The United States national team was dominant to close out the semifinal round of CONCACAF qualifying Wednesday night, taking a 2-0 victory against Guatemala at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Kenny Cooper gave the USA the lead in the 54th minute, then Freddy Adu finished off the match with a goal in the 69th minute.
Having already secured the top spot in their group and assured entry into the final hexagonal with 12 points from their first five matches, a U.S. squad full of fresh faces held their own against a determined Guatemalan side still clawing for a chance to advance, delighting a hearty crowd who braved the November night for the first World Cup qualifier ever played in Colorado.
The USA finished atop their group, and with Guatemala's loss, Trinidad & Tobago also qualified from Group 1, after defeating Cuba 1-0, also on Wednesday. They join Costa Rica and El Salvador from Group 3, and from Group 2, Honduras snatched a dramatic qualification with a 1-0 victory against Mexico, who also qualified, as Jamaica fell short despite a 3-0 win against Canada.
USA had no shortage of opportunities, putting pressure on Guatemalan goalkeeper Ricardo Jerez from the match's earliest moments. In the fourth minute, Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA) sprung Cooper, only to see the FC Dallas striker stumble as he entered the box, missing a one-on-one opportunity with Jerez.
The U.S. scarcely yielded possession to their Guatemalan guests in the first half, accounting for the dominance, but it was the relative youth of the squad that brought the refreshing part into play. With 13 players on the roster boasting 10 or fewer caps, the match was an opportunity for U.S. manager Bob Bradley to explore its depth and its future.
Freddy Adu - one of only two starters and three players in the U.S. team who don't currently play in MLS - showed his prowess throughout the match, pestering Jerez with relentless attacks on the net, including a 16th-minute shot from 30 yards off a corner kick, flying high over a leaping Jerez, and another in the 18th minute, taking a feed and shooting hard on goal, only to have his shot stopped by Jerez.
The 24-year-old Cooper had just two caps to his credit, but was emblematic of a U.S. side showing the poise and professionalism to compete on the world's stage.
Cooper and former New York Red Bulls striker Jozy Altidore, now at Villarreal in Spain, were equally omnipresent, constantly creating opportunities for the USA, and ensuring it was only matter of time before the odds fell their way and the Guatemalan defense yielded to the U.S. attack.
They finally found the net in the 54th minute, with U.S. captain Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids) and Adu taking possession on a counterattack, then Altidore finding Cooper in the area, with Cooper blasting his shot past Jerez for the game-winner.
Mastroeni got a hard shot on goal in the 63rd minute, but the Guatemalan 'keeper lunged for the ball, knocking it down it then smothering it, eliminating an chance for following up on the deflection.
Mastroeni was later shown a yellow card, earning him a suspension for the USA's next qualifier.
Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo) had his share of action as well, orchestrating a beautiful give-and-go midway through the first half, breaking free with the ball but kicking it to too far forward and yielding it to Jerez. He later lofted a perfect pass to Cooper in the box, and Cooper just missed a goal when his header bounced off the crossbar.
Adu had his crowning moment in the 69th minute, taking a direct kick from 20 yards and hitting the upper corner of the goal, just eluding the leaping 'keeper to solidify U.S. lead at 2-0.
USA 'keeper Brad Guzan had most of the night off, watching the backs of USA's impenetrable defense until the 85th minute, when Guillermo Ramirez broke through and unleashed a cannon that Guzan quickly smothered, dousing Guatemala's last hope of breaking through and advancing to the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for South Africa 2010.
Owen Perkins is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
