Gonzalez Scores Twice But Americans Fall To Bolivia At Pan Am Games
7/18/2007 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
July 18, 2007
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Sophomore Omar Gonzalez scored the first two goals of the match for the United States, but Bolivia countered with four unanswered goals to defeat the Americans, 4-2, in USA's second match in the 2007 Pan American Games at the Miécimo da Silva Sports Complex on July 18. Both Gonzalez, who starts at forward, and classmate Jeremy Hall played all 90 minutes for the Americans.
With the loss, the US is now 1-1-0 in Group B. The Americans defeated Venezuela, 2-1, in the opener on July 16. The Americans will finish group play against Mexico on July 21 at 9:00 a.m. at Brazil's famous Maracanã Stadium, home of the 1950 World Cup final.
Gonzalez, who earned his second start and has played in all 180 minutes for the US, tallied his first goal of the Games in the 34th minute and then added his second seven minutes later to give the Americans a 2-0 lead into halftime.
Bolivia stormed out of the gate in the second half and scored two minutes in when Gustavo Pinedo hit the back of the net to cut the deficit in half. Juan Eduardo Fierro equalized the game with a goal in the 56th minute and then Limberg Gutierrez notched the game-winner in the 63rd. Pinedo added the insurance goal in the 81st minute to finish the scoring.
Gonzalez added two more shots on goal in the match. Hall, who was the first substitution for Bob Jenkins' American side in the match against Venezuela, recorded his first start of the Pan Am Games and played every minute, getting off a shot in the game.
