United States 0 - 0 Guatemala

United States 0-0 Guatemala

Updated: March 28, 2007, 11:17 PM ET

Using six starters who had played fewer than six international matches, the United States played a 0-0 tie against Guatemala in an exhibition game Wednesday night.

The United States had been 3-0 under Bradley, hired as interim coach in December after Juergen Klinsmann withdrew from consideration. The U.S. team now is off until June, and by then Bradley could get the position full-time or be replaced before the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the Copa America.

"I need to get to Europe and see some games there and begin the process of talking to some of those clubs about the summer schedule," Bradley said. "I'll see a lot of MLS games. There's a lot of planning in terms of two important tournaments this summer."

Jay DeMerit and Frank Simek made their national team debuts against the Guatemalans, the opening opponent for the United States at the Gold Cup, the championship of soccer's North and Central American and Caribbean region. In this one, the United States outshot the visitors by only 7-6.

"I think the guys need to figure out first that that's not good enough against that team," U.S. captain Landon Donovan said. "That's not good enough to take it slow and move the ball slow and let them slow the game down."

The U.S. team maintained possession and had better scoring opportunities. Goalkeeper Kasey Keller, playing with the national team for the first time since the World Cup, was hardly tested in his 97th international appearance, three shy of Tony Meola's U.S. record for goalkeepers.

Guatemala's best chance came in the 43rd minute when Carlos Ruiz, an FC Dallas player working on his home field, sent a volley straight down into the turf. It bounced high, coming down on top of the net.

The United States failed to convert several chances. Clint Dempsey set up several opportunities in the second half, most notably in the 62nd minute when his pass found an open Justin Mapp in the top corner of the box. Mapp's shot went wide of the far post.

About a minute earlier, Jonathan Spector had an open look from nearly the same spot, but he sent a weak dribbler wide of the net.

Dempsey nearly scored in the 78th minute. He beat goalkeeper Ricardo Trigueno to a Frank Simek cross, but his header was cleared off the line by Pablo Melgar.

The United States nearly scored twice in the first half, the first on a combination from Dempsey to Donovan to Eddie Johnson, whose shot from 15 yards out went straight to Trigueno. In the 35th minute, Trigueno saved Dempsey's diving header off a free kick by Donovan.

"We're looking for ways against a team that is obviously just sitting back," Bradley said. "I didn't think the quality of our crosses were very good at all, so we let ourselves down pretty badly in that area. It's a game where it's tough to create those moments."

Starting alongside DeMerit and Simek on the back line was Spector, appearing in his fifth game for the United States. Among the midfield starters were Michael Bradley (the coach's son) and Mapp, each playing in their fourth game, and Benny Feilhaber, appearing in his second.

"We tried a couple of options. Some worked, some didn't," DeMerit said. "You take that into the video room and you learn from it."

That was the theme stressed by Bradley and his players after the game. Donovan said he expects Guatemala and other teams to try similar defensive tactics during the Gold Cup in June.

"Sure, why not?" Donovan said. "It worked, right? They don't care what it looks like. They are there to get a result and give them credit. They did what they needed to do."

Game notes
Before the game, the U.S. under-20 team beat Haiti's national team 2-1 on a goal in injury time by Gabriel Ferrari. The Americans' first goal came on a penalty kick by Freddy Adu, who drew the foul when he dribbled past two defenders and was taken down from behind.