Maracaibo, Venezuela (Sportsbooks) - Hernan Crespo had two goals, including the game-winner, as Argentina erased an early one-goal deficit and pulled away for a 4-1 win over the United States in the Copa America on Thursday night.
The United States' Eddie Johnson converted a penalty kick in the ninth minute, but Argentina tied the match minutes later on Crespo's first goal and was in control by the end.
Crespo scored in the 11th and 64th minutes and Pablo Aimar and Carlos Tevez added goals in the final 15 minutes for Argentina, ranked fifth in the world.
The United States played well for the first 75 minutes, but is lucky to be in third place in Group C. Paraguay hammered Colombia, 5-0, earlier Thursday in the other game in the group.
The young American team, featuring many players with just a few international appearances, looked liked Argentina's equals until late in the game.
The U.S. stunned Argentina just 10 minutes into the game when a pass from Benny Feilhaber split two defenders to free Johnson on a breakaway. The U.S. striker was hauled down just inside the penalty box to stop the play and he converted from the penalty spot with a shot inside the left post.
Crespo answered minutes later with a goal from just a few yards out. Juan Riquelme chipped a free kick over the United States' wall and, when the ball wasn't cleared out, Crespo was able to knock it into an open net to tie the score.
U.S. goalie Kasey Keller - by far the most experienced U.S. player with more than 100 caps - made a diving save late in the first half to deflect a shot from Juan Sebastian Veron off the crossbar. That helped send the game into halftime tied at 1.
The United States had two of its best chances early in the second half off set pieces but couldn't convert either attempt.
Argentina made the U.S. pay in the 65th minute when Riquelme's short pass to Lionel Messi set up Crespo's game-winner. Messi touched the ball from the left side to Crespo and he finished to the far post with Keller flailing to try and get a piece of the ball.
Aimar's goal in the 78th minute was off a cross from Gabriel Heinze. Aimar ran onto the ball and from 12 yards out hammered home a header into the left side of the net.
Tevez finished the scoring in the 85th minute when he got behind the U.S. defense and easily beat Keller inside the left post. Riquelme, who returned to the team for the tournament after announcing his retirement from international soccer last year, assisted on the goal.
The United States, which won the Gold Cup on Sunday, will try to bounce back from its first loss under new coach Bob Bradley on Monday against Paraguay at 6:30 p.m. (ET). The U.S. was 10-0-1 in its first 11 games under Bradley.
Argentina, the favorite to win the tournament, returns to the pitch Monday against Colombia.
In Thursday's other Group C game, Roque Santa Cruz had three goals and Salvador Cabanas added two to lead Paraguay to the 5-0 rout of Colombia.
Notes: Two United States players - Marvell Wynne and Herculez Gomez - made their first-ever international appearances. ... Argentina legend Diego Maradona was in the stands.
