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SANDY — The U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team got one step closer to Brazil and the 2014 World Cup with a 1-0 win over Honduras at Rio Tinto Stadium Tuesday night.
“First and foremost, huge compliment to the team,” said U.S. Soccer head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. “It has been exactly what we had expected — a very difficult game because we expected them to play very defensively.”
U.S. Soccer forward Jozy Altidore put the USMNT on the board late in the 73rd minute, which was the fourth consecutive match he has scored in. The goal also made him just the sixth USMNT player to score in four straight matches.
“We are very happy for Jozy,” said Klinsmann. “We always told him from a coaching perspective that it takes a lot of hard work, it takes a lot of adjustment, it takes the right moment to be there, it takes hunger and the energy he’s put in now the last four, five games has been tremendous. It’s not only that he scored those goals, the work that he does for the team is awesome.”
Tuesday’s match was the last the USMNT will play for nearly three months before it returns to World Cup qualifying and four more matches, to complete the second half of the hexagonal.
First and foremost, huge compliment to the team. It has been exactly what we had expected — a very difficult game because we expected them to play very defensively.
–Jurgen Klinsmann
Despite the lengthy break ahead and the spot the United States has secured at the top of the hexagonal table for now, the finish line is not quite in its sights just yet.
“We’re not talking about the finish line,” said Klinsmann. “We have four games to go and yes, it gives us a good feeling to be on top of the table. Especially when you go on a stretch of almost three months until your next qualifier, that’s what you want to have. The team has exceeded in doing that. It makes them feel good and we know that once we get together again in September it’s going to be another grind.”
Although the USMNT won’t return to World Cup qualifying until September, it will return to Rio Tinto Stadium for a CONCACAF Gold Cup match in just a few weeks on July 13 to host Cuba.
Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman and goalkeeper Nick Rimando both dressed for the match and were on the bench, but did not see any minutes. Both Beckerman and Rimando along with RSL teammate defender Tony Beltran have all been named to the preliminary roster for that July Gold Cup match at Rio Tinto. Kira Terry is a sports writer covering Real Salt Lake for KSL.com. Follow her on Twitter, @kiraterry.
