US And Chile Draw 1-1

Little was expected, and the same was delivered as the US  and Chile  National Teams drew 1-1 in a friendly match this past Saturday in Carson, CA.  Both sides featured young , but promising additions to to the respective National sides as both are looking forward to their continental Championships to be held this summer, Chile in the Copa America and the US in The Gold Cup.  The US was captained by North Carolina alumnus Dax McCartey, who was making only his fourth appearance with the senior National Team.  Both sides looked inexperienced and rusty, with little to show for the energy and enthusiasm displayed.

Chile drew first blood in the 53rd minute as Esteban Paredes (the only player from either team to have played in last summer's World Cup) took advantage of extremely suspect marking by the US defense and neatly finished past GK Nick Rimando.  The tenor of the match changed markedly though when Teal Bunbury and Juan Agudelo took the field as substitutions in the 59th minute.  16 minutes after entering the match, they both left their stamp on it.  After receiving a pass at the top of the box from Alejandro Bedoya, the 18 year old  Agudelo (who scored the winning goal in his National  Team debut against South Africa in November ) turned and beat one defender before being upended by a second just steps inside the penalty area.  Bunbury stepped up and coolly buried the subsequent PK for his first international goal.  The pairing of these two young talents bodes well for the US, as an effective scoring punch has been the most noticeably lacking aspect in the development of American soccer.