The US National Team's warm-up to World Cup 2006 got off on the wrong foot with a 1-0 defeat to Morocco on Tuesday in Nashville.
In front of 26,141 at the Nashville Coliseum, Bruce Arena's men outshot their opponents 13-5, but fell to a last minute counter attack strike by Mohamed Madihi.
US skipper Claudio Reyna went off injured in the 11th minute after pulling up with a strained right hamstring, allowing replacement Pablo Mastroeni to put in a Man of the Match performance.
The captain will wait on an MRI scan to find out the extent of the setback, but was hopeful it would be minor.
John O'Brien impressed in an otherwise poor first half for the US, splitting the Moroccan defense in the 27th minute to set up Landon Donovan.
Bobby Convey was a lively second half substitute, employing Moroccan goalkeeper Tarek El Jarmouni with a brace of shots within minutes of coming on.
El Jarmouni went on to deny Josh Wolff's powerful drive in the 57th minute and saved his country again with a double save from Donovan and Eddie Johnson nine minutes from time.
The States' final chance came in injury time when Convey curled a 25-yard set piece into the side netting.
The United States continue their preparation for Germany against Venezuela on Friday at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio before facing Latvia in East Hartford, Connecticut on Sunday. |
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Currently visting YA: 185 
