This is how I did live updates of the match. Start from the bottom and read up to relive every moment, from the first kick of the ball in a competitive match in 2012, to my bizarre onion-based condiment incident to the goal.

FINAL WHISTLE USA-1 Venezuela- 0

If it’s any indication of what’s to come in 2012 (which it probably isn’t), it’ll be exciting. The United States were the better team in the match, and they deserve the win. The crowd is delighted as the players take a victory lap applauding those who made it out. We’ll have much, much more, but for now thanks for reading.

Jose Velasquez for Venezuela is off the pitch. Didn’t see a red card issued, but he’s not around (Added later, he was sent off in the 98th minute). Game ends and they crowd the ref. It doesn’t matter (does it ever?).

GOAL – Ricardo Clark heads it in in the 97th minute and the Americans surely have the winner.

More - Chance as Shea crosses one in. A Venezuelan again stays down in the box.

Stoppage time - The free kick is sent over the bar. Still a bit of time left says the referee who wasn’t too impressed with Venezuela’s earlier display.

90th minute - Theatrics from Venezuela. The U.S. has a chance, which nearly loops into the top corner. It’s dealt with and suddenly Morales, the keeper, has an injury that might force him out. Francisco Flores gets a yellow card for his tackle. Another has been issued for time wasting or berating the ref. Meanwhile, the United States are planning what they’ll do with this set piece while literally the entire opposing team is in the six-yard box.

87th minute - Pearce gets the ball in acres of space. He has time to touch it to his preferred foot and dial in the cross. It’s a fantastic save from Morales, probably the play of the game. The U.S. makes another change, taking off Bunbury and putting in “from Phoenix, Arizona: Brad Evans,” as the P.A. announcer says.

86th minute - Richard Blanco comes on for the visitors, but make no mistake. They’re slowing down the game. The scoreless draw would be a good result for them. Meanwhile the U.S. is pushing for the winner.

84th minute - The U.S. holds some possession and Jones puts in a pretty bending shot. It’s deflected away and they have a corner.

83rd minute - Wondo combines with Bunbury but Bunbury puts the shot wide.

82nd minute - A glorious opportunity at the top of the box is scuffed by Guerra. The Americans are wiping sweat from their brows after that one. A close call.

76th minute - Very strange chance there as Sapong went up for a ball. It bounces off…somebody’s head and falls nicely for Wondo who has a go. USMNT wins a corner, but again nobody can put a head on it.

74th minute - C.J. Sapong comes in for Graham Zusi.

72nd minute - A true chance for the U.S. The Vinotinto bungled the clearance and it went straight to Graham Zusi. He gets a shot off, but he’s skyed it. Loyd does come on for Heath Pearce.

71st minute - Zach Loyd getting set to come in for the U.S. Venezuela also preparing to bring in a substitute, their first change. There hasn’t really been much troubling the keepers lately despite the increased energy level from both teams.

67th minute - Jermaine Jone gets a yellow card. The crowd boos, but tonight’s captain probably deserved that one. Alejandro Guerra is still on the ground and out comes the stretcher, to the jeers of the crowd here in Glendale.

65th minute - The South Americans on the attack again, but Geoff Cameron shows his cool and gives the attacker a stiff shoulder charge, ushering the ball out for a goal kick. Starting to see more action and while this match seemed headed for a draw five minutes ago, the final 30 minutes are shaping up nicely.

64th minute - Venezuela’s best chance comes off a set piece. Carlos Salazar sneaks up the right side and gets an unmarked header. Hamid collects and quickly springs the counter. U.S. ends up getting a shot, but it hits the side netting.

62nd minute – Subs on the touch line. Ricardo Clark in for Jeff Larentowicz. Chris Wondolowski comes in for Benny Feilhaber. They announced it the other way around, but you get it. Clark/Wondo in, Larentowicz/Feilhaber out.

60th minute - Shout out to those who noticed our picture now has little player dots on the field and fans in the seats. U.S. wins a corner. It’s headed away by a defender for another corner, hitting one of the security guards watching the crowd on its way out.

55th minute - After the second half’s fiery start, the game has lulled in the last five minutes. A substitute could inject some life into this game. Unfortunately for Klinsmann, his bench is short because of injuries. Will probably see Chris Wonolowski or C.J. Sapong come in at some point. Maybe hometown guy Brad Evans gets a look?

49th minute - Clever move from Zusi who fakes the cross and plays a short pass instead. The cross is hit wide of the goal, but it’s a nice chance from the Americans.

Second Half is under way and already some fireworks. Carlos Salazar gets a yellow card for a high boot hitting Brek Shea who is back on the left side of the formation. It should be noted he’s on the near side of the field which appears to be a bit more wet than the far side.

More halftime - Here’s a fun game. Try and help me figure out what this onion concoction that was in the media box lunch is. I really don’t know.

Impressions - As Allen Hopkins hosts a halftime trivia contest, we pause to reflect on the first half. Brek Shea was very positive as usual and the other wide midfielder Graham Zusi had a great debut. Geoff Cameron and Benny Feilhaber, both needing to have strong matches are mostly delivering.

HALFTIME – The players head to the dressing room after a first half that ends scoreless. The U.S. had some chances, but weren’t really that close to converting any save the Shea header from the free kick. Lots of hopeful crosses being sent in to a crowded box. On the bright side, their chances have far outnumbered those of the opposition.

44th minute - The first corner of the game is awarded after a deflection takes the ball wide. Venezuela’s Jose Velasquez issued a yellow card for being too aggressive on top of the 18. Corner kick is headed across the box to Shea, but he can’t do much about it.

41st minute - Bunbury beats his man to a ball, keeps it in play and goes to ground in after what U.S. fans in the corner are certain was a foul. Venezuela tries to counter, but DeLaGarza and Shea put their heads down, dash back and stop the attempt.

39th minute - Another effort from the Vinotinto goes into the fans for what would be a souvenir were this baseball, arena football or any event involving a t-shirt cannon.

34th minute - Shea and Zusi have switched sides with Shea now on the right. Bill Hamid comes a long way out and give the ball a stern punch for his first real action of the night.

38th minute - You can see the way Klinsmann wants this squad to play. The free kicks are taken quickly, players are looking to attack. The U.S. is finding some success down the wings, but the middle of the pitch hasn’t been too kind as Venezuela sinks back toward the center.

30th minute - Jones gets the ball on the counter, takes too heavy of a touch, gets it tackled away, somehow wins it back, slides it to Zusi and makes a run into the box. Zusi’s cross is poor. Jones’ expression is cross.

23rd minute - After Bunbury wins a free kick, the ensuing set piece finds the head of Brek Shea and is bound for the net, but Jose Morales gets in front of it and makes a fine save.

20th minute- Right on the heels of that Brek Shea comes down the left hand side and slides a pass just beyond the far post.

19th minute - Teal Bunbury gets a glance at goal and nearly puts in what would be the goal of the year thus far (heh, get it? Because it’d be the first one.) It narrowly misses the crossbar and is over for a goal kick. Best looking shot from the U.S. so far.

15th minute – Some confusion between Jermaine Jones and Brek Shea allows Venezuela a glance at goal. The shot never showed any hope of even troubling Hamid, and the supporters dutifully throw their arms in the arm and shout “Ayyyy.”

14th minute - Seeing plenty of hustle but not much flow from the USMNT right now. Players are winning balls, but they’re not exactly pinging in crosses. One presumes it’ll come as the match wears on and the younger squad starts to settle in.

7:15 (7th minute) - Supporters, complete with trumpeter, fire up a round of “When the Yanks Go Marching In.” The Americans don’t seem to be afraid to push men forward.

7:12 (3rd minute) - Bunbury already has made a pair of nice runs. A half-half chance from Benny Feilhaber is blocked away.

7:06 - The anthems have been belted out, the photos taken and the teams are headed onto the pitch. A massively important year for Jurgen Klinsmann’s side starts now.

6:56 - Mexican officiating crew tonight with MLS fan favorite Terry Vaughn the fourth official.

6:53 - The cavernous stadium (63,400 capacity) still looks largely empty, but the U.S. supporters section behind the goal on the far side is nearly filled to the top. Phoenix has a solid group of fans who don’t get to see much live football. Nice treat for them tonight.

6:47 – Instead of studying something pertaining to this match in the 2012 U.S. Men’s National Team Media Guide, I’m reading up on U.S. national futsal team coach Keith Tozer.

6:34 - Also making an appearance on the big screen is that Allstate commercial with Tim Howard thinking out loud about things.

6:32 – Allen Hopkins is interviewing Jurgen Klinsmann on the big screen for the few thousand fans already in the stadium. Klinsmann insists he is expecting a difficult game from the visitors. The message to the group is several cliches strung together, but surely it will inspire in the locker room.

Preamble - Evening to all from Glendale, Ariz. Jon Arnold situated in the press box getting ready for the USMNT’s first match of 2012. The starting lineups are in. Some things of note:

Bill Hamid will get his debut in net along with first appearances for A.J. DeLaGarza and Graham Zusi.

Jermaine Jones gets the captain’s armband in the 4-2-3-1 formation with Teal Bunbury in as the lone striker, perhaps not surprising with the U.S. missing Juan Agudelo because of injury.

Alejandro Moreno is the captain for the Venezuelan side this evening and is the only MLS-based player in the starting XI with Columbus Crew forward Emilio Renteria among the substitutes.

Follow along with us here. I’ll be writing thoughs and doing some sporadic tweeting over @ArnoldcommaJon

by Jon Arnold