TAMPA, Fla. -- With the World Cup finals on the horizon, the U.S. men's national soccer team revved up its engines to grab a come-from-behind victory over El Salvador, 2-1, Wednesday evening at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
It was the third straight time that the Americans rallied from a deficit against El Salvador.
Rudi Corrales put El Salvador on the board in the 59th minute, but Brian Ching, who entered the match as a halftime sub, equalized in the 75th minute on a header. Ching dished up the game-winner to Sacha Kljestan in stoppage time for the victory.
The goal was Kljestan's fourth in international play and his first since his he debuted with a hat trick against Sweden on Jan. 24.
"Overall, there were some good efforts and we saw some very positive things on the field tonight," said U.S. head coach Bob Bradley.
"We went down but continued to push to get a win, and when you can come away with a result from a good play at the end that's very positive."
The U.S. men drew, 2-2, last March against El Salvador after falling back, two goals to nil and in September the Americans were behind, 0-1, before topping the Central American squad, 2-1, in Sandy, Utah.
The U.S. men now head to Amsterdam to face No. 3 Netherlands on March 3. The game will air live on ESPN 2 at 1:30 p.m. Milwaukee time.
U.S. 2, El Salvador 1
USA 0 2 - 2
SLV 0 1 - 1
SLV -- Rudis Corrales 59th minute. USA -- Brian Ching (Heath Pearce) 75; Sacha Kljestan (Brian Ching) 90+2.
Attendance: 21,737
Lineups:
USA: 1-Nick Rimando; 21-Brad Evans, 13-Jonathan Bornstein, 15-Clarence Goodson, 6-Heath Pearce; 14-Robbie Rogers (5-Geoff Cameron, 86), 16-Sacha Kljestan, 7-Kyle Beckerman (17-Dax McCarty, 79), 8-Brad Davis (3-Eddie Gaven, 46); 9-Conor Casey (11-Brian Ching, 46), 10-Robbie Findley (19-Jeff Cunningham, 68)
Subs not used: 1-Troy Perkins, 4-Chad Marshall
Head Coach: Bob Bradley
SLV: 1-Miguel Montes; 2-Alexander Escobar, 3-Marvin González, 5-Ramón Flores (20-Odir Flores, ), 12-Manuel Salazar, 13-Deris Umanzor; 7-Ramón Sánchez (capt.), 8-Osael Romero (14-Dennis Alas, 71), 17-Juan Carlos Moscoso; 9-Rudis Corrales, 16-Arturo Álvarez
Subs not used: 4-Mardo Henríquez, 11-Andrés Flores, 15-Alfredo Pacheco, 6-Shawn Martin, 18-Dagoberto Portillo, 19-Edgar Álvarez
Head Coach: José Luis Rugamas
