USA-Honduras Gold Cup Player Ratings
Mike Woitalla (Soccer America)
USA-HONDURAS EXPRESS:
July 7 in Frisco, Texas
USA 2 Honduras 1. Goals: Dempsey 25, 64; Discua 69.
Att.: 22,357.
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The USA opened its Gold Cup campaign with a 2-1 win over Honduras thanks to two Clint Dempsey goals. The Catrachos came out strong and troubled the USA for much of the game -- but failed to beat goalkeeper Brad Guzan until they had conceded a two-goal advantage to the hosts.
Starters: RATING PLAYER (CLUB) GP/G
7 Brad Guzan (Aston Villa/ENG) 32/0.
Within the first six minutes, he made a one-handed diving save on Anthony Lozano's close-range shot, punched out a driven corner kick, and tipped over the a long-range Andy Najar shot. Came out of his penalty area either side of halftime to clear dangerous through balls. Beaten from close-range by Carlos Discua.
3 Tim Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER) 23/1.
Right back mis-hit six passes in the first half and coughed up the ball twice early in the second half. Subbed out in 63rd minute.
3 Ventura Alvarado (Club America/MEX) 7/0.
Caught flat-footed as Discua -- with the U.S. midfield dozing -- stormed into the penalty area to score Honduras’ goal and late in the game he lost Eddie Hernandez, who shot wide.
5 John Brooks (Hertha Berlin/GER) 14/0.
Picked up a yellow card for hacking playmaker Mario Martinez in midfield but was more poised in the penalty area, where he cleared several balls.
5 Fabian Johnson (Borussia M'Gladbach/GER) 34/1.
Left back attacked frequently, nearly setting up a goal when he cruised through Honduran territory and set up DeAndre Yedlin for a one-on-one that keeper Donis Escobar saved well.
4 DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham/ENG) 19/0.
Covered plenty of ground on the right flank, nearly scored when he came through the center, but his frantic pace didn't help USA to control midfield play.
5 Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake) 42/1
Defensive midfielder joined the backline three times in the first half to block a pass across the goal area and head away two crosses, but stopping the Catrachos farther up the field would have made this an easier win.
6 Michael Bradley (Toronto FC) 100/13.
Hit the cross that created the goalmouth scramble that led to Dempsey’s first goal and launched the free kick that Dempsey headed in for the 2-0. Nearly scored with a free kick when he caught Escobar off guard. Led a midfield that failed to find its rhythm.
5 Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy) 9/1.
Battled defensively to cover for Johnson’s forays and his attacks down the left flank in the second half gave the U.S. backline breaks as Honduras tried to attack in waves for a comeback.
5 Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), 82/27.
Hit the shot that keeper Donis Escobar deflected to Clint Dempsey on the 1-0. Subbed in 59th minute.
8 Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders) 114/43.
Johnny-on-the-spot to head home a goalkeeper rebound to give the USA a 1-0 lead against the run of play in the 25th minute. Darted though a crowd of Catracho defenders to nod the USA’s second goal. Hounduran fouls kept him from causing further damage. Toiled to help out midfield late in game.
Substitutes:
5 Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes) 28/10.
Didn’t get service for scoring opportunities after arriving in 59th minute.
5 Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders) 19/1.
Broke up three Honduran attacks in the U.S. penalty area after replacing Chandler.
NR Graham Zusi (Sporting KC), 29/3.
Won a midfield tackle on one Honduras’ last-ditch attacks.
(1=low; 5=average; 10=high)
July 7 in Frisco, Texas
USA 2 Honduras 1. Goals: Dempsey 25, 64; Discua 69.
USA -- Guzan, Chandler (Evans 64), Alvarado, Brooks, Johnson, Yedlin, Bradley, Beckerman, Zardes (Zusi 88), Dempsey, Altidore (Wondolowski, 60).
Honduras -- Escober, Crisanto, H.Figueroa (Hernandez 76), J.Palacios, M.Figueroa, Beckeles, Martinez (Discua 70), Acosta, Mejia, Najar (Quioto 64), Lozano.
Yellow Cards: USA -- Brooks 16; Honduras -- Palacios 87.
Referee: Cesar Ramos (Mexico).
Att.: 22,357.
TRIVIA: The USA remains undefeated against Honduras in Gold Cup play with seven wins (including shootout tiebreaker victory in the final of the inaugural 1991 Gold Cup). Tuesday’s win kept the USA perfect in its 13 Gold Cup openers.
