As It Happened: USA vs. Azerbaijan (World Cup Send-Off Series Game 1)

Jozy Altidore (17) started up top for the USA vs. Azerbaijan on Tuesday. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP) The U.S. men's national team continued its 2014 World Cup

Jozy Altidore (17) started up top for the USA vs. Azerbaijan on Tuesday. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

The U.S. men's national team continued its 2014 World Cup preparations with its first of three friendlies in the build-up to Brazil, defeating Azerbaijan 2-0 Tuesday night at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

Clint Dempsey (groin) was a late injury scratch, but Chris Wondolowski nearly scored twice in his place. It took the USA a while to break through, but Mix Diskerud, donning the No. 10 shirt that used to belong to Landon Donovan, buried a rebound in the 75th minute. Aron Johannsson added a header six minutes later, and the USA marches forward on its road to the World Cup with the win, albeit a sluggish one, in hand.

Here's how the match played out:

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