Men’s soccer team routs Honduras in World Cup qualifier.
Dempsey dazzles with hat trick, teen Pulisic shows off skills in an American onslaught
SAN JOSE — Bruce Arena just wanted three points in his return to the U.S. soccer team Friday night at Avaya Stadium.
Clint Dempsey just wanted to reaffirm his status as a worldclass scorer.
Then there was midfielder Christian Pulisic, 18, on the cusp of becoming a breakout star.
It added up to a definitive statement about the Americans’ chances of reaching the 2018 World Cup. Call it the Rout in the Rain. Dempsey, who missed eight months after learning he had an irregular heartbeat in August, returned to the national team with venom, scoring a hat trick as the United States flattened Honduras 6-0 on a wet night in San Jose.
With Pulisic proving ever bit as good as advertised, the United States roared back in the final round of World Cup qualifying for its first victory in the Hexagonal.
Pulisic had a goal and three assists and Dempsey added three marvelous strikes to propel a relentless attack in front of a boisterous crowd of 17,729.
Dempsey has 55 interna-
tional goals, only two shy of all-time U.S. leader Landon Donovan.
Dempsey, 34, joined the team Monday, a day after playing for the Seattle Sounders FC.
After one practice, Arena knew the lanky striker would start against Honduras with Bobby Wood and former Stanford star Jordan Morris nursing injuries.
“We didn’t have anyone else,” Arena said.
The Americans didn’t need much else after starting the day in last place in the six-team final round. The United States had lost twice in November to Mexico and Costa Rica, leading to the firing of Jurgen Klinsmann and the return of Arena, who led the United States to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup.
It looked as if the move worked Friday in a supreme moment for American soccer.
The Honduras game started a pivotal week for the Americans, who needed a victory to launch a rally in the final eight games of the North and Central America and Caribbean region (CONCACAF).
The top three teams will advance to the World Cup in Russia. The fourth-place finisher will enter a playoff against Asia’s No. 5 team. The United States got a break before kickoff when Trinidad and Tobago defeated Panama, which plays host to the Americans on Tuesday.
Arena turned to some of America’s most experienced players to salvage the World Cup hopes as defender Geoff Cameron, goalkeeper Tim Howard and Dempsey rejoined the team after various ailments had sidelined them.
“We’re pretty unfazed now because we’ve seen it all,” said Howard, who had four saves.
Yet it was Borussia Dortmund’s Pulisic who showed celestial skill in the central midfield. It started in the fifth minute when he took a pass from Jozy Altidore and charged to the left to draw Honduran goalkeeper Donis Escober. Pulisic targeted the far post, where fellow national team newcomer Sebastian Lletget was alone.
Lletget, who grew up in South San Francisco, scored his first international goal before having to leave in the 18th minute with a left ankle injury. The Los Angeles Galaxy’s rising star got knocked down from behind, leading to Ever Alvarado’s yellow card.
Arena said Lletget, 24, will get examined Saturday before determining his availability next week. He was wearing a boot after the game.
“As important as it is to have young stars like Christian and Sebastian, it’s just as important to have guys like Clint and Timmy Howard,” said Michael Bradley, who scored the team’s second goal.
It sure did on a glorious night when U.S. soccer coalesced into a beautiful game.
In other regional games, Mexico took over first place with a 2-0 victory over Costa Rica, and Trinidad joined the Americans with its first victory, 1-0 over Panama.
Brandi Chastain, San Jose’s hometown star, was inducted Friday into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame during a ceremony before the U.S.-Honduras qualifying game. Chastain joined fellow U.S. national team player Shannon MacMillan and Soccer America editor Paul Kennedy for the class of 2016.