FRISCO, Texas – Clint Dempsey knows a thing or two about shining in the state of Texas.
Only this time, it was on the international stage, as the Nacadoches, Texas native’s two header goals gave the US national team a 2-1 victory Tuesday night over Honduras and three points to kick off the 2015 Gold Cup.
“I think when you score two goals, you’ve got to be happy with Clint,” said US head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. “He’s doing what he does best. He’s scoring.”
Just before the tournament began, Klinsmann transferred captain duties from Dempsey to midfielder Michael Bradley, citing that he wanted the Seattle Sounders star to focus on goal scoring and less on the extra responsibilities.
With his sixth and seventh career Gold Cup goals, he validated his coach’s decision, pushing the Americans' record in Gold Cup openers to 13-0-0.
“You go through those moments when you’ve made a mistake or done something wrong, and all you want to do is want to move on,” Klinsmann said, referencing Dempsey’s recent breakdown during a June 16 US Open Cup against the Portland Timbers that resulted in a three-game MLS suspension and two-year ban from the tournament. “And as a striker, what you want to do the most is scoring. You live for that as a striker. You just want to put the ball in the net, which he did two times tonight.”
The different nature of Dempsey’s 42nd and 43rd career international goals proves why he is still touted as one of the most valuable members of the USMNT, who are 6-0-1 against Honduras in the tournament.
The first connection was a product of quick reflexes and alertness, as fellow forward Jozy Altidore fired what could have been the game’s opener if not for a quality save by Honduras goalkeeper Donis Escober. But after the ball quickly caromed off of Escober’s outstretched foot, Dempsey was in perfect position to fire it right back into the opposite corner with the top of his head.
The second connection was a textbook example of a perfectly executed set piece, as Bradley – who won his 100th USMNT cap – lobbed a cross into the penalty box to Dempsey, who was charging from the outside. After noticing Escober stop in his tracks after initially charging out of the net, Dempsey headed the ball into the ground to bounce it past the Honduran ‘keeper.
“The first goal was maybe a little bit lucky because the keeper made a save, and it came to me, and I didn’t really get much on it. But it happened to be right in the right place,” Dempsey said. “The second goal was just a good ball in from Michael, and I wasn’t really being marked, so I was able to get a good look on goal.”
It wasn’t the first time Dempsey has put on a show for fans at Toyota Stadium. He posted a brace in Frisco against FC Dallas in March 2014 and regularly wowed local soccer fans as he was growing up.
But this time, the Texan was able to win one for his country near his old stomping grounds.
“It always feels good, whether you play with the national team or whether you play club ball, to be able to come here,” Dempsey said after the match. “It’s where I developed a lot of my game, driving back and forth from Nacadoches. It always feels good to be home.”
