CARSON, Calif. - A Bob Bradley led U.S. side beat Denmark 3-1 on Saturday at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy) scored from the penalty spot in the first half while Jonathan Bornstien (Chivas USA) and Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas) each added goals in their full national team debuts.
Bradley, currently the interim head coach of the national team, used an entirely MLS-based starting 11 in his first game at the helm against a game Denmark side. Of the starters, only Bornstein was earning his first cap, but four more starters were making just their second appearance for the Americans. Bryan Namoff (D.C. United), Kyle Beckerman (Colorado Rapids) and Cooper came on in the second half to earn their first caps as well.
The inexperience showed out of the gate as the U.S. was playing tentative soccer in the opening 45 minutes. Play was choppy in the midfield for both sides as it took a little while for either side to settle into any offensive rhythm.
The first good chance of the game came when Donovan intercepted a poor throw by Danish goalkeeper Jesper Christiansen. A couple of quick passes around the edge of the penalty area eventually got the ball onto the foot of Chicago Fire forward Chris Rolfe, who fired a skidding shot towards the back post. Christiansen got a fingertip to the effort, however, to redirect the ball out for a corner kick.
On the ensuing corner, Donovan whipped an outswinger to the near post for his Galaxy teammate Chris Albright. He rose up above the defense to win the header but his shot was directed right at Christiansen who made the easy save.
Christiansen was forced into another save in the 30th minute. The U.S. attack started on the right flank with Donovan, who played a ball through to Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Wizards). Johnson picked out Bornstein at the top corner of the penalty area. Bornstein got off a good shot but again the Danish 'keeper was positioned well and punched the ball over the crossbar.
It was Denmark that opened the scoring, though, with their first shot on target. Simon Poulsen crossed the ball into the center from the left side and Dennis Sorensen slipped inside of Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City) at the near post to head home off the underside of the crossbar.
The U.S. equalized just before halftime. Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo) showed great determination to fight through two defenders before eventually being brought down at the edge of the area to earn a penalty kick. Donovan stepped up to take the kick and although Christiansen guessed correctly and got a touch on the ball, there was enough power on the shot for it to find the back of the net.
Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire) came on at halftime and made an immediate impact with his speed. In the 57th minute he intercepted a pass in the U.S. half and weaved through a slew of defenders in the midfield on his way to the right flank. Mapp slowed the ball down before splitting two defenders inside the box and playing the ball into the center. Bornstein was the recipient of the pass and calmly tucked the ball into the back of the net to give the U.S. the lead.
Neither side managed to test the opposition goal through long stretches of the second half but in the 80th minute Cooper sealed the win for the home team. Second half sub Heath Pearce slotted a long trough pass to Cooper, who got in behind the Danish defense. Cooper went on a 40-yard breakaway before slotting the ball past Christiansen into the back of the net.
Denmark nearly pulled one back in the closing minutes. Christian Keller crossed to the back post where Christopher Poulsen was lurking. Poulsen ran onto the ball but side-footed his effort into the side netting and the U.S. held on for the victory.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
