Landon Donovan
struck a superb hat-trick as the United States crushed Scotland
5-1 in a friendly international on Saturday handing the Scots
one of their most humiliating defeats.
Jurgen Klinsmann team's fifth successive win was a
sparkling performance against a woeful Scotland team who were
unable to match the speed and creativity of the Americans.
The U.S. were 2-0 up inside 11 minutes and never looked back
as they produced the kind of high-tempo display their German
coach has demanded of them.
"We had a wonderful start with two early goals which really
set the tone and the team really kept the rhythm throughout the
entire game," said the former Germany striker and coach.
Donovan had said earlier in the week he was finding it hard
to get motivated but on Saturday there was no short of hunger
from him in an outstanding display from the U.S's all-time top
scorer, who now has 49 goals.
The L.A. Galaxy forward opened the scoring in the third
minute and then eight minutes later midfielder Michael Bradley
blasted in from 25 yards out after a delightful set-up from
Jermaine Jones.
Scotland pulled one back in the 15th minute when U.S.
defender Geoff Cameron inadvertently chested in a header from
Kenny Miller.
But that was the last real threat from Craig Levein's team
as the Americans ran away with the game after the break with
three goals in a ten-minute blitz.
The outstanding Jones picked out Donovan inside the box for
the team's third on the hour and the forward completed his
hat-trick in the 65th minute when his shot went in off the
inside of the post.
Donovan turned provider for the fifth with a pinpoint cross
that Jones, who had charged through the open midfield, headed
past Allan McGregor to make it 5-1.
After February's friendly victory away to Italy the signs
are that Klinsmann's changes to U.S. team, 10 months after he
took over from Bob Bradley, are bearing fruit.
"We kept the tempo going, the energy was high and we saw
some wonderful goals, Landon had his hand in four of them, and
obviously for a coach it was fun to watch," said Klinsmann.
Donovan, who praised a loud 44,348 crowd for energising the
team, said he did not want his midweek comments about motivation
to be misunderstood.
"I don't want to be mistaken for not caring, I care and I
like being a part of this team. I'm a professional and I do my
job, I've been doing it a long time. Tonight was one of those
nights when things went right," he said.
While the U.S can look forward to their World Cup qualifying
campaign which starts on June 8 against Antigua and Barbuda,
Scotland have no competitive games until their bid for Brazil
2014 begins in September.
"I think it was evident that there was one team out there
who were focused and ready to dictate the game and another one
who looked like they had finished the season and had nothing to
play for," said Levein.
"We didn't give ourselves a chance tonight but the USA were
very good. I've been here before as a coach, it happens
sometimes, the team have been excellent recently and that was
most unlike them tonight."
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