Perhaps This is A Good Sign

My new best friend in South Africa, Neil, was both patient and accommodating in taking on the hour or so drive to (and back) the other side of 'Jo'burg' for the U.S. friendly with Australia in the suburb of Rooderpoort. The match was played a Ruisig Stadium, which probably holds about 8,000, and is a track facility primarily, so much so, there was neither a clock, nor a scoreboard. On hand, however, were most of the ESPN personnel, either handling the broadcast, or taking the opportunity to view this last dress rehearsal as  coverage research. Had a chance to visit briefly with Bob Ley, revisit our flight over, and both express our mutual eagerness, and apprehension, to get the show going.

The show on the pitch didn't take long to get going, with newbie Edson Buddle making a big-time impression, scoring in the fourth minute. He looks like the finisher that could well complement Jozy Altidore,  who sat the day with a slight ankle tweak, up top. Buddle would get a second goal, to again give the U.S., the lead, in the 31st minute.

The first U.S. lead would last only until the 19th minute, when Australia's Tim Cahill would torment his Everton teammate, Tim Howard, by volleying a backside corner into the low left corner of the net, between a tightly packed Howard and defender Steve Cherundolo.

And speaking of torment, this was my first experience with the auditory assault that is the vuvuzela. This would actually be a gentle introduction, due to the size of the crowd, but gives me good reason to nod and applaud the decision to bring my hearing protection, normally reserved for the rifle range. The U.S. crowd even made their presence known with the own variations of the horn, in all three appropriate colors, and several being used for double duty as flag poles.

The energy and complete 90-minute performance by our lads was encouraging, and though kept off the score sheet from a goals standpoint, the quiet leadership and build up play of Landon Donovan gave strong reason to believe this may well be his World Cup. His play into the third minute of stoppage time produced the third U.S. goal, off the foot of 82nd minute sub, Hercules (great name) Gomez. All in all, a 3-1 result against a fellow World Cup qualifier, at this stage, has to be encouraging, though, there are, still some things that need tightening up before next Saturday's curtain raiser against 'Jolly Ol'.

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