They’ve still got it

OMAHA, NE. – For three quarters the 1994 United States World Cup team more than held their own in an indoor soccer exhibition against Major Indoor Soccer League’s Omaha Vipers on Friday night.

VIEW HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EVENT ON YOUTUBE

Alexi Lalas and other members of the '94 U.S. World Cup team took part in an indoor exhibition in Omaha on Friday. (Photo Courtesy Tony Biscaia/RevsNet.com)

The U.S. team was made up of mostly former U.S. internationals who were part of the ’94 World Cup squad as well as a few retired MLS stars and a couple of guest players.

The U.S. squad featured such stars as former New England Revolution and U.S. defender Alexi Lalas, former Revs head coach and U.S. defender Fernando Clavijo, U.S. defenders Tony Sanneh, Marcelo Balboa, Tom Dooley and Paul Caligiuri, midfielders Preki and Diego Gutierrez, and striker Roy Lassiter.  Midfielder Tab Ramos and goalkeeper Tony Meola were originally scheduled to take part, but couldn’t make the trip due to travel problems.

“This was a wonderful experience,” Lalas told the Omaha World-Herald. “I don’t care if it’s indoor or outdoor. It’s just great to be able to be here and promote the sport we love.”

The U.S. team held a 14 to 8 lead at the end of third quarter, but Omaha rallied back with 10 unanswered points in the final period to win 18 to 14. The age of the U.S. players, ranging from 38 to 54, showed as the match wound down and the squad clearly suffered from fatigue.

The exhibition hoped to drive attention to the Omaha Vipers, a team in their first season in the MISL. 3,280 were in attendance.

The Vipers feature a few familiar names as well, including former Revs Johnny Torres and Ibrahim Kante. Torres joined the U.S. side for this exhibition.

Among those finding their name on the scoresheet for the U.S. were Lassiter, Preki, Sanneh, Gutierrez, Caligiuri, and Torres.

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