National Side win 2-0

[ShibbOleth]

SEATTLE, Wash. (Saturday, March 29, 2003) - The U.S. Men’s National Team posted a 2-0 victory over Venezuela on second half goals from Jovan Kirovski and Landon Donovan.

After a first half that saw few opportunities for either side, the U.S. dominated the second half after the insertion into the U.S. midfield of Earnie Stewart, who would go on to be honored as Chevrolet Man of the Match.

Jovan Kirovski scored the first goal for the U.S., putting home the rebound of a Carlos Bocanegra shot that hit the crossbar on a play that was started by a Stewart free kick. The goal in the 52nd minute was the eighth of Kirovski’s career and his first since February 12, 2000, in a 3-0 win over Haiti in the Gold Cup in Miami.

Landon Donovan, who came on as a second-half substitute, took a ball at midfield from John O’Brien and made a run up the left side before finishing past Venezuelan goalkeeper Gilberto Angelucci for the second U.S. goal, coming in the 76th minute. Donovan now has eight goals in 33 appearances with the U.S. Men’s National Team.

Donovan nearly extended the lead to 3-0 in the 85th minute as he got control of the ball about 30 yards from goal with Angelucci charging off his line, however Angelucci jumped up to block Donovan’s chip, resulting in a red card, but preventing the goal.

Cool! Venezuela were a last minute replacement for the Japanese side, who withdrew because of security concerns about the war.

And in other news:

Michael Owen and David Beckham were on target as England warmed up for its crunch Euro 2004 clash with Turkey on Wednesday with a 2-0 Group Seven win over Liechtenstein. But Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side will need a better performance against the World Cup semifinalist to stay on course for next year’s finals in Portugal.