USA's Christian Pulisic (#10) looks to make a move against Junior Moreno of Venezuela during their international friendly on June 3, 2017, in Sandy, Utah, USA. (Photo: John Dorton/isiphotos.com) Thank you,
SANDY, Utah – Christian Pulisic scored in the second half to give the United States a 1-1 draw with visiting Venezuela on Saturday night in an international friendly in front of 17,315 fans at Rio Tinto Stadium.
It was the Americans’ only match prior to resuming World Cup Qualifying on June 8, when it hosts Trinidad & Tobago at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.
Venezuela went ahead in the 29th minute as Jose Manuel Velazquez volleyed past goalkeeper Tim Howard from inside the six-yard box off Junior Moreno’s cross.
Howard made two key saves prior to halftime, thwarting a Moreno effort from distance in the 33rd minute and denying Rubert Quijada's diving header a minute later.
The U.S. leveled in the 61st minute thanks to a sequence that started with defender Jorge Villafaña finding Fabian Johnson just outside the left edge of the box. Johnson looked to his right and delivered pass to Pulisic, who touched twice to create space. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder then fired a low, left-footed shot from 17-yards out that diving goalkeeper Jose Contreras could only get a single hand on, before it continued over the line.
In the final 10 minutes, second-half substitute Jordan Morris had two chances to give the U.S. the lead, but Contreras preserved the draw by making saves on both.
International Friendly
June 3: 2017: Rio Tinto Stadium – Sandy, Utah, USA
USA-Venezuela 1-1 (0-1)
Christian Pulisic 61’ / Jose Manuel Velazquez 29’
USA: Tim Howard; DeAndre Yedlin (Graham Zusi 90’), Michael Bradley, John Brooks (Matt Hedges 56’), Clint Dempsey (Kellyn Acosta 63’), Bobby Wood, Christian Pulisic, Darlington Nagbe (Jordan Morris 70’), Jorge Villafaña, Geoff Cameron (Omar Gonzalez 45’), Fabian Johnson (Tim Ream 63’). Head Coach: Bruce Arena
Venezuela: Jose Contreras; Mikel Villanueva, Rubert Quijada, Jose Manuel Velazquez (Yordan Osorio 56’), Pablo Camacho, Francisco Flores, Darwin Machis (Aristoteles Romero 67’), Junior Moreno (Francisco La Mantia 83’), Jhon Murillo (Jefre Vargas 89’), Salomon Rondon (Andres Ponce 90’+3), Christian Santos (Jefferson Savarino 72’). Head Coach: Marcos Mathias
R: Jeffrey Solis (Costa Rica); AR1: Osvaldo Luna (Costa Rica); AR2: Alejandro Camarena (Panama); 4th: Juan Calderon (Costa Rica)
