USA 3-1 Australia

This eventful match in Roodepoort held the crowd's interest, but the array of incidents would have been a particular pleasure to the watching Franco Baldini, England's general manager. The three goals for the victors will have counted for less than the realisation that the USA lacked resilience and organisation. There will have to be much improvement if they are to be in shape for the encounter with Fabio Capello and his men in Rustenburg on Saturday.

Even so, the USA manager, Bob Bradley, could retort that flaws have been abundant in England's friendlies as well. "When you talk about areas to improve," he said, "I think of the co-ordination of our defence." Capello is not carefree over such matters these days, but he should enjoy superior firepower regardless of the fact that the USA will pose a threat.

Both managers in the Ruimsig Stadium were trying to prepare for the tournament without revealing too much. A friendly in the week before the start of the World Cup must be as much about disguise as preparation. The terrible pitch connived in the subterfuge by making it hard to tell how much skill was actually present as players regularly needed a few touches to force the ball into submission.

For one USA player, the circumstances were still ideal. Edson Buddle may well owe his inclusion to injuries. This was only the third cap for the 29-year-old and his two first-half goals were also his first for the USA. The sight would be disquieting for England only if Capello's side truly feared they could allow him as much scope.

Capello will have had no wish to hear of emerging strikers, whatever their real worth, at a time when he has to rejig the back four. Buddle was at least sure of himself. In the fourth minute, the holding midfielder Vince Grella lost possession and the ensuing shot from the striker was quickly taken and merciless. The USA had much more verve to their attacking before the interval; England will have been absorbed by the fallibility.

Bradley will expect more durability in that World Cup fixture and some remedial work is simple. Milan's Oguchi Onyewu, for instance, did not start this match. Nonetheless, the abiding impression is still of a USA line-up that did not deal well with pressure. Australia held the initiative after the interval and it took good work from the substitute goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann to put an attempt from another substitute, Nikita Rukavytsya, round the post 15 minutes from the end.

It was an eventful, slap-happy occasion that will surely have no resemblance to the encounter with England, but Bradley must wish to see a little of the enterprise repeated in Rustenburg. It will be essential if the side has to atone for the type of lapses that occurred against Australia. Pim Verbeek's team levelled with silly simplicity as a Luke Wilshere corner fell for an unattended Tim Cahill, who put an excellent first-time drive low into the net after 19 minutes.

The USA had the flair to react regardless of the pressure imposed by Australia in spells. They were capable of flair and Landon Donovan made wise use of the ball while team-mates such as the swift Robbie Findley took the direct approach. One especially inviting pass set up Clint Dempsey for an effort turned behind by Schwarzer after 27 minutes. The lead was regained four minutes later when the right-back Steve Cherundolo ran beyond Mark Bresciano and picked out Buddle, who finished with a header.

That sort of delivery was particularly noteworthy since it ran true to its target – given the complaints that the ball introduced for the World Cup has a mind of its own. Bradley took no notice and aired a grumble that is already wearisome. "The ball flight causes trouble for both teams," he said.

The movement still baffles players but this type of protest has been made in past tournaments and then, too, leading performers came to terms with it.

Donovan took the alternative approach of keeping the ball on the ground when setting up the substitute Herculez Gomez in the 90th minute.