Here we go, the last U.S. men's friendly in 2011: at Slovenia. It's a rematch of the memorable 2-2 tie in the 2010 World Cup.
The U.S. begins World Cup 2014 qualifying next summer against Jamaica, Antigua.
Edson Buddle with a shot in the first minute, tipped over the bar by Slovenia's goalkeeper. U.S. gets a corner kick by Michael Bradley but they can't do anything with it.
Slovenia has a breakaway but their player completely blows it as he slows down and the U.S. is able to recover and knock it out for a corner. Slovenia gets a header off the corner but Howard stops it.
Another chance for Buddle, who shoots over from a tough angle. Bradley fed him with a nice ball.
What a mess, you can barely see the field at the moment. Not helping matters is that Slovenia is wearing white jerseys. It is so foggy, stupid Slovenia weather. Slovenia called offside.
Apparently Slovenia has a new head coach.
Clint Dempsey with a decent pass into Jozy Altidore, who gets taken down with an elbow but no foul is called.
The 4-4-2 has already made a difference in the early going for the U.S. Buddle won a free kick outside the box as he was taken down hard. Bocanegra's header is deflected out (12 goals in 100 CAPs). U.S. corner kick No. 2. The U.S. won possession and Buddle hit a nice cross but Slovenia's goalkeeper got to it first.
Gooch trained last night but he's still not well enough to even sit on the bench.
Wow, Buddle is having the game of his life! He just took the ball from a Slovenian defender and one-timed it off the post from outside the box. 3rd goal for Buddle in his 10th CAP. His last goal was vs. Australia right before the 2010 World Cup. 1-0 U.S. in the 9th minute.
That was only the third goal for the U.S. under Klinsmann, this is his seventh game.
Should have been 2-0. Bradley gave Altidore a perfect ball but somehow he put it over from like two feet in front of Slovenia's goal. Got bury that, come on Jozy.
Haha love Harkes stating the obvious that the U.S. should beat a team like this, "they're not Spain." Classic analysis.
Terrible giveaway by the U.S. defense as Bocanegra hits it right to Slovenia but their shot from outside the box is nto a good one.
The U.S. looks so much better in the first 15 minutes of this match. Dempsey just hit a shot wide after a couple nice, unselfish passes.
Fabian Johnson (making his first career start) just made a great run from the midfield and earned a corner kick (No. 3). It was flicked through but the U.S. couldn't get the second touch.
As if you wanted to visit Slovenia any less, this abysmal weather isn't helping matters for this tiny country. Ugh.
Haha Ian Darke said Slovenia is about the same size as Houston and smaller than New Jersey.
Matavz with a decent header for Slovenia but you'll never beat Howard from the top of the box on a header.
I don't understand why Bradley has seemingly been on the outs with Klinsmann. I hope it's just that he's a known commodity so they want to look at some new faces. He is easily one of their best midfielders.
Slovenia is called way offside but they proceed to go in on Howard and shoot it past him. Cool dude.
Altidore called offside nullifies a 2 on 1 with Dempsey.
Another offside by Slovenia, they might want to make an adjustment here before they set a new record in one game.
Nice header by Clarence Goodson to break up a long pass but Kyle Beckerman gives it right back. Remind me again, why this dreadlocked goon is on the team? He is so mediocre.
Shaky U.S. foul puts an end to a possible chance.
Matavz scores in the 26th minute on what looks like an obvious offside call. Nice finish high over Howard's shoulder. Way too much space by the U.S. defense but we'll have to see more replays of that. Six goals in 12 matches for Matavz (who's 22). 1-1 in the 28th minute.
Well Slovenia and their pathetic home crowd (what else is going on at 6 pm on a Tuesday night?) is alive. They curled another shot wide of Howard and the goal.
The U.S. uses good transition to get a shot, Buddle crosses to Dempsey, but it's headed on top of the net.
That 2-2 tie in the group stage of the 2010 World Cup is the only time these two countries have met.
Oh ok, there's a local fan protest about rising ticket prices. That's why this tiny stadium (16,000) looks so empty.
Well Buddle almost scored his second goal but it wouldn't have counted. He was offside by a few steps. Regardless, great cross from Bradley and nice header by Buddle. They've been the two U.S. standouts thus far.
Dempsey with a nice diving header following great buildup and a cross by Steve Cherundolo. That just went wide, the U.S. has responded after Slovenia tied it up.
Dempsey's next goal will give him 24 for the U.S., tying him all-time with Joe-Max Moore (another former Revolution great), fourth in U.S. history.
U.S. foul outside the box, dangerous Slovenia free kick. They caught the U.S. asleep with a simple run but the shot skips inches wide. Yikes. Too many players thinking shot in and around the wall.
U.S. free kick leads to a corner. There we go, Dempsey heads it in from Bradley. 2-1 U.S. in the 41st minute. The Slovenian defender went for a high kick but he had no chance. Two goals, I might have a heart attack. So the U.S. matched its goal total in its previous six games under Klinsmann in 41 minutes.
Chandler wiggles free in the box and gets taken down to earn a penalty kick. Jozy steps up and scores his first goal under Klinsmann. 3-1 U.S. in the 43rd minute, this looks like a completely different team. I understand that Slovenia is not very good but they nearly beat the U.S. in the World Cup. This is the type of performance we've all been waiting for.
First time in 25 games (since Australia before the World Cup) that the U.S. has scored three goals.
Halftime: U.S. 3, Slovenia 1
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