Argentina have beaten the United States 4-1 in their opening Group C Copa América 2007 match in Maracaibo on Thursday. A brace from Inter Milan striker Hernan Crespo and goals from Pablo Aimar and West Ham United striker Carlos Tevez saw the Albiceleste come from behind to score a valuable Group C win against a depleted U.S team.

Against the run-of-play Eddie Johnson opened the scoring for the U.S. in the 8th minute, after a foul from Gabriel Milito in the penalty-area saw a penalty awarded, with the Kansas City Wizards forward converting past Roberto Abbondanzieri in the Argentina goal.

Argentina equalised just four minutes later, with Inter Milan forward Hernan Crespo, sporting a new crew-cut hairstyle, hitting the target to level the scores.

The constant Argentine pressure almost paid off when Juan Sebastian Veron was close to giving Argentina the lead with just two minutes of the first-half remaining, but his long-range shot was tipped onto the bar by the veteran Stars and Stripes keeper Kasey Keller.

Argentina continued with the pressure in the second-half, with Crespo shooting wide, and with Lionel Messi breaking free in the 60th minute to create a goal-scoring opportunity, but his shot hit the side netting.

Just three minutes later Messi choreographed Argentina’s second-goal, playing a superb square pass to Crespo, who smashed the ball past Kasey Keller to make it 2-0 to the Albiceleste.

Keller was beaten again in the 77th minute, when substitute Pablo Aimar scored the fourth, with fellow substitute Carlos Tevez sealing the win for the Albiceleste in the 85th minute.

Argentina, despite their win, now lie second in Group C, behind Paraguay, who recorded a 5-0 win against fellow Group C rivals Colombia.

Full Teamsheets for Argentina v the United States - Copa América 2007 Group C Match Result:

Argentina team: Roberto Abbondanzieri, Roberto Ayala, Gabriel Heinze, Gabriel Milito, Javier Aldemar Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso (Pablo Aimar, 57) Javier Mascherano, Juan Riquelme, Juan Sebastian Verón (Fernando Gago, 86), Hernán Crespo, Lionel Andrés Messi (Carlos Alberto Tevez, 79).

Argentina Substitutes Not Used: Juan Pablo Carrizo, Agustín Ignacio Orión, Nicolas Burdisso, Daniel Alberto Díaz, Hugo Benjamín Ibarra, Luis Oscar González, Alberto Diego Milito, Rodrigo Palacio.

United States team: Kasey Keller, Danny Califf, Jimmy Conrad, Drew Moor, Marvell Wynne, Marvell Wynne, Ricardo Clark (Kyle Beckerman, 79), Benny Feilhaber, Taylor Twellman (Herculez Gomez, 69), Ben Olsen (Eddie Gaven, 62), Justin Mapp, Eddie Johnson.

United States Substitutes Not Used: Brad Guzan, Bobby Boswell, Danny Califf, Drew Moor, Heath Pearce, Sacha Kljestan, Lee Nguyen, Charlie Davies, Herculez Gomez.

(Corrected - Many apologies for the previous mistake)

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