RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - Sophomores Omar Gonzalez and Jeremy Hall helped the United States Pan American men's soccer team to a 2-1 win against Venezuela in the opening match of the 2007 Pan American Games at Zico Football Center on July 16. Gonzalez started and played the entire match on defense for the Americans while Hall saw 26 minutes of play.

With the win, the USA took an early lead in Group B as Bolivia and Mexico played to a scoreless draw in the other match in the group. The Americans will take on Bolivia on July 18 at 2:00 p.m. at the Miécimo da Silva Sports Complex and then finish group play against Mexico on July 21 at 9:00 a.m. at Brazil's famous Maracanã Stadium, home of the 1950 World Cup final.

Gonzalez and the American defense allowed just one goal which came on a penalty kick in the 76th minute that equalized the match. The US allowed eight shots in the game with four of them on goal.

Hall was the first substitution for Bob Jenkins' American side as he saw 26 minutes of action in the midfield.

Stephen McCarthy scored the first goal of the match in the 50th minute for the United States before Francisco Flores tied the game with a penalty kick in the 76th minute. Bobby Warshaw, who saw just 13 minutes of action, scored the game-winning goal in the 93rd minute for the Americans.