Australia went down 3-1 to the USA in a free-flowing encounter played in good spirits, with Socceroos sharp-shooter Tim Cahill scoring a trademark goal to spoil the clean sheet of his Everton teammate Tim Howard, who was in goals for the Americans.
In the 19th minute, Cahill latched on to a corner kick from Luke Wilkshire. Cahill escaped unmarked and then, as he has so many times in the Premier League, booted home from close range.
Cahill’s goal levelled the scores after Edson Bundle scored in the fourth minute with a raking shot from 17 metres. Unfortunately for Australia, Bundle put his team ahead again in the 31st minute, converting with a header.
Then, in the dying minutes of the second half, Herculez Gomez extended the USA’s lead with a third goal.
With his facing Germany on Sunday, Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek said the game offered some positives for his team but that the Socceroos gave the ball away too much.
“The organisation was not good, the first goal was a present,” Verbeek said. “I think we need to keep the ball better as a team.”