After a terrible showing Wednesday in Costa Rica and despite a crowd in Chicago that rooted more for their opponent than them, the US Men's National Team got back on the winning track, extending their string of FIFA World Cup qualifying game victories at home to 17 and against CONCACAF foes to 53 by edging Honduras, 2-1, Saturday at Soldier Field.
Just like Wednesday's game, the US gave up an early point as Wilson Palacios connected with Carlos Costly in the fifth minute to take the lead.
However, Landon Donovan became the US team's all-time leading goal scorer against CONCACAF competition with a 43rd minute penalty kick to knot the game at halftime. Donovan (11) overtook Brian McBride (10) for the honor.
In the second half, Clint Dempsey assisted team captain Carlos Bocanegra on the game-winning goal in the 61st minute as the US went to 3-1-1 with 10 points in the first half of the World Cup qualifying season in CONCACAF, two points Costa Rica (4-1-0, 12) and six ahead of Honduras (1-2-1, 4), who are in third.
After 10 games, the top three teams in the hexagonal round will automatically qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The fourth-place team will have to play the fifth-place team from South America in a two-game series for a World Cup berth.
The US takes a break from WCQ play to compete in the Confederations Cup tournament in South Africa against Italy (June 15), Brazil (June 18) and Egypt (June 21) and participate in the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament July 4-26 before starting the final half of the qualifying round August 12 at Mexico.
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