-23 team. They are expected to play 45 minutes in the U.S. national team's game Sunday afternoon against Denmark at the Home Depot Center.

Referee Kevin Stott issued seven yellow cards, ejected two players and tried unsuccessfully to banish Aguila coach Hugo Coria.

U.S. defender Jose Burciaga was dismissed upon receiving his second yellow card in the 80th minute. Aguila midfielder Ramon Larrosa was red-carded when he shoved Stott after the U-23s were awarded the late penalty kick. Larrosa appeared to shove Stott a second time, making contact with the referee's face, after the red card was presented.

Stott tried to eject Coria in the seventh minute after tiring of the coach's harangues, but Coria refused to leave Aguila's bench. A security officer approached the coach, who was animated in refusing to leave. The officials let him remain on the bench.

The Americans played without passion much of the match and struggled in the back to contain Corrales and Juan Campos. The Salvadorans took advantage of a lack of pace in the center of the U.S. backline but rarely made anything of the opportunities presented.

Coach Glenn ''Mooch'' Myernick sought to play his best available team during the first half. Forward Edson Buddle was not available because of an injured Achilles,

Aguila goalkeeper Juan Gomez made a fine stop of Convey's volley in the 15th minute, and Donovan fired just high from inside the box in the 27th. Aguila, after Corrales' goal, led for 10 minutes before Eskandarian redirected a penetrating ball from Beckerman, left-footing it just inside the left post.

Casey's penalty kick was the product of an Eddie Gaven run on the left side of Aguila's box. Defender Jorge Rodriguez took out Gaven's feet, Stott immediately pointed to the spot, and Larrosa charged Stott at once. Teammates had to pull Larrosa away from the referee.

Aguila faces Denmark on Jan. 24 at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Jan. 16 at Monterey Park, Calif.

United States U-23 2 Aguila (El Salvador) 1. Goals: Eskandarian 60, Casey pen. 85; Corrales 50.

United States U-23 — Warren (Countess, 46); Pause (Lewis, 62), Borchers, Burciaga, Wingert; Beckerman; Convey (Carroll, 46), Donovan (Gaven, 46), Beasley (Davis, 46); Eskandarian, Casey.

Aguila — Gomez (Munoz, 81); Benitez, Almada Alves, Rodriguez, Morales; Larrosa; Jimenez (Salamanca, 81), Perla (Melendez, 51), Meraz (Carranza, 72); Corrales, Campos (Corea, 75).

Yellow cards: U.S. U-23 — Burciaga 28, 80, Lewis 76, Eskandarian 89. Aguila — Meraz 11, Campos 37, Morales 67.

Red cards: U.S. U-23 — Burciaga 80. Aguila — Larrosa 84.

Referee: Kevin Stott (U.S.).

A — NA.