WASHINGTON -- North Korea, playing for the first time on American soil, Saturday defeated the U.S. national soccer team 2-1 in an exhibition game.
Choi Yong Son scored the winning goal three minutes into the second half. He took a 35-yard pass from Kim Gyon Il down the right sideline and faked goalkeeper Tony Meola and defender Marcelo Balboa to the ground, scoring with a left-footer.
The Americans had several opportunities to tie, their best coming in the 66th minute on Hugo Perez's free kick. His shot hit the crossbar and the North Koreans held on.
Before a crowd of 16,351 at RFK Stadium, North Korea took a 1-0 in the 13th minute when Eun Chong Su scored from three yards out. His point-blank goal came after a rebound off the post from a shot by Liu Song Geun.
The Americans tied it in the 25th minute. Janusz Michallik's cross from the left side deflected off a defender to Bruce Murray, who beat goalkeeper Pak Gyong Chol. It was his 17th goal with the national team, the most by any U.S. player ever. The Americans had many chances the rest of the half but could not convert.
The United States, which has been playing especially well for Bora Milutinovic since he took over as coach in March, is now 8-3-2 since Bob Gansler was dismissed.
The United States and North Korea have never held diplomatic relations. In the last few years tensions between the two have eased, bringing assorted cultural and sports exchanges.
North Korea does not share diplomatic ties with South Korea, although the two countries are working toward a unified Korean team for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Soccer enjoys the widest popularity in North Korea. The North Koreans have appeared in only one World Cup, but delivered one of soccer's great upsets -- a 1-0 victory over mighty Italy in 1966 that carried them into the quarterfinals.
