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U.S. rebounds by beating Venezuela

By TIMES WIRES
Published May 27, 2006

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CLEVELAND - A lineup filled with many U.S. reserves was more successful against Venezuela than the regulars were against Morocco earlier in the week.

Brian Ching scored in the 36th minute and Clint Dempsey added a goal in the 69th, leading the World Cup-bound U.S. team to a 2-0 victory Friday night.

The fifth-ranked Americans, who were given plenty of space by No. 71 Venezuela, finished a man short after Carlos Bocanegra was ejected in the 82nd for getting his second yellow card.

Just one game remains before the U.S. heads to the World Cup: Sunday night against Latvia in East Hartford, Conn.

With the schedule cramming three exhibition games into a six-day span, U.S. coach Bruce Arena rested many of his regulars, who started in Tuesday's 1-0 loss to the Moroccans at Nashville, Tenn. Only defender Oguchi Onyewu and forward Josh Wolff remained in the starting 11.

Ching, who some thought would be bypassed in favor of Taylor Twellman for the World Cup roster, put the U.S. ahead with his fourth goal in 19 international appearances. Bobby Convey, who has added offensive spark, took the ball down the left side and crossed around Hector Gonzalez. Ching, at the top of the 6-yard box, got a toe on it and beat goalkeeper Javier Toyo.

Dempsey scored on a header off a pass from Johnson for his fifth international goal.

Beckenbauer likes Brazil

Franz Beckenbauer named Brazil as his World Cup favorite, followed by Italy, despite the soccer scandal that has rocked that nation.

The German soccer legend, who won the World Cup as both a player and coach, said the five-time champions look the most impressive heading into the June 9-July 9 tournament.

"Anybody that can beat Brazil has good chances to become world champion," Beckenbauer said.

Beckenbauer also said Italy's players will face daily questions at the tournament about allegations of match-fixing, illegal betting and manipulation of referee assignments in the Italian league last season.

CZECH REPUBLIC:

The Czechs opened their World Cup prep series with a 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia behind goals from Milan Baros and Marek Jankulovski. The second-ranked Czechs, who play the United States in their World Cup opener on June 12, were without 6-foot-8 forward Jan Koller, who injured his right leg on Thursday. Captain Tomas Galasek and midfielder Vladimir Smicer also sat out.

FRANCE:

Captain Zinedine Zidane is set to make his 100th international appearance today in an exhibition game against Mexico, likely his last game at Stade de France in Paris. The midfielder will become the fourth player to play 100 times for Les Bleus, following Didier Deschamps, Lilian Thuram and Marcel Desailly - teammates on France's 1998 World Cup championship team.

GHANA:

Ghana played to a 1-1 tie with Turkey in Bochum, Germany, getting a tying goal from Matthew Amoah in the 60th minute. Ghana plays its World Cup opener against Italy on June 12 and meets the U.S. in its final first-round gamen June 22.

SERBIA-MONTENEGRO:

Forward Mirko Vucinic may miss the World Cup because of a knee injury. Vucinic, the only Montenegrin on the roster, damaged left knee ligaments in Tuesday's 1-0 loss to Germany at the Under-21 European Championship in Portugal.

[Last modified May 27, 2006, 01:46:14]

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