Jozy Altidore had a hat trick to lead an impressive comeback Wednesday, with the U.S. scoring all of their goals in the second half to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-3 in Sarajevo and extend their record winning streak to 12 games.
Altidore has scored in five straight games, a first for a U.S. player, and also had an assist on Eddie Johnson’s goal. It was the first time the U.S. has come back to win a game in Europe, and gives the Americans two victories over top-15 teams during their winning streak after a 4-3 victory over No. 2 Germany on June 2 that started the run.
In the Pope Cup, Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain scored one and made one in Argentina’s one-sided 2-1 victory over Italy.
Higuain opened the scoring in the 20th minute and then turned provider early in the second half for substitute Ever Banega.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic fired a warning to the Republic of Ireland ahead of their World Cup ualifier next month with an impressive hat-trick in Sweden’s 4-2 win over Norway tonight.
Ibrahimovic scored twice in the first half hour, but Norway were level at the break after a Mohammed Abdellaoue penalty and a Stefan Johansen effort. Ibrahimovic soon restored the advantage, though, and Anders Svensson wrapped up the win.
Liverpool forward Luis Suarez showed no sign of rust with a terrific performance in Uruguay’s 4-2 win in Japan. Suarez set up Diego Forlan’s opener, won the free-kick for his strike partner’s second, and then added the third. Manchester United’s Shinji Kagawa cut the deficit but Alvaro Gonzalez grabbed Uruguay’s fourth, before Keisuke Honda struck a Japan consolation.
Mirko Vucinic struck the equaliser as Montenegro, England’s chief rivals for a Brazil 2014 spot, drew 1-1 in Belarus. Ukraine, who host England in Kiev next month, were 2-0 winners over Israel thanks to goals from Ruslan Rotan and Yevhen Seleznyov.
Wigan Athletic’s Jean Beausejour and Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez scored two goals apiece as Chile thrashed Iraq 6-0 in their friendly in Denmark.
Portugal and the Netherlands drew 1-1 on the Algarve, with a late Cristiano Ronaldo goal earning the home side a draw after Kevin Strootman had put the Dutch in front.
Germany recovered from the shock of conceding twice in the opening 14 minutes to draw 3-3 with Paraguay at Kaiserslautern. Ariel Nunez and Wilson Pittoni were on target early for the visitors, but Ilkay Gundogan and Thomas Muller levelled. Miguel Samudio put Paraguay back ahead but Lars Bender secured a draw.
World champions Spain recovered from their 3-0 trouncing at the hands of Brazil in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup final last month with a comfortable 2-0 friendly win over Ecuador in Guayaquil.
Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla was the star performer as he crossed for new Manchester City signing Alvaro Negredo to turn home his seventh international goal with an outrageous backheeled finish in the 24th minute.
France’s woes in front of goal continued on Wednesday as Didier Deschamps’ team drew 0-0 with neighbours Belgium in a friendly in Brussels.
