USA vs. Honduras: Highlights and recap
USA put on an impressive display as they scored at will in a must-win World Cup Qualifier against Honduras on Friday, March 24.
The USMNT needed a bold statement against Honduras to get their 2018 World Cup qualification campaign back on track. In front of a boisterous home crowd in San Jose, California they did just that.
In his first important match back in charge of the U.S., head coach Bruce Arena selected a lineup that left USMNT supporters salivating. Darlington Nagbe and Christian Pulisic were deployed on the wings. Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore were partnered together up top. Geoff Cameron was inserted at right fullback. In short, Arena made the right decisions.
His players responded by banging in six goals. Honduras was at a total loss as to how to deal with the American attackers. Pulisic ran wild – he was involved in three goals, assisting on one and scoring another. The other was the first USMNT goal, in which his deflected shot was steered in by a charging Sebastian Lletget in the fifth minute.
Jozy Altidore didn’t find the back of the net, but the big forward was immense. It was his passing, believe it or not, that made a huge impact on the game. On two occasions, he sent sublimely chipped passes into the penalty area that led to goals.
And then there’s Clint Dempsey. Deuce is most definitely back. All he did was a score a hat trick. And, to think, in the months leading up to this match it was expected that he wouldn’t even be apart of the squad for the qualifiers against Honduras and Panama. But, after returning from a heart condition that left him sidelined for months, Dempsey proved his fitness by putting in fine performances for the Seattle Sounders in the opening games of the MLS season.
An injury to in-form striker Bobby Wood forced Arena to start Dempsey, who was thought would take on a super sub role after being selected to the roster. He looked like the old Deuce on Friday night, continually getting in dangerous positions and showcasing his lethal finishing ability.
The back four were solid, and Michael Bradley was effective in a deep-lying playmaker role. The U.S. captain even chipped in with a fantastic strike from outside the box.
Hope has returned for the USMNT after Friday’s dominating victory. They moved up to fourth in the hexagonal. A win away to Panama on Tuesday would see them move up to third, with World Cup qualification firmly in view.
Highlights
WATCH: Altidore finds Pulisic, whose saved shot is tapped home by Lletget. 1-0 USA (via @FoxSoccer) https://t.co/iqUeYX8qUA #USAvHON
— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) March 25, 2017
Bradley: Nobody wants to tackle me?
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 25, 2017
Honduras: Nah we're good.
Bradley: #USAvHON #USMNT https://t.co/wr8hDW9IJy
Welcome back to the #USMNT and have yourself a goal, @clint_dempsey–with the assist to Pulisic (via @FoxSoccer) https://t.co/g5kNrKQLoG
— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) March 25, 2017
Let's go back. This is how Pulisic got the 2nd half started. @cpulisic_10 #USMNT #USAvHON https://t.co/QVKal3UYAY
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/ussoccer/status/845501843580973056
SAVAGE DEMPSEY Hattrick and 2 goals away from Donovan's Goal record 6-0 #USMNT #USAvsHON pic.twitter.com/MQjNbIlkzh
— Lunacy Soccer (@LunacySoccer) March 25, 2017
Huge statement win for the USMNT.