USA Soccer Stuns Germany 3-0
It took some German-based players for the United States to beat Germany.
Jovan Kirovski, Tony Sanneh and Claudio Reyna -- who all play for German clubs -- scored during a 10-minute span in the first half Saturday as the Americans won 3-0.
"This was really important," said Kirovski, whose 16th-minute strike opened the scoring. "It was good for our confidence and shows how all the hard work paid off for us."
It was the U.S. team's first victory over Germany in four games between the nations. Eight months earlier, the European champions overmatched the Americans 2-0 in the World Cup opener for both nations.
In addition to the World Cup, Germany won a pair of exhibition games played in the United States in 1993.
"This was a good result for us, although I am not going to make a big deal out of it," said Bruce Arena, who got his first win as U.S. coach. "What I am looking for is improvement in my team each time it plays."
It was the first victory by the United States in seven games since a 2-0 win over Kuwait last May 24. Steve Sampson quit as coach after the Americans went 0-3 at the World Cup and finished last in the 32-nation field.
Arena, the former coach of D.C. United, began with scoreless draws against Australia and Bolivia.
"The guys were working hard for each other out there," Reyna said. "Everyone wanted the ball, everyone wanted to be involved. That's what it takes. This was a huge game."
The victory continued a series of upsets against former World Cup champions by the United States, joining victories over England (1993), Argentina (1995) and Brazil (1998). But in the World Cup, soccer's biggest stage, the Americans have struggled, going 1-8-1 in the 1990s.
For the Germans, a three-time World Cup champion, their two-game trip to Florida was their first action since the Bundesliga started its mid-winter break in December. The Germans were missing forward Oliver Bierhoff and two others but otherwise had their first-choice lineup.
"I think the U.S. was truly a better opponent," Germany coach Erich Ribbeck said. "They were more aggressive and more agile than we were."
The Americans, who mixed young players and veterans, pushed forward and controlled from start.
Kirovski, who plays for Cologne in Germany's second division, put the United States ahead when his shot from the top corner of the penalty area went into the upper corner past goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.
Sanneh, who joined Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin last month after three seasons in MLS, made it 2-0 in the 24th minute. Reyna, who plays for VfL Wolfsburg, scored two minutes later.
"The goals came fast and by the time it was 2-0, I think the game was over," Ribbeck said.
The Germans, who have struggled since their quarterfinal loss to Croatia at the World Cup, didn't generate a consistent attacand created few chances.
"Everything went well for us this week in training," said Germany captain Lothar Matthaus, who made his 131st international appearance. "But today, it was a disaster. Everything went wrong."
The Americans were so dominant that goalkeeper Tony Meola didn't touch the ball for the first 10 minutes and didn't handle a shot off the foot of a German player for nearly the entire first half. Meola got his 29th shutout in 89 international appearances.
The goals were the first for the United States since a 2-1 loss to Iran at the World Cup.
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