Match Number: 710 Date: 27.03.2002 Location: Rostock Competition: Friendly GERMANY: Rost (46. Butt) - Baumann, Ramelow, Linke - B.Schneider (75. Asamoah), Jeremies (69. Heinrich), Hammann, Ziege (61. Böhme) - Frings - Bierhoff, Neuville (80. Brdaric) Coach: Völler USA: Keller - Pope, Cherundolo (71. Sanneh), Agoos (71. Berhalter), Regis - Armas, Stewart, Donovan, Lewis (69. Jones) - Mathis, Kirovski (59. Moore) Coach: Arena Scoring: 0:1 Mathis (17.) 1:1 Ziege (44.) 2:1 Neuville (61., Linke) 3:1 Bierhoff (65. Schneider) 4:1 Frings (68., Böhme) 4:2 Mathis (71., Moore) Attendance: 28,863 (sold out) Referee: Brugger (Austria)Both squads were not at complete full strength, although the Germans were probably more depleted. After two consecutive defeats at the hands of the Americans, the DFB squad had something to prove, although both coaches were using this match to find additional players for the upcoming World Cup.
The Germans started out strong, especially over MOTM Bernd Schneider, who pushed his team forward. However, an ice cold counter-attack, when Frank Baumann flubbed, was seized upon by Clint Mathis to stun the Germans after only 17 minutes. Donovan faked him out of his jock strap and then hit the post, and Mathis pounced on the rebound.
The DFB regrouped and began to take control of the game, although they were still vulnerable to counters, especially from Mathis. Christian Ziege got the Germans even just before halftime, when he knocked in a direct free kick.
In the second half, Germany put together some excellent attacking football, and wrapped things up in a 7 minute period after an hour. Bierhoff extended a corner kick for a Neuville tap in, then a beautiful double combo between Frings and Schneider led to Bierhoff's blast into the net. Finally, Frings headed home Böhme's nice cross from the wing. Mathis pulled one back for the Americans with a blitz counterattack a couple of minutes later.
Making their debuts for the DFB were GK Frank Rost of Werder Bremen and Thomas Brdaric of Leverkusen.