U.S. blows past China in friendly
Though composed primarily of European-based players, with most of the MLS players in the U.S. team remaining with their clubs through this weekend's slate of matches, former Chivas USA and current U.S. head coach Bob Bradley brought in four of his former charges, taking advantage of his one-time team's open date this weekend.
Bradley favorite and current Chivas USA striker Ante Razov got things started for the U.S. when his free kick in the second minute nearly hit home. China goalkeeper Chen Dong was forced to make an excellent save to keep the ball out of the back of the Chinese net.
The scoreline would not remain blank for long, as former Chicago Fire midfielder DaMarcus Beasley took a great pass from MLS product Michael Bradley and streaked in alone in the eighth minute. Beasley juked the 'keeper and was free on goal before being tripped up by Dong, and a penalty kick was awarded. Beasley regained his composure in time to slot home the spot kick to put the Americans up 1-0.
China responded quickly, however. Following a poor clearance in the U.S. area, China defender Zhang Yaokun ran onto a loose ball 12 yards out and rocketed a shot past Tim Howard to knot the score.
The U.S. regained the lead in the 28th minute when Chivas USA's Sacha Kljestan sprung Benny Feilhaber free into the area and the Hamburg man floated one over Dong before barreling into him. It was enough to notch the California native his first ever senior team goal and put the U.S. up 2-1.
As the second half got underway, the U.S. made only one substitution but Bradley used the match to introduce four new players to international duty for the senior side. Aside from Kljestan, who started the match, three additional players saw their first action for the full senior side: Charlie Davies (Hammarby/Sweden), Kamani Hill (VfL Wolfsburg/Germany) and Lee Nguyen (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands).
As the second half wore on, the U.S. pressure didn't relent and the Yanks found themselves on the scoreboard again. Another MLS product, ex-New England Revolution and current Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey put the USA up 3-1 when, in the 75th minute, he headed home a Feilhaber corner past a helpless Dong.
The U.S. wasn't done though. Only four minutes later, former Clemson University defender Oguchi Onyewu finished off the goal barrage when he headed home a Beasley cross off a free kick to cap the win for the U.S.
Chivas USA made it four MLS-based players in the match when Jesse Marsch earned his second-ever cap as he was inserted in the 82nd minute.
The U.S. national team will next be in action when it takes on Guatemala on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., their opening match in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the national team championship for North and Central America and the Caribbean.
Danny Polinsky is a contribtor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
