Subs lift US to victory over Azerbaijan

The United States began their preparations for the World Cup with a 2-0 friendly win over Azerbaijan.

Second-half substitutes Mix Diskerud and Aron Johansson made the difference for Jurgen Klinsmann's side, who will travel to Brazil without star striker Landon Donovan.

Shorn of captain Clint Dempsey, who was ruled out of this game with a sore groin, the US initially struggled to break down Azerbaijan, who are 85th on Fifa's world rankings, 71 places below the US.

Norwegian-born midfielder Diskerud, who plies his trade in Norway for Rosenborg, broke the deadlock after 75 minutes when he pounced on a blocked Michael Bradley shot to score from close range.

AZ Alkmaar striker Johansson, an Alabama native of Icelandic descent, sealed the victory for the Stars and Stripes six minutes later when he headed home Brad Davis' corner.

Despite Klinsmann's shock move to drop Donovan, who recently became Major League Soccer's all-time record goal scorer, the US will be looking to improve on their 2010 World Cup campaign, where they were knocked out in the round of 16 by Ghana.

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