WASHINGTON, D.C.— Brad Guzan reinforced his No. 1 credentials, Jozy Altidore returned to the national team in style and the U.S. rode its tried-and-true strengths—counterattacks and set plays—to a 2-1 triumph over Peru on Friday evening in the nation’s capital.
For all of coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s talk about using this month’s friendlies to prepare for October’s Confederations Cup playoff against Mexico, he ultimately had little choice but to send out a makeshift lineup before 28,896 fans at RFK Stadium. Absent linchpins like Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey and Fabian Johnson and anchored by a brand-new back four, the U.