In a free-flowing and entertaining affair, both sides had plenty of chances to score, with Buddle's first-half double, scored either side of Tim Cahill's goal, putting the USA on route to victory before substitute Hercules Gomez sealed the win in the final minute of the game.

The altitude and the jubilani ball played havoc with the game and that meant headaches for both defences and plenty of entertainment for the crowd, which included David Beckham, scouting for England which faces the USA in its group match.

Australia's first group opponent Germany, would have taken some heart with both the result and the inroads the American strike force made into the Socceroos' defence. However, Australia dominated possession and with a bit more sharpness in front of goal could have got a result.

The game began poorly for Australia, which was unchanged from the starting XI against Denmark. In the fourth minute, a defensive error from Vince Grella handed easy possession to Buddle, who took his chance, unleashing a powerful curling shot which Mark Schwarzer had no hope of stopping.

Ten minutes later, it should have been 2-0 after Robert Findlay sprung the offside trap and then cleverly rounded Schwarzer. But facing an empty net, he somehow pushed his shot wide and spared Australia's blushes.

On 18 minutes, scores were level thanks to a typically clever run from a set piece from Cahill. Luke Wilkshire curled in a cross which the American defence failed to clear. At the far post, Cahill ducked in and steered a good shot past Everton clubmate Tim Howard.

The goalmouth action continued throughout the half and on 28 minutes, Clint Dempsey powered past Craig Moore and angled a shot which prompted an excellent save from Schwarzer.

The Australian keeper could do nothing to stop the next American shot, with Buddle getting in between Moore and Luke Wilkshire from a Michael Bradley cross. The LA Galaxy striker headed home for a 2-1 lead.

Within minutes, Australia could have been level, with the cross again proving the best route to goal. Scott Chipperfield curled a terrific pass in to Josh Kennedy, who failed to get his close range header on target.

Ahead of half time, Moore and Dempsey found themselves booked for an off the ball confrontation in a sign that there was little friendly about the encounter.

Cahill was replaced by Carl Valeri at the break, with Jason Culina deployed into an attacking role, but it was Chipperfield who provided the attacking spark, crossing for Kennedy, who again shot wide.

On 52 minutes, Australia was given another massive scare. Findlay hit the bar, while Bradley followed up with a powerful shot which Schwarzer saved superbly, before Dempsey hit the back of the net, only for Findlay, standing nearby, to be called offside.

Soon after Mark Bresciano and Chipperfield both prompted strong saves from substitute keeper Marcus Hahnemann. Culina was replaced by Dario Vidosic and Richard Garcia by Nikita Rukavytsya as Pim Verbeek opted for a rare 4-4-2 setup.

Rukavytsya made an immediate impression, firing a shot at Hahnemann, while Bresciano had a late half chance, which went over the bar. But Australia was unable to make the most of a series of late corners and Landon Donovan set-up Gomez for a goal in the final seconds to seal the win.

Australia 1 (Cahill 18)
USA 3 (Buddle 4, 19, Gomez 92)
At Ruimsig Stadium, Johannesburg