Carson, CA (My Sportsbook) - Sacha Kljestan scored the 11th hat trick ever for the U.S. Men's National Team on Saturday, helping the squad earn a 3-2 victory against Sweden at The Home Depot Center to kick off the 2009 campaign.

In a fairly tepid first 45 minutes, Kljestan provided the U.S. with a 2-0 lead going into the locker room. His first goal was a stunning 35-yard free-kick that he placed perfectly into the upper left corner, before following up that effort by burying a penalty kick with five minutes remaining in the half.

With Sweden pulling a goal back in the 73rd minute, it was Kljestan who once again answered for the U.S., taking a feed from Brian Ching to bury a left- footed shot just one minute later. In the 89th minute, Sweden struck again to make things interesting, but the U.S. was able to kill off any last minute attacks for an equalizer.

The three goals by Kljestan were the first of his career with the full team, and put him in unique company as only the second player ever to open his national team scoring account with a hat trick.

Despite a fairly inexperienced roster, the U.S. was able to control the majority of the match and provide an effective attack, especially in the second half.

The slow and controlled beginning of the match was jarred awake by Kljestan with his stunning free-kick in the 17th minute that gave the U.S. the early lead. Ching, the leading U.S. capwinner on the roster (33), was brought down by Marcus Lindberg about 30 yards out and on the free-kick Rogers ran over the ball allowing Kljestan to unleash his drive into the upper left corner of the goal.

The U.S. continued to control most of the possession and doubled their lead near the end of the half with some nice possession play that led to a penalty kick.

Marvell Wynne took a pass from John Thorrington and got into the box before Adam Johansson brought him down. Kljestan stepped up to bury the penalty shot to the right of the goal as keeper Johan Dahlin went the opposite direction.

Despite controlling much of the play, Sweden pulled one back when Alexander Farnerud supplied a service into the penalty area for Daniel Nannskog, who lost Jonathan Bornstein at the right post and finished past Perkins with a diving header.

The U.S. was quick to respond a minute later. Once again it was Kljestan getting the accolades with the finish, but the set-up by Ching was what provided the U.S. breathing room once again. Following a long ball from the back, Ching brought the ball down with an impressive first touch at the top of the penalty area between two defenders which allowed him to turn and then slip the ball to the left for the streaking Kljestan, who slammed his one-timer into the right side netting.

Sweden did tally their second goal of the night when Farnerud served in another dangerous cross and this time Dahlberg didn't miss the opportunity, heading it off the right post and into the net.

Kenny Cooper had one final chance to give the U.S. another two-goal lead, when he slipped behind the Sweden defense for a breakaway against Dahlin, but his touch around the keeper was too much and Dahlin was able to recover and make the save on his shot from a tight angle.

The U.S. now looks ahead to their opening match of the final round of FIFA World Cup qualifying against rivals Mexico on February 11 at Columbus Crew Stadium.