SOCCER : U.S. Defeats Saudi Arabia for First Win

The U.S. national soccer team picked up its first full international victory Friday as two substitutes scored within minutes of one another for a 2-0 triumph over Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Joe-Max Moore and Janusz Michallik scored in a four-minute span in the second half to end a nine-game winless streak. The United States (1-3-6) had not won since defeating Ivory Coast, 5-2, in the Intercontinental Cup at Riyadh on Oct. 19, 1992.

Moore, of Irvine, came off the bench and scored his second international goal. His 16-foot shot in the 79th minute beat goalkeeper Mohammed al-Dayea before a crowd of 27,000 at King Fahd Stadium.

Four minutes later, Cobi Jones sent a pass to Moore, who chipped the ball over to Michallik. His 22-yard shot deflected off a defender into the goal.

Bruce Murray, the leading scorer in U.S. history, was forced out of the game in the first minute after a hard tackle by Saudi captain Mohammed Abdul-Jawwad. Murray was knocked unconscious by an apparent blow to the head and is believed to have suffered a mild concussion.

Former UCLA goalkeeper Brad Friedel recorded his third shutout in six starts.

“We needed to make all the substitutions,” assistant coach Timo Liekoski said. “Everyone was still feeling the effects of the trip. Subs played a key role and really changed the game.”