FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- With a huge dose of youth, the United States national team continues to rid itself of the bad taste from its disastrous 1998 World Cup.
Ben Olsen and Eddie Lewis scored second-half goals as the United States beat Chile 2-1 Sunday to remain unbeaten under coach Bruce Arena.The United States now has won twice and tied twice since Arena took over the national program last October.
Sunday's lineup included just four players from the squad that beat Germany 3-0 two weeks ago in Jacksonville. The goals by Olsen and Lewis were the first for each in international play.
"This was a day where we gave our young players in our program another taste of international soccer," Arena said. "I think this result speaks well for our future."
Lewis broke a 1-1 tie in the 65th minute with a shot that deflected off Chilean defender Pablo Contreras. That came less than a minute after Chile's Roberto Cartes had tied the game with a left-footed blast from about 32 yards out.
Olsen, who played for Arena last season at D.C. United, scored the game's opening goal in the 58th minute in a match played before 14,896 fans at Lockhart Stadium.
"Both Ben and I just slid into open spaces, not sure where the ball was going, and we made the most of it," Lewis said. "Today was an opportunity to prove that the Germany game was no fluke."
Chile coach Nelson Acosta fielded a team featuring six players getting their first international start. The best of the group was 20-year-old midfielder David Pizzaro, who nearly caught U.S. goalkeeper Zach Thornton napping in the second minute with a 40-yard blast that forced a diving save.
Acosta said he was pleased despite the result, since Chile was playing just its second game since last summer's World Cup.
"This is a young team and we only had two days training together, so overall I'm happy," Acosta said.
The first half was remarkable only for the five yellow cards handed out by Mexican referee Pascal Rebolledo. By game's end, the teams had combined for 60 fouls and six cautions.
The Americans nearly took the lead in the 54th minute, but Brian McBride's volley from 12 yards was punched over the bar by goalkeeper Marcelo Ramirez.
Olsen's goal broke the deadlock after a flurry of U.S. pressure in the Chilean end. McBride held off Chile defender Francisco Rojas and found Olsen with a short cross in center of the penalty area.
"It's a great feeling to get my first goal and help the team get another win," Olsen said. "We're on a roll and we want to keep it going."
Cartes' equalizer six minutes later broke a 335-minute shutout streak for the Americans under Arena. But less than a minute later, Lewis one-timed a McBride pass that deflected off Contreras into the Chilean net.
The match marked the international farewell for 37-year-old defender Thomas Dooley, who played his 81st game in a U.S. uniform.
"I will miss being around the young players on the national team," said Dooley, a veteran of two World Cups. "Otherwise I feel good about leaving space for younger players. I won't be around (for the 2002 World Cup), so it makes sense to step out at a high level."