The United States struck first, but proved to be no match for a classy Argentina squad in a 4-1 defeat Thursday in the teams' Copa America Group C opener in Maracaibo, Venezuela.
Though Kansas City Wizards striker Eddie Johnson got the Stars and Stripes on the board early, Argentina dominated the match, putting on a clinic in creativity and teamwork. Hernan Crespo scored twice for the South Americans, and Pablo Aimar and Carlos Tevez tallied as well.
The United States opened the scoring against the run of play in the ninth minute. Johnson broke free behind the defense and was bundled over in the box. Johnson took the penalty himself, burying it to Roberto Abbondanzieri's left.
Just a minute later, though, the Argentineans struck back. After tapping a free kick to Veron and getting it right back, Riquelme lofted the ball over the defense, and thanks to a poorly executed offside trap, Lionel Messi got a foot on the ball. U.S. 'keeper Kasey Keller stopped the first effort, but Crespo was there to put home the rebound.
The U.S. threatened again just after the half-hour mark after Taylor Twellman was hauled down 25 yards from goal. Justin Mapp took the resulting free kick, but it was deflected out of harm's way.
Thereafter, it was all Argentina, though they'd have to wait until the second half to break down the determined U.S. defense. Veron first provided a scary moment in the 43rd minute, hammering a drive off the top of the bar.
In the second half, Barcelona phenom Messi took over for Argentina. In the 61st minute, he split four defenders before lashing a shot wide.
Two minutes later, though, he followed a combination with Riquelme by delivering a perfectly placed through ball for Crespo, who shot back across the goal past Keller to give Argentina a lead they would not relinquish.
Crespo turned provider in minute 68, gathering the ball on the left and driving in a cross to the penalty spot, where second half substitute Pablo Aimar powered a header inside the near post. Tevez finished off the victory five minutes from full time, latching onto a ball over the top and coolly slotting home.
In the first match of the night, Paraguay ripped apart Colombia 5-0, with Roque Santa Cruz notching a hat trick.
Santa Cruz opened the scoring on the half-hour mark, then bagged his second less than 30 seconds after the break. He finished the hat trick 10 minutes from the end, and second-half substitute Salvador Cabanas completed the rout with two goals in the last 10 minutes against an exhausted Colombian rearguard.
All four sides are back in action on July 2. The United States and Paraguay meet in Barinas, while Argentina and Colombia face off in Maracaibo.
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
