BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (AFP) - US midfielder Angela Hucles scored the game-winning goal in the 94th minute to lead the Americans past Australia 5-4 in a women's football friendly here Saturday.

The US women improved to 12-0 with one draw this year despite surrendering two own-goals and squandering a three-goal lead in the second half.

It was the first time the US women had ever won when allowing so many goals and only the sixth time in the 23-year history of the US women's team that they had surrendered four goals.

US captain Cat Whitehill slipped and knocked the ball into her own net in the 19th minute to put the Matildas ahead.

But the Americans answered with goals by Lindsay Tarpley in the 28th minute, Abby Wambach in the 29th and Tarpley again in the 42nd to put the hosts ahead 3-1 at half-time.

Wambach scored again in the opening minute of the second half before the Aussies rallied on goals by Sarah Walsh in the 49th minute and Lauren Colthorpe in the 64th minute.

The Matildas equalized on another US own-goal in the 69th minute when Christie Rampone slid trying to clear the ball from the goal area and instead put the ball into the Americans net.

Colthorpe clanked a blast off the crossbar in the 88th minute, setting the stage for Hucles' winner, her first goal since a 2004 1-0 victory over Mexico.