AP News, November 17th, 2007
Steve Cherundolo scored in the 27th minute, and the United States beat World Cup host South Africa 1-0 Saturday in an exhibition game that closed the Americans' first year under coach Bob Bradley.
Cherundolo, at 28 oldest player on the U.S. roster, scored his second goal in 43 international appearances. The defender ran onto a pass from Maurice Edu along the right flank and put the ball over goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez on an angled shot from about 7 yards.
By halftime, Cherundolo was limping, and he was replaced by Jonathan Spector when the second half began. Cherundolo's only previous international goal was on a 75-yard drive that bounced past goalkeeper Oliver Kahn in a 4-1 exhibition loss at Germany in March 2006.
South Africa outshot the Americans 12-3 in a match billed at the Mandela Challenge Cup, and the victory improved Bradley's record to 12-5-1 since he replaced Bruce Arena last December.
The United States, which has won two straight following a five-match losing streak, was playing in Africa for just the third time — the other two matches were exhibition losses at Morocco in 1992 and 1998. Freddy Adu, born in Ghana, made his first start and third appearance for the United States.
Jozy Altidore, another 18-year-old, made his national team debut when he replaced Clint Dempsey in the 65th minute.
Tim Howard played goal in the first half and Brad Guzan in the second, but South Africa rarely tested the pair. The Bafana Bafana attacked more after Siphiwe Tshabalala, their lone substitute, entered in the 71st minute.
There was plenty of color at the match, played at Ellis Park, one of the sites for the 2010 World Cup. The ball was primarily yellow, with touches of red and green, and the Bafana Bafana wore new yellow jerseys.
Players seemed a bit winded at times. Johannesburg is 5,751 feet above sea level, about 400 feet higher than Denver.
In the second half, the Americans didn't really test Fernandez.
Notes:@ The Americans play next against Sweden on Jan. 19 at Carson, Calif., then face Mexico on Feb. 6 at Houston. The United States starts World Cup qualifying in June and learns its possible opponents at the World Cup draw in Durban on Nov. 25. ... According to the U.S. Soccer Federation, this was the national team's 499th game.
