US Falters in Final Tune-Up

Loses to Cameroon in Last Game Before Olympics

August 3, 2008

HONG KONG – Luckily for the United States, this one doesn’t count.

In the second and final game of the ING Cup the U.S. men’s soccer team was outmuscled for a time against Cameroon, eventually dropping a 1-0 decision in the Americans’ final tune-up before the Olympic Games. The Americans' finished their two-game ING Cup slate winless, including a scoreless draw with Ivory Coast.

Once again, Revolution back Michael Parkhurst played the entire 90 minutes, while Boston College product Charlie Davies came on as a substitution in the 69th minutes. Coach Peter Nowak again took advantage of the six sub rule, using 17 of the United States’ 18 players in the match.

“As I said before the start of the tournament, the reason we were here was to make progress in the way we play,” Nowak said.

The game was decided on a penalty kick goal by Aurelien Chedjou in the 24th minute following a foul call against Michael Bradley in the box.

The foul was just one of a string of whistles, as the two teams combined for 25 fouls in the second half, 16 of which were against Cameroon. Late in the game, the U.S. earned consecutive free kicks from within 30 yards of goal, but couldn’t convert.

“Looking at this game maybe we’re a still a little bit naïve about international football,” Nowak said. “Going into games like this we have to expect that they’ll be physical, with a lot of contact so we have to prevail. For us, I think the second half we played much better. Progress has been made and we expect to go to Tianjin and polish the things that we need to this week.”

The U.S. will travel to Tianjin, their Olympic venue, Sunday, for four days of preparation before their opening match of the Olympic Games against Japan on Aug. 7. That match will be shown live in the U.S. on MSNBC at 4:30 a.m. ET.

Besides Japan, the Americans’ other Group B opponents include the Netherlands and Nigeria.

U.S. Men’s Olympic Team Match Report:

Scoring Summary:
CAM - Aurelien Chedjou Fongang (penalty) 24th minute

Lineups:
USA: 18-Brad Guzan (1-Chris Seitz, 46); 2-Marvell Wynne, 15-Michael Parkhurst, 6-Maurice Edu, 3-Michael Orozco; 16-Sacha Kljestan, 4-Michael Bradley (8-Danny Szetela, 78), 7-Stuart Holden (5-Dax McCarty, 88), 14-Robbie Rogers (10-Benny Feilhaber, 78); 12-Jozy Altidore (11-Freddy Adu, 64), 17-Brian McBride (capt.) (9-Charlie Davies, 69)
Subs Not Used: 13-Patrick Ianni

CAM: 16-Patrick Tignyemb (capt.); 2-Albert Legrand Baning, 3-Antonio Ghomsi, 4-Stephane Mbia Etoundi, 6-Stephane Mbia Etoundi (20-Henri Ewane Elong, 90+), 8-Aurelien Chedjou Fongang (11-Songo’o Bangweni, 57), 9-Anicet Bebbe Mbangue (7-Marc Mboua, 80), 12-Roland bebey Kingue, 13-Julio Nkoulou Ndoubena (18-Alexis Enam Mendomo, 71), 17-Alain Junior Olle Olle (14-Constant Mand Jeck, 71), 19-Serge Charles Ngal

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