Getty Images

In only their second appearance on the field together _ the 2-2 tie vs. Mexico in February was the first _ Bradley put Adu in the middle of the park and pushed Donovan wide in a 4-2-3-1. And with both of them holding the ball, finding spaces to run into, the U.S. attack actually carried play late.

It was a glimpse at what this team can mature into someday, hopefully in time for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

“You see a young man growing, learning, handles himself a little bit different than he did a year ago. Now we just need to keep this going,’’ Bradley said. “When we talk about the group, the trust, we’ve just got to establish for all of them that we’re working together.

“We have a big goal in the end, there’s a lot of steps along the way and everybody has to come in and be humble, shut the rest of it out, and show people on the inside that you can help make the team better. For us, Freddy’s no different than the rest, and that’s important.’’

What’s important is that he’s realizing that himself. Now when he realizes his full potential, so might this team.