The USA marked their 100th year as a footballing nation in style with a 4-3 victory over Germany in front of a capacity crowd at the RFK Stadium.
Jurgen Klinsmann's side took a surprise 2-0 lead into the break courtesy of a stunning volley by Jozy Altidore and a howler of an own goal from visiting keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The Germans pulled one back through Heiko Westermann in the second period, only for a Clint Dempsey brace to quash their hopes of a comeback.
However, late strikes by Max Kruse and Julian Draxler ensured that the closing stages were nervy for the hosts.
Look back at a competitive encounter full of incident with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute commentary below.
Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of the friendly international between the USA and Germany. We are just under half an hour away from kickoff at the RFK Stadium and team news is in, so we'll have that for you in just a moment.
USA: Howard; Evans, Gonzalez, Besler, Beasley; Jones, Bradley; Zusi, Dempsey, F. Johnson; Altidore
The Americans have opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation with AZ Alkmaar's Jozy Altidore spearheading the attack. Plenty of familiar faces in that lineup, including Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard and Spurs forward Clint Dempsey, who wears the captain's armband tonight.
GERMANY: ter Stegen; L Bender, Mertesacker, Howedes, Jansen; S. Bender, Reinartz; Schurrle, Draxler, Podolski; Klose
The visitors have gone for the same formation. Joachim Low has something of a depleted pool of players to choose from, with numerous Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund regulars missing due to their involvement in the Champions League final.
That isn't to say Germany haven't fielded a formidable XI. All eyes will be on Miroslav Klose this evening. The Lazio forward is just one strike away from equalling Gerd Muller's record of 68 international goals.
Naturally the Germans are the red hot favourites this evening based on current form and pedigree, but either way we are likely to see a few goals. Both sides go into the game off the back of six-goal thrillers, with the USA losing 4-2 to Belgium and Germany defeating Ecuador by the same scoreline.
It's a big night for USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who is something of a legend in Germany (to say the least). He earned 108 caps for his home country during his playing career, scoring 47 times, and managed the national team between 2004 and 2006.
It's also a time of great significance for US football as a whole. The sport is celebrating its 100th year in the country, and it's made great strides since the inception of Major League Soccer.
MY PREDICTION: I'm going for a 3-1 victory for the Germans tonight. The USA are no pushovers, but Low’s men are in devastating form at present, going nine games unbeaten and winning seven of those.
Looks like kickoff has been delayed by 10 minutes or so. There's a sellout crowd here at the RFK Stadium to celebrate football's landmark year over in the States. It's a carnival atmosphere in Washington DC.
Both teams are heading out onto the pitch with the FIFA anthem ringing out. Both sets of players receive a great reception ahead of their countries' national anthems.
The national anthems are over now, the Star-Spangled Banner concluding to rapturous applause from the sellout crowd. Anybody who isn't convinced that football has really caught on in the States was just proven wrong! Kickoff is just moments away now...
First we will have a minute's silence for the victims of the Oklahoma tornado.
KICKOFF: The USA get the match under way. They are shooting from right to left in this first half. The hosts are garbed in white shirts and blue shorts, with the Germans sporting green and white.
CHANCE! An early chance falls to the USA as Jozy Altidore latches on to a long ball and bears down on goal. His effort is blocked by Mertesacker and goes behind for a corner, which is squandered.
Altidore continues to make a nuisance of himself in the final third, going on a mazy run wide on the right. He is dispossessed by Jansen, who manages puts the ball out for a throw, doing well to avoid conceding the corner.
A bright start from the home side. They have spent much of the opening stages on the front foot and look confident in possession. Bradley looks like a live wire in midfield and Altidore has been dangerous up front.
Half-chance for the States as Dempsey swings in a cross from over on the right. The lofted pass almost finds the head of Altidore, but the AZ striker can't quite make contact.
Germany have their first sniff at goal as Klose chases down a long ball. Gonzalez does well to back track and outpace the striker to clear the danger.
CHANCE! Germany come agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock. The ball falls to Mertesacker inside the box and the Arsenal man drags his shot narrowly wide of the post. That was a sitter, but the replay shows that there was a foul on Beasley during the build-up, so there would have been controversy had the visitors taken the lead there.
GOAL! USA 1-0 Germany (Altidore) Stunning goal for the USA! Zusi breaks down the right and swings in a measured cross for Altidore to take on the volley. He connects with it sweetly and finds the top corner!
GOAL! USA 2-0 Germany (Stegen) Oh dear, oh dear! Germany have an absolute nightmare at the back under pressure from the US frontline. Howedes's backpass is completely misjudged by Stegen in the away goal and the ball bobbles past him and goes over the line. What a howler from the German shotstopper!
CHANCE! Germany almost open their account as Schurrle gives Beasley the slip and fires wide of Howard's goal. Dempsey forces a save out of Stegen with a half-volley at the other end. Frantic stuff at the RFK Stadium!
Who would have thought that the USA would be 2-0 up in this match with just over 20 minutes on the clock. There may be little at stake in this friendly clash, but try telling that to the capacity crowd!
DISALLOWED GOAL! Klose latches onto a through ball and places his shot beyond Howard into the back of the net, but the offside flag denies him that goal that would have equalled Gerd Muller's scoring record.
Jones surges into the German half, covering a good 65 yards of the pitch, but he fails to find Altidore inside the box. Germany are back in possession now, though they are struggling to break down their opponents.
Germany win a corner as Beasley steals the ball from Schurrle and puts it out. Draxler swings in the corner, which Dempsey clears with a confident header. The visitors regain possession and win a throw deep in their opponents' half.
CHANCE! The US fail to deal with a loose ball, allowing Draxler a sniff at goal. His effort takes a deflection on the way, forcing Howard to parry. Besler makes the clearance.
Germany appear to have found their rhythm now and are the ones doing all of the pressing. They have nothing to show for their efforts, but I can see them at least pulling a goal back before the break.
More pressure from the US as as Dempsey finds Zusi wide on the right and the Sporting Kansas City midfielder puts a low cross into the box. The German defence deals with the threat, but the US quickly stage another attack and win a corner.
Beasley and Jones exchange passes but the ball is intercepted by a green shirt. Germany win a corner at the other end, but the move breaks down when Podolski balloons an effort into the stand.
Zusi and Jones play a neat one-two and the move results in another USA corner, which fails to find its way past the first defender. Germany regain possession and attempt to break, only for the move to break down for a foul on Beasley.
Half-chance for Germany as Bender puts in a cross from over on the right. Gonzalez clears the danger with a powerful header and the hosts press forward once again.
A defensive lapse allows Draxler in along the left flank. He plays a low cross into the box, but Beasley is on hand to scramble the ball away. That will be the final chance of the first half, surely.
HALF TIME: USA 2-0 Germany
A great 45 minutes for the USA sees them take an unlikely 2-0 lead into half time of this friendly encounter. There was an element of fortune about their second goal, but if you haven't seen Altidore's opener yet, I urge you to rectify that. It was an absolute peach of a volley!
Germany aren't at full strength tonight due to the Champions League absentees, but I would say that the travelling supporters were expecting more from them. Their best chance fell to Mertesacker in the early stages, the Arsenal man bundling wide from close range.
Jurgen Klinsmann has had his fair share of critics since taking on the USA job, but victory over Germany would go some way to silencing them. While this isn't a competitive fixture, holding on to that lead will be a statement of intent.
There are a couple of other friendly fixtures this evening. England are tied at 0-0 in Brazil with just over half and hour played. You can follow that one live here.
And there was a big win for the Republic of Ireland earlier tonight, with Giovanni Trapattoni's side triumphing 4-0 over Georgia. You can read our report on that one here.
KICKOFF The second half is now under way. Germany make two changes at half time, bringing on Aogo for Jansen and Kruse for Sven Bender.
The USA have also made a change, with Johnson making way for Davis due to a hamstring strain. That will be a concern for Klinsmann with some vital World Cup qualifiers coming up.
Wollscheid goes in hard on Demspey flooring the Spurs man after he intercepted a Draxler pass. Demspey was on the ground for some time but is now back on his feet and won't require any treatment.
GOAL! USA 2-1 Germany (Westerman) The Germans pull a goal back as Westerman comes up from the rear for a corner, giving Gonzalez the slip inside the six yard box to head home. Game on!
CHANCE! A positive response from the US, with both Beasley and Dempsey having attempts at goal. It's the Spurs man who comes closest, going on a strong run and pulling the trigger from 14 yards, forcing Stegen into a save.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Castillo and Johnson come on for Zusi and Beasley as the US make a double switch. Klose headed wide moments earlier.
Brad Davis wins a corner and steps up to take it himself, failing to beat the German defence. The US have been poor from set pieces today.
GOAL! USA 3-1 Germany (Dempsey) Another great goal for the US! Altidore meets a long ball with a neat first touch, turns inside the box and plays a neat cross to Dempsey for the Spurs man to smash home. Fantastic teamwork from the hosts, but Altidore should be singled out for his contribution.
One could be forgiven for thinking that the Germans would get back into this at 2-1 but they have a mountain to climb now. Full credit to the USA, who have played some good attacking football.
GOAL! USA 4-1 Germany (Dempsey) My word, it could be a rout here! Dempsey picks up his second of the match with a stunning finish from range. The Spurs man dances past Podolski and curles one into the top corner from outside the box, leaving Stegen stranded!
Very poor defending from Podolski and Germany during that fourth goal, but the finish was top drawer. That was Dempsey's 35th goal for his country. Only Landon Donovan has scored more.
That Dempsey brace has really killed off the Germans. They are looking very tired right now, and many of them are no doubt eager to hear that final whistle. There are a number of fringe players who may have harmed their chances of becoming national team regulars, not least Stegen.
Half-chance for the home side as Dempsey bears down on goal and fires wide. That wasn't one for his scrapbook, but he's a fair bet to complete a hattrick tonight.
Little goalmouth action to report in the last few minutes. The USA have taken their foot off the accelerator after securing that three-goal cushion, and the Germans continue to wilt.
CHANCE! Klose picks up possession outside the box, turns and lets fly, but his effort sails wide. The Lazio man does not look destined to equal that scoring record tonight.
GOAL! USA 4-2 Germany (Kruse) Kruse hands Germany a lifeline with an excellent goal. He leaves Gonzalez for dead and rifles one past Howard, beating the Everton keeper at his near post.
GOAL! USA 4-3 Germany (Draxler) Game on! There was an element of fortune about the Germans' third goal, but Draxler has put them back in this. Sam's low shot was parried by Howard, but only as far as the Schalke midfielder, who made no mistake from close range.
It's been an incredible game for the neutrals, not that there are many of those in this pack out stadium. It's going to be a nervy finish for the home side, who will be keen to hold onto their lead to mark their 100th year in style.
There has been chances at both ends in these closing stages. Johnson tested Stegen with a long-range strike that the keeper almost spilled, while Howard did well to punch a Draxler corner clear at the other end.
CHANCE! Germany are really pressing for an equaliser as the clock runs down. Sam gets the better of Castillo and finds space on the edge of the area, but his finish goes high and wide.
CHANCE! Tenacious play from Boyd leads to a late US corner, which Davis takes. He finds the head of Jones, but Stegen tips it over the bar. Great reaction save!
There will be two minutes of stoppage time.
Germany appeal for a late penalty as Muller goes down in the box. Replays show that he went down very lightly! The visitors play a final, desperate ball into the box, which Howard claims confidently.
FULL TIME: USA 4-3 Germany
It's a happy 100th birthday for US soccer as Jurgen Klinsmann's side record a 4-3 victory over Germany. We've seen some superb strikes this evening, particularly Altidore's opener and Dempsey's second.
That's all from me tonight. You can read our full match report here. Many thanks for joining Sports Mole for this international friendly.
Written by
Mark Langshaw
Mark Langshaw
