BUDAPEST, Hungary, August 9. IT'S almost like looking at a stranger in your own home. The much-improved U.S. men's team, barely resembling the young and inexperienced squad inherited by Ratko Rudic in 2001, lost a close game to Yugoslavia, 5-3, in the Unicum Cup today. <\/p>\n
The narrow margin of loss to the reigning European Champion and the team's defeat of defending gold medalist Hungary last month are the latest indicators of both a swift turnaround for the U.S. and a ray of
\nsunshine as the team prepares for the 2002 World Cup which begins August 25 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.<\/p>\n
The U.S. fought a hard game against Yugoslavia, the bronze medalist at the 2000 Olympics, keeping the lid on a volatile Yugoslavian offense with one exception: Alexandar Sapic. <\/p>\n
Sapic, the perennial scoring machine for Yugoslavia, connected for four goals on the day. Vladamir Vujasinovic accounted for the other Yugoslavian goal.<\/p>\n
It took all four quarters for Yugoslavia to put the feisty U.S. team away. Sapic's goal with 3:52 remaining in the game provided Yugoslavia with an insurance goal, setting the score at 5-3, and effectively putting a nail in the U.S. coffin. Team
\nUSA was able to draw an exclusion a minute later, but failed to convert and finished 1-for-4 on the man-up.<\/p>\n
Ryan Bailey buried two goals on the day for Team USA, one from center. Dan Klatt, who is playing with a cracked rib, scored the other goal for the U.S. Tony Azevedo did not play and was allowed to rest for the late game against Italy.<\/p>\n
United States 1 0 2 0 — 3
\nYugoslavia 2 0 2 1 — 5<\/p>\n
Box Score
\nIndividual Scoring
\nUSA: Bailey 2, Klatt 1
\nYugoslavia: Sapic 4, Vujasinovic 1<\/p>\n
Man Advantage Scoring
\nUSA: 1 for 4
\nYugoslavia: 1 for 4<\/p>\n
Remaining Schedule
\nDate Time Team vs. Team
\nAugust 9 4:00 p.m. Australia vs. Germany
\n5:15 p.m. USA vs. Italy
\n6:30 p.m. Hungary vs. Yugoslavia
\nAugust 10 4:00 p.m. Italy vs. Germany
\n5:15 p.m. Yugoslavia vs. Italy
\n6:30 p.m. USA vs. Hungary
\nAugust 11 4:00 p.m. Germany vs. Yugoslavia
\n5:15 p.m. Australia vs. USA
\n6:30 p.m. Hungary vs. Italy
\n* All times local Budapest time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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