Final thoughts

Deserved win, but once again as we have repeated for some time, these cannot be the players that the U.S. relies on to take them anywhere in the World Cup.

Sacha Kljestian was active the first half, but not sharp really missing some point-blank shots that should have been dealt with better. He seemed to drift out of the game in the second half, but his moment of brilliance just before the final whistle to steal the ball from the defender work the give-and-go with Ching and then beat the goalie for the game-winner was a prime-time play. I think Kljestian at the very least earned a spot in the U.S. camp until the start of the World Cup. Final verdict: Will he make the team, for me, he should not be there.

Brian Ching I think made the loudest performance tonight. With just a half to work with he was by far the most the dangerous US attacker on the night and really made me eat my words. Before he scored he was at least getting to crosses and nearly had a side-volley find the net. He was in the right spot for Pierce's cross and finished professionally. It was more fortune than good play that he ended up working the 1-2 with Kljestian for the game-winner, but at least he had the good sense not to hold onto the ball or try to take a heroic shot from 20 yards out and instead gave the ball back to Kljestian for the finish.

Final verdict: Ching booked his place in South Africa tonight for me unquestionably. Although I am not a fan of his game, this is the area of the field where the US is most vulnerable. Unfortunately I think if he sees the pitch in the Cup opposing defense will make him look slow, and he counteracts what the US will have to do to succeed, counter-attack with speed and superior athleticism.

Heath Pierce showed me the most tonight. A defender for Dallas, I did not know much about him. he was able to get up the field and provide terrific crosses without being exposed at the left back spot. In fact it was Brad Davis on the other side of the field whose costly mistake almost assuredly destroyed any chance he had to move on further.

Final verdict: Pierce I believe is another player that booked his place in the US camp. I think both he and Bornstein will battle it out for one of the last defensive spots. He would be great insurance for Bocanegra at left back.

Kyle Beckerman did what he does, provide good crunching tackles in the midfield, win a few balls, and iniate the offense through sensible smart passes. To me he was very good and really made Kljestian looked better than he was. However, was it enough for him to overtake one of the European based center mids or even MLS favorite Ricardo Clark? I doubt it.

Final verdict: The guy is one of the most under-rated players in the MLS and in the US pool, but I don't think he's going to make the camp. Bradley has too many other options at the position and needs to see more out of those players.

A couple of other players were inconsistent, but had flashes of brilliance. Robbie Rogers topped that list for me with a few really great crosses - including a couple off free kicks - and a fabulous shot off the upper-90 right before he was subbed. But then there were also the lapses of judgement - breaking in on net and firing over the top from close with 2 options readily available for tap-ins. I don't think we saw enough from Clarence Goodson, the defense just was not challenged enough. And although Eddie Gaven was really a spark-plug coming in at half, I'm not sure we can take enough away from 1 half of football against a second-rate side.

No one else for me stood out. Jeff Cunningham, Robbie Findley, and Connor Casey were all hurt by lackluster efforts but even more so because of Ching's shining performance.