Soccer • U.S. victory leaves Venezuela fuming | The Salt Lake Tribune
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(Ross D. Franklin | The Associated Press) United States' Ricardo Clark (15) prepares to head the game-winner against Venezuela in the second half of a friendly soccer match Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. United States defeated Venezuela 1-0.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Soccer • U.S. victory leaves Venezuela fuming
Soccer » Refs’ calls, long stoppage time irk South Americans.
First Published Jan 21 2012 10:52 pm • Last Updated Jan 22 2012 12:21 am

Glendale, Ariz. • Ricardo Clark headed Jermaine Jones’ corner kick into the net in the 7th minute of stoppage time and the United States beat Venezuela 1-0 in a friendly on Saturday night.

The U.S. had dominated play with nothing to show for it before Clark beat goalkeeper Jose Morales from 7 yards away for his third international goal and first since September 2009. Clark entered the game as a substitute in the 86th minute.

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Venezuela was livid at the finish, upset with a series of calls and non-calls by officials that led to a series of events concluding with the winning goal.

Moments after Clark scored, Venezuela’s Jose Velasquez was ejected with a red card. Venezuela drew four yellow cards to one for the United States.

The first match between the countries in five years featured the "B" teams of both nations because the top players are with their professional squads.

An exception was Jones, who is playing with the national team while serving an eight-game suspension by the German soccer federation.

"It was a great cross," Clark said of the corner kick that led to the game winner. "I found a good spot and made the most of it."

It was Clark’s first game since the United States played Mexico on Aug. 10. He last scored in international competition against Trinidad and Tobago on Sept. 9, 2009.

Jones, who served as U.S. captain for the game, was suspended when the German federation concluded he had intentionally stepped on the foot of star player Marco Reus during a break in the action of a German Cup game between Jones’ team Schalke and Borussia Moenchengladbach.

The U.S. outshot Venezuela 15-3, many of the opportunities from short range, but the shots were errant, or Morales made one of his five saves.

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Morales was shaken up after he took a knee to the left thigh from American C.J. Sapong. The goalkeeper sat on the ground for several minutes until the decision was made to leave him in the game, an incident that led to the extended stopping time that featured the winning goal.

The U.S .improved to 3-4-1 since Jurgen Klinsmann took over from Bob Bradley as coach last year.



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