The U.S. soccer team scored a perfect nine points for the month with its defeat of Honduras in a World Cup qualifier match in Salty Lake City Tuesday night. The US remains in first place in the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying in a six-team tournament with four games to play, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The only goal of the game came from Jozy Altidore late in the final 45. The win mean the U.S. will have no worse than a two-point lead overall following another World Cup qualifier match between Costa Rica and Panama late Tuesday. Its first-place standing means automatic entry into the 2014 World Cup to take place in Brazil.
While the U.S. kept Honduras on its toes, gaining the better part of possession the entire game, its foe's defensive line, particularly goaltender Noel Valladares, kept the squad shut out for much of the night. It wasn't until the 73rd minute of play when Graham Zusi sent the ball to Fabian Johnson. Altidore was trailing the play and cut behind his defender, receiving a pass from Johnson at the penalty line, kicking it into a wide-open net.
The U.S. had a few chances to score earlier, with defender Brad Evans passing to Zusi in the 56th minute. Zusi, however, could not get a handle on the ball and it bounced out of play. Just three minutes later, Altidore landed the ball into the net only to have it overruled as offside. Around the 63rd minute of play, there was a fuss near Honduras' net, giving the U.S. at least three chances to score, but no one was able to make a play connect.
Altidore's goal means he's had four in just as many games. The U.S. remains undefeated in the last five qualifier, winning three. The American squad has now won 25 straight games at home since September 2011. Qualifying for the World Cup starts again Sept. 6, with the U.S. making an appearance in Costa Rica before hosting neighbor Mexico in Ohio.
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