The USMNT resumed World Cup qualifying on Friday night at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California in a big way. Shaking off two losses to start the Hexagonal round, the USMNT dominated Honduras in a 6-0 shutout.
The goals started early with Sebastian Lletget scoring in the 5th minute. Michael Bradley doubled the lead in the 27th. Clint Dempsey made it 3-0 USMNT in the 32nd minute. Pulisic extended the lead just after halftime. Dempsey scored his second goal of the game in the 49th minute and got his hat-trick in the 54th. Tim Howard kept the clean sheet making four saves.
USMNT coach Bruce Arena had to use two of his substitutions due to injury. Lletget had to leave the game in the 18th minute with an injured ankle. Alejandro Bedoya took his place. Arena made a tactical change in the 59th, bringing on Graham Zusi for Geoff Cameron. His final sub was due to injury, withJohn Brooks having to be stretchered off in the 70th. Arena brought on Tim Ream.
Elsewhere in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, Trinidad and Tobago shutout Panama 1-0 at home. Kevin Molino scored the game’s only goal in the 37th minute. Trinidad & Tobago goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams made two saves for the clean sheet.
At Estadio Azteca, Mexico shutout Costa Rica 2-0. Javier Hernandez opened the scoring for Mexico in the 7th minute with Nestor Araujo adding a goal in the 45th. Guillermo Ochoa kept the clean sheet.
Also on Friday, Haiti beat Nicaragua 3-1 in their qualifier for the 2017 Gold Cup. The winner over two legs joins the USMNT, Panama, and Martinique in Group B.
— GAME REPORT —
Match: U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Honduras
Date: March 24, 2017
Competition: 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – Qualifier
Venue: Avaya Stadium; San Jose, Calif.
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. PT
Attendance: 17,729
Weather: 56 degrees; raining
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 3 3 6
HON 0 0 0
USA – Sebastian Lletget
USA – Michael Bradley (Alejandro Bedoya) 27
USA – Clint Dempsey (Christian Pulisic) 32
USA – Christian Pulisic (Jozy Altidore) 46
USA – Clint Dempsey (Christian Pulisic) 49
USA – Clint Dempsey
Lineups:
USA: 1-Tim Howard; 2-Jorge Villafaña, 3-Omar Gonzalez, 6-John Brooks (14-Tim Ream, 70), 20-Geoff Cameron (19-Graham Zusi, 59); 4-Michael Bradley (capt.), 9-Sebastian Lletget (11-Alejandro Bedoya, 18), 10-Christian Pulisic, 15-Darlington Nagbe; 8-Clint Dempsey, 17-Jozy Altidore
Subs not used: 12-David Bingham, 22-Nick Rimando; 5-Matt Besler, 7-DaMarcus Beasley, 21-Walker Zimmerman; 13-Kellyn Acosta, 16-Sacha Kljestan, 23-Dax McCarty; 18-Chris Wondolowski
Head coach: Bruce Arena
HON : 22-Donis Escober; 7-Emilio Izaguirre (14-Boniek Garcia, 46), 3-Maynor Figueroa (capt.), 4-Henry Figueroa, 5-Ever Alvarado, 21-Brayan Beckeles; 20-Jorge Claros, 15-Roger Espinoza; 12-Romell Quioto (11-Erick Andino, 43) 19-Alberth Elis, 17-Andy Najar (8-Oliver Morazan, 61)
Subs not used: 1-Luis Lopez, 18-Ricardo Canales, 2-Felix Crisianto, 6-Allans Vargas, 23-Cesar Oseguera; 10-Mario Martinez, 16-Carlos Disuca, 9-Anthony Lozano, 13-Eddie Hernandez
Head coach: Jorge Luis Pinto
Stats Summary: USA / HON
Shots: 9 / 11
Shots on Goal: 8 / 4
Saves: 4 / 2
Corner Kicks: 0 / 7
Fouls: 15 / 8
Offside: 2 / 2
Misconduct Summary:
HON – Ever Alvarado (caution) 15th minute
USA – Geoff Cameron (caution) 25
Officials:
Referee: Walter Lopez (GUA)
Assistant Referee 1: Gerson Lopez (GUA)
Assistant Referee 2: Hermenerito Leal (GUA)
4th Official: Oscar Reyna (GUA)
