Played
October 16, 2012 7:15 PM EDT
LIVESTRONG Sporting Park — Kansas City, Kansas
Referee: R. Moreno
Attendance: 16947
October 16, 2012 7:15 PM EDT
LIVESTRONG Sporting Park — Kansas City, Kansas
Referee: R. Moreno
Attendance: 16947
Top of the Match
Clint Dempsey
USA
USA
Clint Dempsey
USA
USA
Flop of the Match
J. López
Guatemala
Guatemala
C. Ruíz
Guatemala
Guatemala
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating USA 3-1 Guatemala: Americans progress to the Hexagonal
The United States beat Guatemala handily in Kansas City to progress to the last round of World Cup qualifying.
By Zac Lee Rigg
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The U.S. national team secured progression to the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying thanks to a 3-1 win over Guatemala on Tuesday. Carlos Bocanegra and Clint Dempsey (twice) scored in the come-from-behind win, after Carlos Ruiz put Guatemala ahead early.
"It's definitely a good way to end that first round and advance and make it clear that we were the No. 1 team in that group," Jurgen Klinsmann said.
Jamaica beat Antigua and Barbuda 4-1 in the group's other game to join the United States in the Hexagonal.
In Kansas City, the blustery winds before the match died down by kickoff, only to be replaced by the bluster of American fan noise from the sellout crowd of nearly 17,000. The American Outlaws in particular, sitting under banners reading “Fight like hell” and “Home of the brave,” provided boisterous support that rebounded off the half-roof of LIVESTRONG Sporting Park to amplify the volume.
The stadium fell silent, however, five minutes into the match. Carlos Bocanegra and Geoff Cameron sat too far apart and too high. Jose Contreras lifted the ball into the yawning green between them, and Carlos Ruiz lumbered in on goal alone. The Guatemalan captain skipped around Tim Howard and tucked it away.
Ruiz hurt his hand on the advertising boards celebrating, but the damage was done to the United States.
"We didn't need to take that first goal. That was not necessary," Klinsmann said. "The good thing was they responded right away and turned it around immediately. That calmed things down."
Jurgen Klinsmann's side responded swiftly, with Bocanegra redeeming himself. Clint Dempsey headed down a Graham Zusi corner, and the U.S. captain tipped it over the line from close range.
The goal, Bocanegra's 14th for the United States, marked a U.S. record for defenders, edging the Racing Santander defender ahead of Marcelo Balboa.
Eight minutes on and the Americans took the lead. Steve Cherundolo pushed a precise ball through the high Guatemalan backline where Eddie Johnson, who had recently switched flanks with Zusi, latched onto it and laid a low cross in front of goal. Clint Dempsey slid in to awkwardly bundle the ball across the line.
Ten minutes before halftime, Deuce hit his double. Michael Bradley let Zusi's ball in from the wing slip under his foot. Herculez Gomez immediately played the ball ahead to Bradley, who dinked the ball around the onrushing goalkeeper. Dempsey tapped it in on the line.
"Michael did another good job of chipping the keeper," Dempsey said. "I was in a situation where I didn't know if it was going to roll in or not. I decided to take it because I didn't know if it was going to hit the post or not."
Dempsey now has 30 international goals, joint third with Brian McBride on the all-time U.S. scoring charts.
"It's one of those where once one falls maybe a second, maybe a third will fall as well," Steve Cherundolo said. "So it was fortunate we got three in the first half."
At halftime Guatemala coach Ever Hugo Almeida chucked Minor Lopez and Marco Pappa into the match. After a flurry of aggressive attacking play from the rejuvenated Guatemalans, the United States started finding traction on the counterattack.
Eddie Johnson whiffed on an open cross and shortly thereafter shoved a rebound shot straight at the goalkeeper. The Americans continued to create the better chances, including a substantial penalty shout when Ruiz scythed down Bradley, though Contreras' stinging shot did force a kick-save out of Howard.
The result leaves the USA top of Group A with 13 points. Jamaica, tied with Guatemala on 10 points, progresses, along with the Yanks, to the Hexagonal thanks to goal differential.
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"It's definitely a good way to end that first round and advance and make it clear that we were the No. 1 team in that group," Jurgen Klinsmann said.
Jamaica beat Antigua and Barbuda 4-1 in the group's other game to join the United States in the Hexagonal.
In Kansas City, the blustery winds before the match died down by kickoff, only to be replaced by the bluster of American fan noise from the sellout crowd of nearly 17,000. The American Outlaws in particular, sitting under banners reading “Fight like hell” and “Home of the brave,” provided boisterous support that rebounded off the half-roof of LIVESTRONG Sporting Park to amplify the volume.
The stadium fell silent, however, five minutes into the match. Carlos Bocanegra and Geoff Cameron sat too far apart and too high. Jose Contreras lifted the ball into the yawning green between them, and Carlos Ruiz lumbered in on goal alone. The Guatemalan captain skipped around Tim Howard and tucked it away.
Ruiz hurt his hand on the advertising boards celebrating, but the damage was done to the United States.
"We didn't need to take that first goal. That was not necessary," Klinsmann said. "The good thing was they responded right away and turned it around immediately. That calmed things down."
Jurgen Klinsmann's side responded swiftly, with Bocanegra redeeming himself. Clint Dempsey headed down a Graham Zusi corner, and the U.S. captain tipped it over the line from close range.
The goal, Bocanegra's 14th for the United States, marked a U.S. record for defenders, edging the Racing Santander defender ahead of Marcelo Balboa.
Eight minutes on and the Americans took the lead. Steve Cherundolo pushed a precise ball through the high Guatemalan backline where Eddie Johnson, who had recently switched flanks with Zusi, latched onto it and laid a low cross in front of goal. Clint Dempsey slid in to awkwardly bundle the ball across the line.
Ten minutes before halftime, Deuce hit his double. Michael Bradley let Zusi's ball in from the wing slip under his foot. Herculez Gomez immediately played the ball ahead to Bradley, who dinked the ball around the onrushing goalkeeper. Dempsey tapped it in on the line.
"Michael did another good job of chipping the keeper," Dempsey said. "I was in a situation where I didn't know if it was going to roll in or not. I decided to take it because I didn't know if it was going to hit the post or not."
Dempsey now has 30 international goals, joint third with Brian McBride on the all-time U.S. scoring charts.
"It's one of those where once one falls maybe a second, maybe a third will fall as well," Steve Cherundolo said. "So it was fortunate we got three in the first half."
At halftime Guatemala coach Ever Hugo Almeida chucked Minor Lopez and Marco Pappa into the match. After a flurry of aggressive attacking play from the rejuvenated Guatemalans, the United States started finding traction on the counterattack.
Eddie Johnson whiffed on an open cross and shortly thereafter shoved a rebound shot straight at the goalkeeper. The Americans continued to create the better chances, including a substantial penalty shout when Ruiz scythed down Bradley, though Contreras' stinging shot did force a kick-save out of Howard.
The result leaves the USA top of Group A with 13 points. Jamaica, tied with Guatemala on 10 points, progresses, along with the Yanks, to the Hexagonal thanks to goal differential.
Follow ZAC LEE RIGG on
or shoot him an email
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Peter Byers Striker |
10 | 1 |
|
B. Pérez Striker FC Dallas |
9 | 0 |
|
Clint Dempsey Midfielder Tottenham |
7 | 1 |
|
A. Saborío Striker RSL |
7 | 1 |
|
|
Deon McCalauy Midfielder Belize |
7 | 1 |
