US edges out Honduras, moves to top of the Hex

USA 1 : 0 Honduras 

by Kali Korbis, Rio Tinto Stadium

The US National Team took an important step toward qualifying on Tuesday night, defeating Honduras 1-0 on a sweltering evening in Salt Lake City.

While the match was often choppy and the play less sparkling than in Seattle last week, the US ultimately achieved its objective, thanks to a 71st-minute goal by Jozy Altidore.

Jurgen Klinsmann kept to a familiar lineup, primarily making adjustments for Jermaine Jones’ recovery from a concussion, Graham Zusi’s suspension in the last match, and DaMarcus Beasley’s suspension Tuesday. Beasley’s absence made room for Fabian Johnson in the starting lineup as a defender, while Geoff Cameron moved to the bench but later entered the match as a substitute.

Meanwhile, the Honduran lineup was the target of much speculation before the match, with coach Luis Suarez ultimately bringing Oscar Boniek Garcia off the bench but starting several players with MLS ties, including Andy Najar, Roger Espinoza, Mario Martinez, and Carlos Costly.

Despite dominating possession early, the match started somewhat ominously for the US, as Jones earned an early yellow card and referee Enrico Wijngaarde awarded the Hondurans several free kicks.  However, the visitors had difficulty keeping the ball in play early on, preventing them from taking advantage of those opportunities.

The US struggled with their first touches as well, often resulting in second-ball plays being lost, but the home side managed to stage a pair of good chances on goal within the first 20 minutes, forcing Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares to come up with some key saves.

Honduras’ best opportunity of the half came just before stoppage time courtesy of Najar, who got free down the right side. Tim Howard, who had very little to do throughout most of the first half, rose to the occasion, however, parrying Najar’s attempt away.

The intensity picked up in the second half as the US sought to find its way around the Honduran defense.  Valladares came up with another excellent save in the 56th minute on Brad Evans’ header from a Zusi free kick, and Altidore had a goal called back for offside just three minutes later.

Zusi came tantalizingly close in the 63rd minute, when his shot hit the woodwork and bounced into the penalty box.  A goalmouth scramble ensued, and the US felt particularly aggrieved when Honduran defender Wilson Palacios appeared to handle the ball, but no penalty kick was awarded.

The two sides traded attacking chances over the next several minutes, as Honduras’ counterattacking was much improved from the first half, but neither team was able to break through.

Altidore’s goal would prove to be the difference in the match, coming just as Klinsmann prepared to make his first substitutions.  Zusi moved the ball out to Johnson on the left, who then found Altidore, who took his shot on the first touch, putting the US in control of the match.

It was Altidore’s fourth goal in four games, putting him in the select company of William Looby, Eric Wynalda, Brian McBride, Eddie Johnson and Landon Donovan.  Most importantly, however, it secured the victory for the US, who earned its third consecutive victory and now sits atop the Hex standings with 13 points.

Klinsmann said of the result:

“A good team finds ways to score and that’s what they did. They scored and they deserve a huge compliment. In a game like this, what really matters is that you keep going and be patient and find the goal.” 

He continued:

“I think our back line is coming along, you know… it helps them to go through those grinds or those games where they also have to be kind of the first contributor in terms of build-up.”

When asked about his team’s position in the Hex and whether they felt they were nearing the “finish line” of qualifying for the World Cup, he was adamant:

“No, we are not talking about the finish line.

We have four games to go and yes, you know, it gives us a good feeling to be on top of the table, and especially when you go into a stretch of almost three months until the next World Cup qualifier, that’s what you want to have, and so the team, they succeeded in doing that, you know, and it makes them feel good but we know that when once we get together again in September, it’s going to be another grind — it’s going to go back to reality, it’s going to be very tough down in Costa Rica and it’s going to be a huge game at home against Mexico, so we know that we need more points.

We will get those points, but obviously, they deserve a big compliment for what they did the last couple of weeks.”

More USAv Honduras:

Photo Gallery

USA Player Ratings

Updated Table

Statistics:

Match: U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Honduras
Date: June 18, 2013
Competition: 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Kickoff: 7 p.m. MT
Attendance: 20,250 (sellout)
Weather: 93 degrees, clear

Scoring Summary:    1       2       F
USA                           0       1       1
HON                           0       0       0

USA – Jozy Altidore (Fabian Johnson)      73rd minute

Lineups:
USA: 1-Tim Howard; 6-Brad Evans, 3-Omar Gonzalez, 5-Matt Besler, 23-Fabian Johnson; 4-Michael Bradley, 13-Jermaine Jones (20-Geoff Cameron, 74); 19-Graham Zusi (14-Brad Davis, 74), 8-Clint Dempsey (capt.), 18-Eddie Johnson (2-Edgar Castillo, 87); 17-Jozy Altidore
Substitutions Not Used: 12-Brad Guzan, 22-Nick Rimando, 7-Kyle Beckerman, 9-Terrence Boyd, 10-Joe Corona, 11-Stuart Holden, 15-Michael Parkhurst , 16-Sacha Kljestan, 21-Clarence Goodson
Head coach: Jurgen Klinsmann

HON: 18-Noel Valladares; 12-Arnold Peralta (14-Oscar Boniek Garcia, 75), 5-Jose Velasquez, 4-Juan Pablo Montes, 7-Emilio Izaguirre; 19-Andy Najar, 8-Wilson Palacios, 20-Jorge Claros, 15-Roger Espinoza; 10-Mario Martinez (17-Marvin Chavez, 69), 13-Carlo Costly (21-Roger Rojas, 33)
Substitutions Not Used: 1-Kevin Hernandez, 2-Osman Chavez, 3-Brayan Beckeles, 6-Juan Carlos Garcia, 9-Rony Martinez, 11-Diego Reyes, 16-Johnny Leveron, 22-Donis Escober, 23-Orlin Peralta
Head coach: Luis Suarez

Stats Summary: USA / HON
Shots: 13 / 6
Shots on Goal: 5 / 1
Saves: 1 / 4
Corner Kicks: 9 / 3
Fouls: 16 / 11
Offside: 1 / 3

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Jermaine Jones (caution)                10th minute
HON- Arnold Peralta (caution)                   34
HON – Wilson Palacios (caution)               75
HON – Jose Velasquez (caution)                81

Officials:
Referee: Enrico Wijngaarde (SUR)
Assistant Referee 1: Ramon Louisville (SUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Philippe Briere (CAN)
Fourth Official: Javier Santos (PUR)

Budweiser Man of the Match: Jozy Altidore