US beats Italy for 1st time

GENOA, Italy (AP) - The United States gained a rare victory over a soccer power, beating Italy 1-0 on Wednesday night on Clint Dempsey's goal in the 55th minute for its first win over the Azzurri in 11 games over 78 years.

Dempsey, a Texan who has become an increasingly important element of the American team, took a short pass from Jozy Altidore following Michael Bradley's cross and put a right-footed shot from just inside the penalty area just past an outstretched hand of goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

"I'd like to think that we're closing the gap and hopefully one day we can do something special," Dempsey said.

After returning to the World Cup for the first time in 40 years in 1990 and advancing to the quarterfinals in 2002, the Americans have struggled to make additional progress. They were knocked out in the first round of the 2006 World Cup and the second round of the 2010 tournament, eliminated both times with defeats to Ghana. They wasted a two-goal lead against Mexico last June and lost 4-2 in he final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, their regional championship.

That prompted to U.S. Soccer Federation to fire coach Bob Bradley and replace him with Jurgen Klinsmann, the former German national team star player and coach.