The Red, White and Blue were without several key players most notably Claudio Reyna, Brian McBride, Eddie Lewis, Landon Donovan, and DaMarcus Beasley and never were able to consistently hold the ball or create chances.

Germany on the other hand came out quickly knowing all the pressure was on their team and head coach Jurgen Klinsmann after a 4-1 loss to Italy in their last match.

After going to the half empty handed, Germany took control in the 47th minute when second half substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger knocked in a free kick. After Schweinsteiger sent a low service into the box, Miroslav Klose forced Kasey Keller to protect the near post and when Klose was unable to redirect the ball it bounced past the out stretched hand of Keller into the far side netting.

German netminder Oliver Kahn was seldom tested but on the two occasions he was called into action he came up big.

On the first occasion in the 66th minute, he denied a well placed Eddie Johnson header with a reflex save on a ball destined for the back of the net to preserve the 1-0 lead.

He then robbed Steve Cherundolo on a well struck left footed shot in the 80th minute.

Germany blew the game open with a 3 goal onslaught over a 7 minute run starting in the 73rd minute with Oliver Neuville, Klose and Michael Ballack scoring in the 73rd, 77th and 80th minutes, respectively.

The U.S. knocked in a late consolation goal in the 85th minute when a Cherundolo service bounced over a charging Kahn before he collided with Johnson at the top of the box and both ended up on the ground with the ball headed over the goal line.

The goal was the first international tally for Chernudolo.

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