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Played
January 23, 2009 7:00 PM EST
Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif.
Referee: Silviu Petrescu (CAN)
January 23, 2009 7:00 PM EST
Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif.
Referee: Silviu Petrescu (CAN)
90′
Thanks for joining us here at Goal.com for this international friendly. It was a bit of a dull game. Both of these sides face Mexico in the coming days, and expect both coaches to be demanding improvements. Kljestan was the hero of the day, hitting a hattrick as he opened his full USA national team scoring account.
90′
Cooper latched onto an aimless ball behind the Sweden defense and rounded the goalkeeper only to shank his shot right at the shot-stopper. Horrible miss for the big man that will not endear him to Bradley.
90′
Three minutes of stoppage time have been added on.
90′
The Sweden GK could only parry Clark's stinging long-range shot, and Cooper collected alone in front of goal. However, before he could shoot, the linesman waved offsides.
89′
Alexander Farnerud has assisted both of Sweden's goals. One wonders why he didn't get the start.
89′
Goal Mikael Dahlberg
85′
Gaven found himself on the left and hit a good cross which Rolfe could only head away from goal. Some nice link up nevertheless.
82′
Substitution 
Michael Parkhurst 
Chris Pontius
Michael Parkhurst Chris Pontius
82′
Ugo Ihemelu on for Michael Parkhurst.
79′
Substitution Jonathan Bornstein Darrius Barnes
Jonathan Bornstein Darrius Barnes
79′
Chris Wingert on for Jonathan Bornstein.
77′
Substitution 
Brian Ching Stefan Frei
Brian Ching Stefan Frei
77′
Eddie Gaven on for Brian Ching. Rolfe will move to the middle with Gaven out wide on the right; Kljestan will continue on the left.
76′
Dahlberg found himself open in front of the box, but headed down into the ground and off the mark. It was a disappointing end to a good move.
75′
Kljestan notched his hattrick as the USA hit back immediately after going down. Ching held up the ball in the box and laid off for the midfielder to stream into play and pass into the back of the net. Don't expect Kljestan to be missing the titan Mexico clash.
75′
Goal Sacha Kljestan
74′
Farnerud curled a teasing ball over the USA defense that Nannskog headed home. It was a rare Sweden attack that finally broke through.
74′
Goal Daniel Nannskog
73′
Kljestan hit a tame free kick that Dahlin easily collected.
72′
Ching has won yet another free kick, being hauled down 24 yards out.
71′
It looks like Kljestan has moved wide left to accommodate Carroll in the center of midfield.
69′
The USA has thrown on its third substitute of the game, replacing winger Robbie Rogers with Brian Carroll. Each team has 6 substitutions.
68′
The referee, in an attempt to avoid being hit by the ball, stumbled and almost performed the splits. Embarrassing moment for the man in bring orange.
66′
Today's attendance has been announced at 9,918. That's a low number; even Chivas USA bring in larger crowds on a weekly basis. The crowd that is here is in good voice, however, and simple chants have started up.
65′
Daniel Nannskog ran onto a throughball and did well to win the ball between the American central defenders, but his low shot was easily saved by Perkins. That's only Sweden's second shot on goal.
60′
Rolfe is on for Thorrington in a Chicago-for-Chicago swap. It's interesting to see that Bradley also sees Rolfe as a right winger, as the Fire do, when most think he performs better through the middle as a forward.
60′
Substitution John Thorrington Chris Rolfe
John Thorrington Chris Rolfe
60′
In a counterattack, the vibrant Thorrington tore down the right and passed for Cooper. The substitute stepped over the ball to leave it for Ching, but didn't see a defender behind him and lost the ball.
59′
Yellow Card Dan Califf
58′
Chris Rolfe is warming up to come on and has his game jersey on.
55′
After prolonged pressure, Thorrington hit a long shot wide. Kljestan had done well to put Clark behind, but the Houston midfielder lost the ball only for Rogers to win it back. Clark has looked a bit off pace, and it's a pity he can't seem to replicate his all-action performances for the national squad.
47′
A Robbie Rogers corner was fumbled by the 'keeper and almost deflected in. However, a defender on the post cleared it off the goal mouth.
45′
Substitution Sam Cronin 
Kenny Cooper
Sam Cronin Kenny Cooper
45′
Welcome back to the second half. To spruce things up, Bob Bradley has thrown on Kenny Cooper for Charlie Davies. Cooper and Ching make quite an imposing frontline.
The halftime whistle has sounded. Overall it's been a bit of a slow game, but continues to improve. The USA lead deservedly through two Sacha Kljestan set-pieces, and he has run the show for the Americans. Sweden's attacks have relied on the wing work of Andreas Dahl on the right and Samuel Holmen on the left, but thus far not much has clicked for them.
45′
Foul on Sweden. A defender pulled down Ching in a decent, though a tad far, position. Ching has found very little luck in the attack. He has struggled to bring others into play and been caught for pace. He's also been given a rough time of it physically by the Sweden defense. Expect Cooper to make a second half appearance.
45′
One minute of extra time added on.
43′
Holmen finally got off a cross, and it was a good one. However, Califf managed to head it away under pressure.
40′
Kljestan notches the brace from the penalty spot. His PK was right down the middle, but Sweden's goalkeeper Johan Dahlin dove to his right and missed it.
40′
Penalty Goal Sacha Kljestan
39′
PENALTY KICK: Wynne gets involved in the attack for one of the first times, and is brought down by Adam Johansson inside the box.
37′
On the break-away from that last play, Ching found Davies in the box, but Davies' pull-back was under-cooked and the move fizzled.
36′
Dahl did well to get away from Bornstein and Rogers to hit in a well-shaped cross. Parkhurst was there, however, to clear the danger, with Wynne following up.
33′
Kljestan put Rogers through who was pulled down. The free kick was from a similar position to the goal, but this time Kljestan tried a low drive that was headed away for a corner.
30′
Holmen is having a rough time getting around Wynne. Twice in a row he's found the Toronto FC man's pace and physical presence impossible to beat.
27′
Yellow Card Daniel Andersson
25′
Dahl slid into Ching roughly on the left half-way line, but the referee only gave him a stern "knock it off" gesture rather than a booking.
24′
Andreas Dahl had a shot blocked by Perkins. The Swedish right winger found himself on the left flank, where he cut back to throw his marker and hit a low drive that was well saved by the American shot-stopper.
21′
The USA have been dominating play for the most part. They are making few inroads, but have been keeping possession in the midfield and pushing the fullbacks up.
17′
A free kick won by Brian Ching is slammed home by Sacha Kljestan. Just left of the arc on the 18-yard box, the Chivas USA star curled into the top left corner.
17′
Goal Sacha Kljestan
11′
A Sweden corner, taken by Andreas Dahl, is headed away by Kljestan.
3′
Charlie Davies did well to get on the end of a scooped Sacha Kljestan pass, but then nervously kicked into the ground and lost the ball. It's been a timid start to the match for both sides.
1′
And we're off!
Cooper is on the bench, but it's a dynamic lineup. Looks like Thorrington is off to the right with Kljestan given playmaking duties.
The full USA lineup is as follows:
GK: Perkins,
DEF: Wynne, Parkhurst, Califf [capt.], Bornstein,
MID: Thorrington, Kljestan, Clark, Rogers,
FWD: Davies, Ching,
Subs:
Ihemelu,
Wingert,
Busch,
Rolfe,
Carroll,
Cooper,
Gaven
We're here at the Home Depot Center in an overcast California evening to watch the USA national team take on Sweden. Both sides are weakened with a mixture of young upstarts and those who traditionally slip through the cracks. Look for both sides to go at it full speed as the individuals look to earn a berth in later international games.
Results
Times In EST
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Oleh Husyev
Midfielder Ukraine |
4 | 2 |
|
Michael Mifsud
Striker Malta |
4 | 0 |
|
Carlos Ruiz Gutierrez
Striker Guatemala |
4 | 0 |
|
Mohir Shukurov
Midfielder Azerbaijan |
3 | 2 |
|
Robin van Persie
Striker Netherlands |
3 | 1 |