Fort Lauderdale (United States) (AFP) – Midfielder Jack McGlynn scored a screamer and created another goal as an experimental United States team beat a second-string Venezuela 3-1 in a friendly on Saturday. With the game falling outside of the official FIFA windows for international games, neither Mauricio Pochettino’s USA team nor their South American opponents were able to call on their European-based starters for the game at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium.
But the youthful squads provided some food for thought for their coaches as well as plenty of entertainment for the 18,808 crowd. The USA were awarded a penalty in just the second minute of the game when Patrick Agyemang was brought down by Daniel Pereira, but Matko Miljevic’s weakly struck spot-kick was easily saved by Wuilker Farinez.
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The USA looked the brightest with Miljevic and the 21-year-old McGlynn both influential in midfield, and it was the latter who opened the scoring in the 37th minute in spectacular fashion. The Philadelphia Union playmaker collected the ball 25 yards out from goal and unleashed a superb left-foot drive that flew into the corner. Two minutes later, Miljevic pushed forward and released Agyemang, who cut in from the left and expertly curled into the far corner to double the advantage.
Miljevic, born in Miami but raised in Argentina, made it 3-0, bursting forward as he led a counter-attack before receiving a return pass from the excellent McGlynn and drilling home. Venezuela pulled a goal back in the 68th minute with a header from substitute Jorge Yriarte from an Edson Tortolero corner.
The USA will face Costa Rica in a friendly in Orlando on Wednesday.
© 2024 AFP
