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Player Ratings: United States 3-2 Honduras
The USA clinched World Cup qualification with a nervy 3-2 away win over Honduras. Goal.com's Zac Lee Rigg rates the players out of 10.
Oct 11, 2009 2:46:19 AM
United States
Tim Howard – 7
Made the big save when he was called upon, which is becoming the norm for Howard.
Jonathan Spector – 4
Honduras had its best attacks down the U.S. right side, where Spector was letting players flow right through him.
Carlos Bocanegra – 8
Bailed out his defense time and again. From a diving block on Pavon's shot to a sliding tackle on Costly in the box, the captain was inch perfect throughout the match.
Oguchi Onyewu – 6
Maybe it's the lack of playing time or maybe it was just a bad day, but Gooch struggled a bit. He did hit the long ball that led to the USA's first goal.
Jonathan Bornstein – 6
Actually looked pretty solid, a rarity for Bornstein in the U.S. side. He even hit a rasping long shot late in the second half that could very well have done some damage.
Stuart Holden – 5
Some excellent service down the right was nearly undone by a late handball in the box. Holden is lucky his inexperience didn't cost the team the three points.
Ricardo Clark – 5
Quiet. In the squad to provide some steel, Clark stayed invisible in this one.
Michael Bradley – 5
Lost out the midfield battle to a hungrier Honduras side willing to hustle and battle for every ball. The few occasions he did emerge with the ball never led to much.
Landon Donovan – 7
Again, Donovan's vision made the difference for the U.S. He carved out some space in the midfield and slipped Casey through for the second goal. Later, he hit a blistering free kick that would have taken Valladares' hands off if the goalkeeper had gotten his gloves to it. Despite a quiet game overall, those moments of magic decided the tie.
Charlie Davies – 6.5
Really should have buried his double chance in the first half, and could have done more with his pace. Eventually Davies sputtered out of the game as Casey took over.
Conor Casey – 7
The surprise inclusion in the starting lineup, Casey paid back Bob Bradley's faith tenfold with a well-taken brace. The first one only he could have scored: he pretty much had to mow over a defender and the goalkeeper to get his bald head on a loose ball. The second was a nice touch to control a Donovan pass and then a calm finish. When you score twice as a striker, it's quite alright that you remain quiet through the rest of the game.
Substitutes
Benny Feilhaber – N/A
None of the U.S. subs had enough time to affect the game.
Steve Cherundolo – N/A
Jozy Altidore – N/A
Honduras
Noel Valladares – 6
Pulled off a few decent stops, but was left stranded too many times. Perhaps could have seen Donovan's free kick earlier and jumped in the right direction, but it was a howitzer.
Mauricio Sabillon – 6
The most indicative facet of Sabillon's play was that Donovan was largely anonymous until the LA Galaxy attacker drifted inside in the second half.
Osman Chavez – 4.5
The communication between the two central defenders was atrocious. Casey essentially strolled between the two for his second goal, and they were easily split the entire match.
Maynor Figueroa – 4.5
Ditto. The lasting image of Figueroa from this game will be his enormous leap to reach a Holden cross that evaded his head by inches to fall to Davies.
Emilio Izaguirre – 5
Could have shut down Holden better, but assisted in the attack a decent amount.
Edgar Alvarez – 4.5
Anonymous. Hardly had an effect on the game before being the first player substituted off.
Wilson Palacios – 6
Tidy and industrious in the midfield, Palacios did all the little things to keep his side ticking over nicely.
Hendry Thomas – 6
Standing in for your country's captain is never easy, but Thomas gave a decent account of himself by helping to win the midfield battle.
Julio De Leon – 7
Whenever Honduras attacked in the first half, it was down the left flank through either De Leon or Costly. The winger put in a really solid shift before blasting home two excellently taken goals in the second half.
Carlos Pavon – 3
Chalk this one up as a night to forget for the former LA Galaxy striker. After missing a host of good opportunities in the box, Pavon skied a penalty kick in the 87th minute that would have given his side a draw. On the stroke of fulltime, Pavon powered a header from point-blank range that skimmed off the top of the crossbeam. In frustration, he kicked the snot out of a billboard. That pretty much summed up his night.
Carlo Costly – 7
Drifting from side to side and even helping out on defense, Costly was effective wherever he went. He won a lot of physical battles and kept creating chances for himself until he was shifted back into midfield when Suazo entered.
Substitutes
David Suazo – 7
Looked brilliant upon coming into the game with half an hour left. Assisted the second goal and would have added another assist if the goal hadn't been called back for offsides. Pacy and sharp, the U.S. didn't know how to handle Suazo.
Ramon Nunez – N/A
Kept going despite looking offsides for Honduras' second goal. It's that type of never-say-die attitude that will get a team into a World Cup.
Walter Martinez – N/A
Tried an audacious overhead kick late in the game that, if it had come off, would have made him an instant hero. Didn't have enough time to use his pace behind the U.S. defense.
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
Visit the U.S. national team page on Goal.com for more
Tim Howard – 7
Made the big save when he was called upon, which is becoming the norm for Howard.
Jonathan Spector – 4
Honduras had its best attacks down the U.S. right side, where Spector was letting players flow right through him.
Carlos Bocanegra – 8
Bailed out his defense time and again. From a diving block on Pavon's shot to a sliding tackle on Costly in the box, the captain was inch perfect throughout the match.
Oguchi Onyewu – 6
Maybe it's the lack of playing time or maybe it was just a bad day, but Gooch struggled a bit. He did hit the long ball that led to the USA's first goal.
Jonathan Bornstein – 6
Actually looked pretty solid, a rarity for Bornstein in the U.S. side. He even hit a rasping long shot late in the second half that could very well have done some damage.
Stuart Holden – 5
Some excellent service down the right was nearly undone by a late handball in the box. Holden is lucky his inexperience didn't cost the team the three points.
Ricardo Clark – 5
Quiet. In the squad to provide some steel, Clark stayed invisible in this one.
Michael Bradley – 5
Lost out the midfield battle to a hungrier Honduras side willing to hustle and battle for every ball. The few occasions he did emerge with the ball never led to much.
Landon Donovan – 7
Again, Donovan's vision made the difference for the U.S. He carved out some space in the midfield and slipped Casey through for the second goal. Later, he hit a blistering free kick that would have taken Valladares' hands off if the goalkeeper had gotten his gloves to it. Despite a quiet game overall, those moments of magic decided the tie.
Charlie Davies – 6.5
Really should have buried his double chance in the first half, and could have done more with his pace. Eventually Davies sputtered out of the game as Casey took over.
Conor Casey – 7
The surprise inclusion in the starting lineup, Casey paid back Bob Bradley's faith tenfold with a well-taken brace. The first one only he could have scored: he pretty much had to mow over a defender and the goalkeeper to get his bald head on a loose ball. The second was a nice touch to control a Donovan pass and then a calm finish. When you score twice as a striker, it's quite alright that you remain quiet through the rest of the game.
Substitutes
Benny Feilhaber – N/A
None of the U.S. subs had enough time to affect the game.
Steve Cherundolo – N/A
Jozy Altidore – N/A
Honduras
Noel Valladares – 6
Pulled off a few decent stops, but was left stranded too many times. Perhaps could have seen Donovan's free kick earlier and jumped in the right direction, but it was a howitzer.
Mauricio Sabillon – 6
The most indicative facet of Sabillon's play was that Donovan was largely anonymous until the LA Galaxy attacker drifted inside in the second half.
Osman Chavez – 4.5
The communication between the two central defenders was atrocious. Casey essentially strolled between the two for his second goal, and they were easily split the entire match.
Maynor Figueroa – 4.5
Ditto. The lasting image of Figueroa from this game will be his enormous leap to reach a Holden cross that evaded his head by inches to fall to Davies.
Emilio Izaguirre – 5
Could have shut down Holden better, but assisted in the attack a decent amount.
Edgar Alvarez – 4.5
Anonymous. Hardly had an effect on the game before being the first player substituted off.
Wilson Palacios – 6
Tidy and industrious in the midfield, Palacios did all the little things to keep his side ticking over nicely.
Hendry Thomas – 6
Standing in for your country's captain is never easy, but Thomas gave a decent account of himself by helping to win the midfield battle.
Julio De Leon – 7
Whenever Honduras attacked in the first half, it was down the left flank through either De Leon or Costly. The winger put in a really solid shift before blasting home two excellently taken goals in the second half.
Carlos Pavon – 3
Chalk this one up as a night to forget for the former LA Galaxy striker. After missing a host of good opportunities in the box, Pavon skied a penalty kick in the 87th minute that would have given his side a draw. On the stroke of fulltime, Pavon powered a header from point-blank range that skimmed off the top of the crossbeam. In frustration, he kicked the snot out of a billboard. That pretty much summed up his night.
Carlo Costly – 7
Drifting from side to side and even helping out on defense, Costly was effective wherever he went. He won a lot of physical battles and kept creating chances for himself until he was shifted back into midfield when Suazo entered.
Substitutes
David Suazo – 7
Looked brilliant upon coming into the game with half an hour left. Assisted the second goal and would have added another assist if the goal hadn't been called back for offsides. Pacy and sharp, the U.S. didn't know how to handle Suazo.
Ramon Nunez – N/A
Kept going despite looking offsides for Honduras' second goal. It's that type of never-say-die attitude that will get a team into a World Cup.
Walter Martinez – N/A
Tried an audacious overhead kick late in the game that, if it had come off, would have made him an instant hero. Didn't have enough time to use his pace behind the U.S. defense.
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
Visit the U.S. national team page on Goal.com for more
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