The United States continued to rewrite history as they extended their mammoth win streak to 12 games with victory over 13th-ranked Bosnia & Herzegovina.
It was two English Premier League strikers who shone in what was a game very much of two halves. Sunderland new-boy Jozy Altidore will rightly take the plaudits, as his second half hat-trick and assist helped topple the hosts, while Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko looked threatening all night and bagged himself two goals.
Indeed, it was Dzeko who put Bosnia & Herzegovina ahead in the eighth minute after Seattle Sounders striker Eddie Johnson gave the ball away cheaply. Lacklustre defending from the US allowed Dzeko to slot home after an initial shot was well stopped by Tim Howard.
Things began to look ominous for the Americans when St Louis-born Vedad Ibišević increased the hosts’ lead on the half hour mark, with a powerful header resulting from a cleared corner.
Having struggled to find any kind of rhythm in the first 45 minutes, the United States took to the field after half time with a bit more panache and looked an altogether better side. This soon translated into a goal when great work from Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore set up Eddie Johnson for a simple tap in after 55 minutes.
This signalled the beginning of The Jozy Altidore Show, as the 23-year-old then produced a fine turn and finish just three minutes later to send the visitors level.
With the game seemingly headed for a draw, Altidore stepped up in the 84th minute to bury a costless kick into the top corner past a helpless Asmir Begovic, after Edgar Castillo was fouled in a promising position. Less than three minutes later, he secured the match and his hat-trick after another smart move from Michael Bradley opened up some space for the former AZ Alkmaar forward who duly delivered.
A late header from Edin Dzeko, who has enjoyed a very impressive preseason run, sparked thoughts of the hosts snatching a draw, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation goal as the United States saw the match through.
As well as being a thoroughly entertaining, fast paced game, the win for the US serves to highlight how far this side have come under manager Jurgen Klinsmann. Moreover, Jozy Altidore’s blockbuster performance has given Sunderland fans something to be very excited about.
United States: Howard; Evans, Cameron, Brooks, F. Johnson (Parkhurst 79;); Bradley, Jones (Klejstan 69'); Bedoya (Corona 63'), Diskerud (Castillo 45'), E. Johnson (Johannsson 63'); Altidore
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Begović; Bičakčić, Spahić (Šunjić 45'), Zukanović (Višća 62'), Lulić; Rahimić; Misimovic, Pjanić (Medunjanin 61'), Salihović (Stevanović 45'); Ibišević (Vršajević 45'), Džeko