Americans take stunning result in Poland winning 3-0

The Amercians, fielding almost exclusively a European based squad, went to Poland and delivered a decisive 3-0 win in front of a stunned Polish crowd.  First half goals on set pieces from Carlos Bocanegra and Gooch Onyewu pushed the Americans to a 2-0 halftime lead and the solid play continued in the second half for the US.

Coach Bob Bradley fielded a roster of 15 European based professionals and only three US based players for the match on European soil.  The US made a bright start and showed the Polish they were there to attack early on earning a set piece which Landon Donovan stood over.  He curled a near post ball which Carlos Bocanegra ran onto placing the ball just inside the near post and out of the reach of the Polish keeper for the lead. 

Fifteen minutes later it was yet another set piece that would cost the Poles and Landon Donovan was once again the supplier.  This time Gooch Onyewu slipped in unmarked and fired a header low past the keeper for a 2-0 lead.  The American weren't done as they earned six more corners in the last 15 minutes of the half, but came up empty leading 2-0 at the half.

The second half was much of the same as the US attacked right from the opening whistle earning a corner inside of 45 seconds.  Both teams began to use their substitues and the match opened up as the Poles went searching for a goal to get back into the match.  It was the Americans though that got loose on several counter attacks.  Donovan pounced on a loose ball in the midfield and raced clear firing just wide right of a beaten goaltender. 

Eddie Johnson had several chances over the course of the match, but let them all slip away as usual it seems when he is on the national stage.  Another set piece allowed Eddie Lewis to have a go at goal and he curled a ball just over the wall and into the lower right corner from about 23 yards out for the third and final goal.

All in all it was a stunning result for a Polish side that is preparing for the European Championships in a couple of months and who had only given up 9 goals in their last 13 games.  It was another impressive win on European soil for the US who seem to be breaking their history of not getting results overseas.