Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Clint Dempsey scored a second-half brace and Jozy Altidore added a goal as the United States men's national team hung on for a 4-3 victory over Germany on Sunday at RFK Stadium.

After a difficult 4-2 defeat at the hands of Belgium last Wednesday, the U.S.faced a daunting task against the second-ranked Germans, but rose to the challenge extremely well behind Dempsey and Altidore.

Heiko Westermann, Max Kruse and Julian Draxler bagged goals for Germany, but they weren't able to find a late equalizer as the United States hung on for the victory.

Germany had the first great chance of the afternoon in the 11th minute when defender Per Mertesacker found a loose ball in the U.S. box, but pushed his shot just wide of the left post.

Three minutes later, the United States opened the scoring with an excellent piece of play when Graham Zusi whipped a first-time cross into the Germany penalty area from the right wing where Altidore was there to finish it into the top right corner with a well-struck, right-footed volley.

The Americans were then gifted a second goal in the 16th minute as some high pressure from Altidore and Dempsey forced Germany defender Benedikt Howedes to push it back to goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, but the pass caught him off guard and the ball trickled into the far corner for a 2-0 United States lead.

After up-and-back action early in the match, the pace slowed considerably in the latter stages of the second half and Germany began to get back into the game in the 41st minute when Julian Draxler sent a ball into the box to Lukas Podolski, but the Arsenal man smashed his shot well over the crossbar.

After the break, Germany got one back in the 51st minute when Westermann worked himself free in the box and nodded a header past Howard to pull the Germans within 2-1.

Nine minutes later, the Americans restored their two-goal advantage when Altidore chipped a nice ball into the penalty area from the left wing and it fell to Dempsey, who smashed it past ter Stegen to make it 3-1.

The United States captain added a second goal in the 64th minute when he cracked a brilliant shot into the top left corner to give the Americans a 4-1 advantage.

But Germany didn't panic and answered with goals two minutes apart as Kruse scored in the 79th minute and Draxler buried a rebound past Tim Howard nine minutes from time to make it 4-3.

But the U.S. defense held it together to earn their first victory over Germany since 1999. The U.S. improved to 3-6-0 all-time against Germany and should carry some confidence into their next match when the take on Jamaica in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying on June 7.

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