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SPORTS Monday 10 June 2019
Venezuela shreds sloppy U.S. defense early for 3-0 win

By JOE KAY be solved earlier with me
AP Sports Writer just tracking back faster,”
CINCINNATI (AP) — Slop- Long said.
py defense, a poor goal- The U.S. is still refining its line-
keeping decision, wasted up for the tournament, and
chances. The United States several players were held
set another historical mark- out Sunday as they worked
er in its latest shutout loss, into shape. Christian Pulisic
and it was not the good joined the team on Thurs-
kind. day and didn’t play. For-
Down by three goals after ward Jonathan Lewis and
only 36 minutes, the U.S. fell midfielder Michael Bradley
to Venezuela 3-0 Sunday in are recovering from ham-
its final exhibition tuneup for string strains, and Tyler Ad-
the CONCACAF Gold Cup. ams does not report until
A young team showed its in- Tuesday.
experience with little more Forward Tyler Boyd made
than a week left before the his U.S. debut, one of
tournament opener. five lineup changes. The
“Obviously I know what 24-year-old attacker made
the narrative’s going to be, five appearances for New
that we have no chance, Zealand before FIFA ap-
that we’re going to lose United States goalkeeper Zack Steffen (1) reacts after being scored on by Venezuela forward Jose proved his switch to the
and maybe not even make Salomon Rondon (23) during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Sunday, June U.S. last month. Forward
it out of the first round,” 9, 2019, in Cincinnati. Jozy Altidore made his first
coach Gregg Berhalter Associated Press appearance since the Oc-
said. The Americans wrote ahead of Juan Arango Americans in 20 months. Jhon Murillo and scored his tober 2017 loss at Trinidad
the narrative with their two for the Venezuelan career The defense was the most 23rd international goal. and Tobago that ended
unsettling exhibition losses. scoring record with 24, glaring issue this time, with Rather than clearing the the Americans’ streak of
On Wednesday, the U.S. and La Vinotinto beat the Berhalter describing it as ball to his left, Steffen sent seven World Cup appear-
lost to Jamaica 1-0 , only Americans for the first time “really careless.” Many of it into trouble just ahead ances. No matter. The
its second home defeat to after three defeats and the 23,955 fans at Nippert of the penalty area. An- scoreless streak for the U.S.
a Caribbean nation in a two draws. Stadium, home of the Ma- other defensive lapse off a reach 266 minutes as the
half-century. Forward Josh “I think we’re humbled right jor League Soccer’s new throw-in set up Venezuela’s Americans misfired or were
Sargent and six others were now and we’re ready to Cincinnati team, booed as second score. Jefferson Sa- denied on chances in the
cut from the roster a day learn from our mistakes,” the half ended. varino hit the left post but second half.
later. defender Aaron Long said. The U.S. enters the Gold tracked the carom past Berhalter was hired in De-
The revamped roster had “We had good chanc- Cup with an unproven two stuck-in-place defend- cember to implement
another historical throw- es today, and the score goalkeeper for the first time ers and scored from the an attacking, possession-
back when Venezuela could have been a lot dif- in three decades. right side, his first interna- oriented style, and he la-
surged ahead 3-0, marking ferent. We’re not going to A bad decision by Zack tional goal in 10 appear- mented a lack of speed
the first time the U.S. trailed hang our heads and say a Steffen, who was in goal ances. and aggression against
by three goals in an open- 3-0 loss and we’re playing for the second straight Rondón circled around Jamaica. Only two players
ing half since June 4, 2011, terrible.” Up next is 175th- game, set up Venezuela’s Long, who was late to get were positioned in the pen-
against world champion ranked Guyana in the Gold first score. His careless pass into position, for an unob- alty area much of the time,
Spain. Cup opener June 18 in St. was intercepted, and Stef- structed shot and the third which became a focus for
Salomón Rondón had Paul, Minnesota, the first fen was out of position as goal. improvement in Sunday’s
two of the goals , moving competitive match for the Rondón got the ball from “It’s a tough spot and it can game. q

Cup race at Michigan postponed because of rain

By NOAH TRISTER weekend before resum- pit road. It turned out the
AP Sports Writer ing June 23 at Sonoma. Of biggest entertainment of
BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) — course, that means this de- the day may have been
The break in NASCAR’s Cup lay eats into that time off. Bubba Wallace and Corey
Series schedule will have to Sunday’s race never be- LaJoie throwing and kick-
wait at least an extra day. gan, and the postpone- ing a football around while
Sunday’s race at Michigan ment was announced after everyone waited. Daniel
International Speedway a delay of about 2½ hours Hemric was also involved.
was postponed because from the scheduled start “Is it a bad thing that my
of rain. It was rescheduled time. There was a brief mo- most famous moment in a
for Monday at 5 p.m. EDT, ment, about 90 minutes firesuit is slinging a pigskin at
the second time in just over before the postponement, a large group of fans?” La-
a month that a Cup race when a start seemed im- Joie tweeted. “NAH.”
has been pushed past minent. Detroit Lions coach Last year’s June race at
the weekend because of Clint Bowyer stands on pit row waiting out the rain delay during Matt Patricia, the grand Michigan was shortened
weather. the NASCAR cup series auto race at Michigan International marshal, even gave the by rain, but it ended on
The race at Dover early last Speedway, Sunday, June 9, 2019, in Brooklyn, Mich. command for drivers to start Sunday as planned. Clint
month was also pushed to Associated Press their engines. Cars were on Bowyer won that one. Kev-
Monday. That left a quick lowing Saturday’s race at this time. The Cup sched- the track, but rain quickly in Harvick won the August
turnaround before the fol- Kansas. That’s not an issue ule has an open date next forced them to come onto Cup race at MIS.q