Soccer: US Best Switzerland 1-0

The US men's national team bested Switzerland at the international soccer friendly on Wednesday, despite an overall lackluster performance. While the spotty quality of play was a disappointment to fans on both sides, the US team must be pleased with the 1-0 victory in a match they were largely expected to lose.

With the major MLS players-like US captain and star striker Landon Donovan-out of the line-up due to the end of regular season MLS matches, the US side was quite young. Despite this, coach Bob Bradley was hopeful the team would display the tight, rapid-fire play they've been training. Evidence of such style was spotty at best.

This was echoed for the Swiss, who too were expected to elevate the level of play to fast and furious. The play in the first half of the game was so slow repeated shots of Swiss fans distracting themselves with conversation and one girl appearing to manicure her nails were the greatest entertainment. There was promise of intensity when both teams had to make injury substitutions within the first thirty minutes, but it was due more to sloppy play than aggressive attitudes.

It wasn't until the 42nd minute that the game truly held my interest. Eddie Lewis, currently playing for Derby County in the EPL, had a good strike at the Switzerland goal. One big save later and the game reached halftime with a 0-0 score. The first USA corner kick ended in a chaotic, flailing series of three or four harmless but wholehearted shots by eager USA players.

In the 45th minute sparks did fly between Marco Streller and Oguchi Onyewu when both were awarded yellow cards for a spat in which Streller swung at, and subsequently floored, Onyewu. It was an offense that with any less lenient official would have resulted in a red card.

In general, Switzerland were more lively than the US during the first half, but to their credit, the US defense held them at bay. This could have been a good thing; keeper Marcus Hahnemann's recent record for Reading had me rather nervous for the US side. As a point of interest, he was swapped out for Brad Guzan, keeper for current MLS stars Chivas USA.

Thankfully, intensity mounted in the second half, with the pace quickening to better represent the swiftness everyone had expected of these two teams. However, constant on-and-off rain on a surface of short grass caused no end of problems and immense frustrations for all the players on the pitch. Slipping and sliding was the rule rather than the exception, and more than one play was stymied by players losing their footing. It's fortunate there weren't more injuries due to unavoidable collisions or awkward twisting and turning as players lost their grip.

A blatantly unfair yellow card was awarded against Maurice Edu as he simply defended himself when backed against the sideline fiercely for an extended period and struggled to maintain control of the ball. His behavior didn't merit the official's response, and it was a tough lesson for Edu, who was enjoying his first cap. First cap, first unfair call on an international scale.

Finally, the US team pulled out the stops in the 86th minute and Michael Bradley, son of coach Bob Bradley, scored the goal that drove his team to victory. It was the first win for the US men's team in the last six games in Europe, and put an end to their five game losing streak.

The next international friendly for the US team is in a month versus South Africa. Switzerland will also play a friendly next month against Nigeria.