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- Clint Dempsey’s Goal in 36th Minute Holds Up as Game-Winner
- Tim Howard collects 37th Win; Now Tied for Second Place All-Time Amongst U.S. Goalkeepers
- U.S. Team Will Next Face Ecuador on Oct. 11 at Red Bull Arena with Kickoff at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2, ESPN3 and Univision
Tim Howard earned Budweiser Man of the Match honors, posting six saves en route to his 37th victory. With the win, Howard moves into a second-place tie with fellow New Jersey native Tony Meola on the USA’s all-time win list for goalkeepers.
"I think we saw a match that we kind of expected. Honduras is a strong and physical side, with surprises and technically gifted players who can score goals out of nothing,” said Klinsmann. “It took us a bit to get to a higher pace and the first 20 minutes were a bit too static movement-wise. Then we took over, created a lot more chances and I had a feeling it was just a question of time until we scored that first goal. The important thing was that we got three points because this team is hungry for success. They want to do well and get the results done right."
The match was played in a steady rain, but the Americans put together numerous quality attacking sequences despite the wet, windy, and slippery conditions.
After some sustained pressure throughout the first half that produced a handful of chances, the USA finally broke through a little less than 10 minutes before halftime.
Right back Steve Cherundolo ran down Brek Shea’s blocked cross on the right wing and then slipped the ball back down the flank to the young U.S. midfielder. Shea struck a hard cross on the ground into the penalty area that was dummied by Jozy Altidore and then took a slight deflection off the heel of Michael Orozco Fiscal as it skipped through his legs. The ball rolled perfect to Dempsey, who wound up for a right-footed shot, but then dragged the ball back to his left foot, losing Honduran defender Mauricio Sabillon who bit on the fake.
Dempsey then quickly bent a curling left-footed shot from 15 yards out into the upper left corner past flying Honduran goalkeeper Donis Escobar. It was Dempsey’s 23rd international goal and just rewards for a U.S. team that created a plenty of scoring opportunities before and after the goal.
Klinsmann lined the U.S. team up in a 4-1-3-2 formation that featured U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra, making his 97th career appearance, paired centrally with Orozco Fiscal. Veteran defender Oguhci Onyewu would come on for Orozco Fiscal at halftime in what was his first action for the USA since playing against Spain on June 4 in Foxborough, Mass.
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