The United States started brightly, but in the end, South American talent rose to the top as the Argentine powers pulled away for a resounding victory in both team's Copa America opener in Venezuela

Eddie Johnson started the scoring in the ninth minute when he was tackled down from behind by defender Gabriel Milito in the area. Chilean official Carlos Candia immediately pointed to the spot where Johnson coolly put away the penalty to the right of Roberto Abbondanzieri who dove the opposite direction.

The South Americans hardly wasted a moment in equalizing when revitalized Juan Roman Riquelme took a free kick from 35 yards out. The ball bounced through the inexperienced US defense, where Gabriel Heinze was able to get to the ball ahead of an on-rushing Kasey Keller. The Manchester United defender's ball fell to Hernan Crespo, who easily slotted the ball in to an empty net.

Keller, who earned his American record 101st cap as the man between the pipes, was forced to make a spectacular save in the 43rd minute. He was able to get his right hand out to tip a powerful right-footed shot from 20 yards out from Juan Sebastian Veron to keep the score lever at the halftime whistle.

It wasn't until the 19th minute of the second half that things began to fall apart for the Americans on the scoreboard. A mere two minutes after the Columbus Crew's Eddie Gaven replaced Ben Olsen in the midfield, Crespo would get his second goal of the match.

Lionel Messi dribbled in to the Americans side of the field, ghosting past Marvell Wynne and starting a precise give-and-go with Riquelme. The Barcelona striker slid a perfect ball in to the penalty area for the always opportune Crespo who finished past a helpless Keller.

In the 78th minute, second-half substitute Pablo Aimar headed home past Keller following a perfect cross from 12-yards out by Heinze and all of the sudden the game was all but over for the experimental side from North America.

Carlos Tevez scored six minutes after his entrance in the 79th and put a capper on the evening when he broke through a failed off-sides trap from central defenders Jay DeMerit and Jimmy Conrad. It was another spectacular ball from Riquelme that sprung the West Ham United forward on the break away, and he calmly slotted the ball in to the lower left corner past an exhausted Keller.

Next up for the youthful Americans and head coach Bob Bradley will be Paraguay at Estadio Agustin Tovar in Barinas on Monday, July 2nd. Paraguay and star striker Roque Santa Cruz are fresh off an impressive 5-0 victory over Colombia in their opening round match also played on Thursday evening.