Mexico downs Venezuela 1-0 in soccer friendly

AP - Omar Bravo scored on a penalty kick in the 58th minute Friday to help Mexico beat Venezuela 1-0 in a World Cup tuneup match.

Bravo beat goalkeeper Renny Vega on the penalty kick in front of 58,147 fans at the Rose Bowl after Alejandro Cichero fouled Jesus Arellano in the penalty area.

The goal was Bravo's third in two games for Mexico, which played without European-based forward Jared Borgetti, midfielder Guillermo Franco and defender Rafael Marquez.

Defender Claudio Suarez made his 175th appearance for Mexico. Suarez received a yellow card in the 22nd minute and was replaced in the 61st.

Mexico, undefeated in six games against Venezuela, will play the Congo on May 12 at Mexico City before leaving for the soccer World Cup, where it faces Angola, Iran and Portugal in the first round.

Goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez made two impressive saves in a four-minute span to preserve the win. In the 68th minute, Sanchez used his chest to block Cichero's header off Ricardo David Paez's corner kick.

In the 72nd minute, Sanchez made a one-handed diving save on Gerzon Chacon's 14-yard shot.