With a team featuring a majority of players in the midst of an offseason, the U.S. managed a 3-2 win at The Home Depot Center over a Swedish team that featured a majority of players in the middle of their season. Sasha Kljestan provided all the offense, scoring a hattrick (one from the spot).
The U.S. held a commanding 2-0 lead at halftime and squashed the Swedes late hope, as Kljestan's third came just a minute after the Daniel Nannskog had gotten Sweden on the scoreboard in the 73rd. Mikael Dahlberg scored a late goal for the visitors to make the game appear closer than it was.
Kljestan's offensive output is a positive sign, but the failure of the U.S. frontrunners doesn't bode well. Kenny Cooper and Brian Ching played alongside one another for half of the second-half, suprising given the similarity of their styles. But Ching's assist on Special K's third goal was artful, while Cooper had a late chance that he missed badly. Charlie Davies was almost invisible in the first half.
TYH's Patriot of the Pitch©: Sacha Kljestan
MATCH REPORT
| TEAM | 1st half | 2nd half | Final |
| USA | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| SWE | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Scoring:
USA - Kljestan 17.
USA - Kljestan (PK) 40.
Lineups:
USA: 1-Troy Perkins; 12-Marvell Wynne, 2-Danny Califf (capt.), 4-Michael Parkhurst (3-Ugo Ihemelu, 82), 6-Jonathan Bornstein (15-Chris Wingert, 79); 17-John Thorrington (20-Chris Rolfe, 61), 13-Ricardo Clark, 16-Sacha Kljestan, 30-Robbie Rogers (22-Brian Carroll, 69); 10-Charlie Davies (27-Kenny Cooper, 46), 11-Brian Ching (29-Eddie Gaven, 77)
SWE: 12-Johan Dahlin, 7-Markus Jonsson, 8-Marcus Lindberg, 9-Max von Schlebrügge, 5-Adam Johansson; 10-Andreas Dahl (14-Rasmus Elm, 62), 6-Daniel Andersson (capt.) (13-Martin Ericsson, 71), 20-Gustav Svensson, 16-Samuel Holmén (15-Alexander Farnerud, 62); 11-Mikael Dahlberg, 19-Daniel Nannskog
Misconduct Summary:
SWE – Daniel Andersson (caution) 27.
USA – Danny Califf (caution) 59.
| STATS | USA | SWE |
| Shots | 13 | 9 |
| Shots OG | 6 | 6 |
| Saves | 3 | 3 |
| Corners | 7 | 1 |
| Fouls | 15 | 15 |
| Offside | 2 | 5 |
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