On to the Hex: USA Beats Guatemala 3-1
By Doug Smith
Entering the match Tuesday, the United States Men’s National Team needed a draw or win to move into the hexagonal round of World Cup qualifying. They were facing injuries, but just needed to take control of the match at Livestrong Sporting Park in Kansas City. The starting line up for the U.S. would be:
Howard; Cherundolo,Cameron, Bocanegra, Parkhurst; Zusi, Williams, Bradley, Johnson; Dempsey, Gomez
It would be Tim Howard’s 83rd cap in goal moving him into third place all time for the U.S. It was the 20th different starting line up in Jurgen Klinsmann’s 20th match.
Guatemala only needed a point to move on as well. They would be led by Carlos Ruiz and Carlos Figueroa. Carlos Bocanegra, back in the center, with Geoff Cameron would have to keep it tight and not give Ruiz the opportunities to score.
October 16, 2012; Kansas City, KS, USA; USA goalkeeper Tim Howard (1) cannot make the stop as Guatemala forward Carlos Ruiz (20) scores a goal during the world cup qualifying match at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE
After some possession and a corner for the U.S., Guatemala would score to bring the nerves to a fever pitch. Moments after a missed handball on Guatemala just outside the box, Ruiz would get in alone. Tim Howard did not commit and Bocanegra and Cameron were on the opposite page. There was no line set. It was poor, poor defending and an easy goal for Ruiz in the sixth minute.
The captain would come to the rescue in the 11th minute as Bocanegra would tap in a deflection to become the leading scorer among U.S. defenders. Herculez Gomez won a corner by being physical with the defender and tapping it off his falling body. Graham Zusi played a perfect ball that Clint Dempsey ran on to flicking it toward the goal. Ruiz fell down trying to track Dempsey and Figueroa was caught off guard. The ball fell to Bocanegra to hammer it home.
Dempsey was into this match. He was being decisive and controlling the ball. He would account for the second U.S. goal in the 18th minute. After some Guatemala possession and Ruiz sneaking around the U.S. would win possession and Gomez and Eddie Johnson would switch sides. Steve Cherundolo found Johnson on a run and he quickly sent a low ball through that Dempsey slid into the net.
The shifting would continue as Zusi would switch sides. Michael Parkhurst began to try to add some width on the left. Michael Bradley, Danny Williams, and Johnson would interchange in the middle. Dempsey was playing much more as a straight ahead lone striker. Despite the movement and possession, the match settled down after a fast-paced first twenty minutes.
At the end of 15 minutes of solid passing and possession for the U.S. there were multiple chances. Zusi had a go on a sharp angle that was saved by Ricardo Jerez. Cherundolo would win a corner and after the clearance the ball was moved down the right wing. Zusi would send a ball through that was faked by Bradley. Gomez tapped it on to find Bradley’s run and he sent it softly across the crease, over the keeper for Dempsey to tap it in for his second of the night. It was a beautiful piece of team play to go ahead 3-1.
Dempsey had a great first half. Williams was playing with much more confidence. Bradley and Zusi were orchestral in control. Still, the defense was shaky as Cameron and Bocanegra needed more communication. Parkhurst was struggling early and has trouble winning the ball in the air. Defense should have been the focus of the second half.
Marco Pappa was introduced in the Guatemala lineup to help the attack and find a way to win more than 23% of possession like the first half. They would be more forceful but that would come with more fouls. Still the better chances were made by the U.S. Cherundolo and Zusi would interchange well leading to an open shot for Eddie Johnson. Johnson would miss almost completely and have another chance moments later. Jerez would make a spectacular saving diving backwards to rob EJ who found a rebound from Williams. Gomez would then win a ball in the box and send it far post to Dempsey who failed to get his head on it. The game was opening up in the 55th minute.
The first U.S. substitute would come ten minutes later as Sacha Kljestan would come in as fresh legs for Gomez. Gomez was all over the pitch and won several corners. He may not show up in the stat line, but he worked hard to make the team work better. The substitution would move Johnson up front with Dempsey as the target sitting just behind him.
October 16, 2012; Kansas City, KS, USA; USA forward Clint Dempsey (8) is congratulated by USA midfielder Danny Williams (14) during the first half of the world cup qualifying match against Guatemala at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE
The U.S. began to control possession although shots just came from distance and were not threatening. Zusi was given a good hand as he came out in favor of Maurice Edu. Williams, Edu, and Bradley would all hold fairly defensive positions with Edu generally further back. Guatemala needed as goal to advance in the 78th minute as Jamaica would pull ahead 3-1 in the other group match. Still, the U.S. was keeping the ball in the offensive zone.
It was a convincing second half performance with a U.S. team that knew what it needed to do. The defense took over and possession was solid. Ruiz was not a factor in the second half. Still there are concerns moving forward on the back line. Dempsey got a dumb yellow in stoppage time that will carry over. Zusi, Fabian Johnson, Edu, and Bradley all have yellows.
Joe Corona would make an appearance for Johnson just before the end of regulation time to cap tie him to the U.S. That is an important nugget for the future of the USMNT. Now the next four months are about focus, performance, and fitness as Jurgen Klinsmann and crew have a more streamlined mission.
The six teams in the hexagonal will have two weeks to come up with a schedule or be subject to a November draw for the hexagonal next year. The U.S. would win the group with 13 points despite a rocky road along the way and find themselves still in position to compete against the best in Brazil in 2014.