Youthful U.S. slips one past Swiss

It was a couple of U.S. national teaam noobies that helped create a late winner, scored by coach's son Michael Bradley, in USA's 1-0 victory over Switzerland in St. Jakob Park in Basel.

The game-winner started with Toronto FC midfielder and cap virgin Maurice Edu finding fellow first-capper Danny Szetela on the right. Szetela crossed to Clint Dempsey who played the ball off his knee to an onrushing Bradley who tucked it home just four minutes from time.

In a rather boring match, played in rainy conditions, the U.S. was able to feature some new, young faces and begin to determine if any of these new legs might run into the national team picture for World Cup qualification. Although coach Bob Bradley began with a somewhat predictable line-up, he managed to get everyone (save Jay DeMerit) into the match, including Freddy Adu who entered the match for Taylor Twellman in the 77th minute and nearly made it 2-0 after a nifty through ball by Dempsey.

The next match for the U.S. will be on November 17 against the 2010 World Cup hosts, South Africa in the Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup at Ellis Park Stadium in South Africa.

Scoring:
USA – Bradley (Dempsey) 86

Lineups:
USA: 24-Marcus Hahnemann (18-Brad Guzan, 46); 6-Steve Cherundolo, 22-Oguchi Onyewu (2-Dan Califf, 46), 3-Carlos Bocanegra (Capt.), 7-Eddie Lewis (9-Danny Szetela, 84); 5-Benny Feilhaber, 13-Maurice Edu, 4-Michael Bradley,17-DaMarcus Beasley (11-Heath Pearce, 31); 20-Taylor Twellman (25-Freddy Adu, 77), 8-Clint Dempsey (29-Robbie Findley, 90)

SUI: 1-Pascal Zuberbühler; 2-Johan Djourou (25-Steve Von Bergen, 17), 3-Ludovic Magnin (Capt.), 5-Xavier Margairaz (22-Hakan Yakin, 46); 11-Marco Streller (31-Blaise Nkufo, 46), 13-Stephane Grichting, 14-David Degen, 16-Tranquillo Barnetta (17-Christoph Spycher, 75), 27-Gokhan Inler, 29-Stephan Lichtsteiner, 35-Fabio Celestini (33-Gelson Fernandes, 46)

Patriot of the Pitch©: Clint Dempsey

USA feature new faces in Swiss test

USA coach Bob Bradley has named a practice roster for the October 17 friendly against Switzerland, and Freddy Adu has finally made the list. Despite his stellar play at the under-20 World Cup and a promising start with his new club Benfica, this is Adu's first call up since January of 2006.

Also making the list are some unfamiliar European-based players: Preston Zimmerman, Steve Purdy and goalkeeper Tally Hall. Youngsters Chris Seitz, Sal Zizzo, Danny Szetela, Maurice Edu and Robbie Findley were also called into camp. Along with his "something new," Bradley must have wanted his "something old," as he called up Eddie Lewis.

Even with the perplexing Lewis and Danny Califf selections, this roster showcases some of the up-and-coming talent that, until now, Bradley has been ignoring, and it really serves the purpose that he ascribed to his horrible Copa America roster. That is, it features talent that should be the next group of U.S. stars in 2010. Now, let's see if he lets any of them play.

Goalkeepers
Hahnemann, Marcus - Reading (England)
Hall, Tally - Esbjerg (Denmark)
Seitz, Chris - Real Salt Lake (MLS)

Defenders
Bocanegra, Carlos - Fulham (England)
Cherundolo, Steve - Hannover 96 (Germany)
Califf, Danny - Aalborg BK (Denmark)
DeMerit, Jay - Watford (England)
Onyewu, Oguchi - Standard Liege (Belgium)
Pearce, Heath - Hansa Rostock (Germany)
Purdy, Steve - 1860 Munich II (Germany)

Midfielders
Adu, Freddy - Benfica (Portugal)
Beasley, DaMarcus - Rangers (Scotland)
Bradley, Michael - Heerenveen (Holland)
Edu, Maurice - Toronto FC (MLS)
Feilhaber, Benny - Derby County (England)
Lewis, Eddie - Derby County (England)
Szetela, Danny - Racing Santander (Spain)

Forwards
Dempsey, Clint - Fulham (England)
Findley, Robbie - Real Salt Lake (MLS)
Zimmerman, Preston - Hamburg SV II (Germany)
Zizzo, Sal - Hannover 96 (Germany)