Jurgen Klinsmann and his USA squad made it 3-for-3 in June World Cup qualifiers as they topped Honduras 1-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium on Tuesday night.
We are going to Brazil.
That was the chant from the crowd at Rio Tinto Stadium as the US National Team finished off a dream June with a 1-0 win over Honduras, marking their third win of the month in World Cup Qualifying. The US stormed to the top of the Hexagonal Round at 4-1-1, two points ahead of Costa Rica and five points clear of Mexico.
The song may be a bit premature, but all four previous teams that had reached 13 points through six matches in the Hexagonal Round advanced to the World Cup.
While Sounders representatives Brad Evans and Eddie Johnson each scored in prior victories over Jamaica and Panama, it was Jozy Altidore that would score the game-winner on Tuesday in Sandy, Utah. His 73rd minute goal was his fourth in the last four matches for the US, including three World Cup qualifiers and a friendly against Germany.
Evans and Johnson were far from quiet though, as they concluded an excellent run for the month.
The first good chance for the US came in the 17th minute when Johnson’s first-time shot from the middle of the box was saved by Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares.
In the 56th minute, Evans got on the end of a free kick from Graham Zusi and Valladares was again there for the stop.
Sounders FC midfielder Mario Martinez was a threat for Honduras as well, but the visitors took a decidedly defensive posture and only really threatened in dead-ball situations. As their free kick specialist, Martinez took many of those chances and while several were dangerous, none got past Tim Howard.
Martinez would play 69 minutes and Johnson played 87 while Evans went the full 90. All three are scheduled to return to Seattle on Wednesday and are expected to be at training with the Sounders on Thursday ahead of their match against Real Salt Lake on Saturday back at Rio Tinto Stadium.
The US has four matches remaining in the Hexagonal Round. In the next series they play at Costa Rica on September 6 and host Mexico on September 10 in Columbus, Ohio. Their final two matches will be in Kansas City on October 11 against Jamaica before finishing at Panama on October 15.
