MILWAUKEE -- Jens Gerlach and Jurgen Rische scored goals in the 35th and 44th minutes Saturday to lift the East German national team to a 2-1 triumph over the United States national team in the World Friendship Cup soccer match.
The U.S. tallied in the 89th minute when Ted Eck scored unassisted for his first goal ever in international competition. The game was held at Milwaukee County Stadium before a crowd of 12,574.
The U.S. had two strong opportunities in the first half, the first coming 22:18 into the match when midfielder John Harkes blasted a shot over the goal from the top of the penalty box. A few minutes later fullback Marcelo Balboa headed a cross off the top bar, just beyond the reach of East German goaltender Jens Weisgarber, but it too bounced over the net.
East Germany opened the scoring when Gerlach's strong shot from 15 yards out eluded diving goalkeeper Tony Meola, landing in the far corner.
With two minutes left in the first half Rische scored from six yards out on an assist by Gerlach.
In the second half, the U.S. managed just one solid chance. In the 61st minute Balboa shot from long range but it was wide of the goal by several yards.
The U.S. evaded a shutout when Eck, a reserve forward, dribbled down the right side of the field and booted a shot into the far corner as Weisgarber was out of the goal area.
Eck was one of several new faces on the national team. Striker Philip Gyau and midfielder Billy Thompson will also get an opportunity to impress due to the absence of many of the World Cup players. Missing from the squad are Paul Caligiuri and Tab Ramos, who are soon to be playing in Europe, and Peter Vermes, Chris Henderson, Chris Sullivan, and Jimmy Banks.
The U.S. outshot East Germany 20-13 and had a 9-1 advantage in corner kicks. Meola recorded eight saves while Weisgarber made seven.
The national team travels to High Point, N.C., for its next international game Sept. 15. against Trinidad.
