U.S. men happy but hurting
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Just before they walked onto the field for a critical World Cup qualifier, American players received a message from Bruce Arena.
“I have this copyrighted, but it was something to the effect of: first shot, first tackle, first goal,” the returning coach said. “I have T-shirt rights to that.”
Their response was emphatic, elders and youth alike.
Clint Dempsey came back from an irregular heartbeat at age 34 to score his second international hat trick, 18-year-old phenom Christian Pulisic had one goal and set up three others, and the U.S. routed Honduras 6-0 Friday night to get back in contention for an eighth straight World Cup berth.
“Three massive points,” captain Michael Bradley said. “No two ways about that.”
Surprise starter Sebastian Lletget got his first international goal in the fifth minute after Pulisic’s shot deflected off the goalkeeper, Michael Bradley doubled the lead in the 27th and Dempsey scored off Pulisic’s perfectly weighted chip in the 32nd.
Finding room to maneuver in a central midfield role, Pulisic made it 4-0 just 12 seconds into the second half with his fourth international goal. Dempsey rounded the keeper to score following a feed from Pulisic in the 49th, and Dempsey got another on a 23-yard free kick in the 54th. With 55 international goals, Dempsey moved within two of Landon Donovan’s American record.
“I’m a fighter,” Dempsey said. “Look for the opportunity to get out there and show that I should be around still.”
In its first competitive match since Arena replaced Jurgen Klinsmann, the U.S. moved from last to fourth in the final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region, tied at three points with Honduras and with Trinidad and Tobago but ahead on goal difference. Mexico leads with seven points, followed by Costa Rica with six and Panama with four.
The top three nations qualify for next year’s tournament in Russia, and the fourth-place nation advances to a playoff. With a victory at Panama on Tuesday, the Americans could move into the top three.
“If we get a result in Panama, things change fast,” midfielder Alejandro Bedoya said.
But yesterday there was some bad news, as Lletget, defenders John Brooks and Michael Orozco, and forward Jordan Morris were dropped by Arena, who added forward Paul Arriola yesterday.
“Unfortunate series of injuries and illnesses, and that’s all part of it,” Arena said yesterday after a light training session.
Midfielder Jermaine Jones will return after serving a one-game suspension Friday for yellow-card accumulation.