US glides past Australia behind Edson Buddle

Edson Buddle continued his quality play as he notched two first half goals helping the US squad beat Australia 3-1 in South Africa.  With Jozy Altidore sidelined due to an ankle sprain, Edson Buddle was paired up top with Robbie Findley.  Buddle didn't waste any time as he opened the US scoring in the 4th minute when some careless play by the Australians allowed Buddle to pick up the ball 30 yards from goal.  He skipped forward before cutting to his right and firing past veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwartzer who had no chance to stop the bullet.

Robbie Findley should have put the Americans up 2-0 after he beat an offside trap and rounded Schwartzer, but somehow he missed the empty net after rushing his shot.  Australia made the US pay soonafter when Tim Cahill scored from a corner kick.  Cahill got free on the backpost for the goal.

Buddle would restore the US lead though.  Steve Cherundolo got deep down the right side and sent a perfect cross finding Buddle for the closerange header.  Hopefully Cherundolo can get foward like that in the tournament and keep the England wingbacks from having free reign on the wings next weekend.

The second half saw Gooch Onyewu get thirty minutes of work as he regains match fitness.  Meanwhile, Tim Howard and Tim Cahill went to the bench after their half of work.  The match remained 2-1 until late on when supersub Herculez Gomez added the third goal in injury time and the US grabbed a confidence boosting win a week ahead of the World Cup opener with England.  David Beckham was on hand scouting for England and had to be impressed with the American effort.