Arena makes USMNT return in draw with Serbia

Los Angeles - Bruce Arena was denied a triumphant return to United States men's national team coaching duties Sunday as the Americans played Serbia to a goalless draw in an international football friendly.

A Serbian side with only three players over age 25 gave the Americans all they could handle in San Diego in an evaluation match for domestic talent as both sides try to qualify for next year's World Cup in Russia.

"It's encouraging," Arena said. "For this time of year, it's not a bad game. I would have liked to have gotten a goal but overall I think that's a fair result."

Arena was hired to replace Jurgen Klinsmann as USMNT coach after the Americans dropped two World Cup qualifying matches, falling 2-1 at home to Mexico and 4-0 in Costa Rica last November.

The 65-year-old American guided the USMNT to the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals and oversaw a first-round exit in 2006 in his first USMNT coaching stint before being replaced by assistant Bob Bradley, who was axed in 2011 to make way for Klinsmann.

The Americans, off to their worst-ever start in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, will return to their quest to reach Russia on March 24 against Honduras at San Jose.

Three of six teams from the Hex, which now finds the USMNT at the bottom of the table, will qualify for the 2018 World Cup while a fourth will meet an Asian squad in a play-off to decide a berth.

USMNT players have another friendly Friday against Jamaica in Chattanooga, Tennessee, but like Sunday's match it will feature Major League Soccer players and not talent based on European squads. Those players will not be available to Arena until the crucial qualifiers resume.

Jozy Altidore became the second-youngest USMNT player to reach 100 caps at age 27, older than only Landon Donovan among 17 American centurions.

A USMNT counter-attack in the 24th minute went lacking as a Jermaine Jones pass into the heart of the penalty area was quickly cleared by Serbia, and Darlington Nagbe was wide of the right post from atop the area in the 38th minute.

"We created a few good chances," Arena said of the first half. "We made too many fouls in our half of the field."

Nick Rimando, the 37-year-old American goalkeeper who has never played in a World Cup qualifier, made a key save in the dying seconds to blank Serbia.

USMNT substitutes Juan Agudelo and Jordan Morris missed on late shots in the penalty area.

"We had an opportunity to see some players and new opportunities with the national team," Arena said. "Darlington Nagbe had a real good game.

"Overall we're just looking for some depth in the program."