San Jose (March 24th, 2017)– From the first whistle, the U.S. Men’s National team played with an urgency that hasn’t been seen in quite a while. Five minutes in, they made it 1-0 and never looked back. With so much pressure coming into tonight’s match, Bruce Arena and his squad delivered.
US Men’s National Team Destroys Honduras Behind Clint Dempsey’s Hat-Trick
Coming into the match, there were so many questions about where the problems lied. Was it with the players underperforming? Was it all with Jurgen? Tonight, that was answered convincingly.
For the first time, in seemingly a long time, the US Men’s National Team played with a confidence and bravado that they lacked in the final stretch under Klinsmann. Michael Bradley commanded the middle of the field. John Brooks and Omar Gonzalez were rocks, and Clint Dempsey was the “Deuce” of old.
After Sebastian Lleget opened the scoring in the fifth minute, Michael Bradley caught Honduran Keeper, Donis Escobar, leaning the wrong way. After 30 minutes, it was 2-0. Then, Clint Dempsey and Christian Pulisic stole the show.
Pulisic flicked the ball over the backline to Dempsey who stroked the ball into the upper corner while being dragged to the ground. At half-time it was 3-0.
Right on halftime, Altidore played in Pulisic who promptly slotted home to open his USMNT Account in World Cup Qualifying. Then, three minutes later, Pulisic threaded the most pinpoint ball Dempsey could’ve asked for. Dempsey rounded Escobar and made it 5-0 with the route on. He added the most spectacular free kick to finish off his hat-trick, making it 6-0.
@thesuzzz @TedRameyMedia @robertjonas @futbolmonkey @RobStoneONFOX pic.twitter.com/B9cK3jvADX
— Aaron Tomaro (@AaronTomaro) March 25, 2017
The US Men’s National team came into the match in last place, with a negative five goal differential. In 55 minutes, they overturned that goal differential from -5, to +1. They now sit in fourth place, with seven matches to go in the hexagonal.
