The United States can head into a key stretch with some added confidence.

Clint Dempsey scored twice in a five-minute span of the second half and moved into second place on the US career scoring list, helping the Americans edge a second-string Germany team, 4-3, in an exhibition game on Sunday.

Preparing for three World Cup qualifiers in a 12-day span beginning on Friday, US coach Jurgen Klinsmann watched the Americans take a 4-1 lead and hang on to beat the team he helped win the 1990 World Cup as a player and coached to the 2006 semifinals.