Chicago, IL (My Sportsbook) - United States captain Carlos Bocanegra scored on a diving header in the 69th minute, lifting the Americans to a 2-1 victory over Honduras in FIFA World Cup qualifying on Saturday night at Soldier Field.
The U.S., which lost at Costa Rica 3-1 on Wednesday, rebounded well to stay in second place in CONCACAF qualifying for the 2010 Cup in South Africa. The U.S. trails Costa Rica by two points in the final group stage. The top three teams automatically qualify for the World Cup.
Landon Donovan also scored for the U.S., which fell behind in the fifth minute but overcame the deficit with a starting lineup featuring four changes from the midweek loss.
The United States, which allowed a goal just 72 seconds into the loss to Costa Rica, allowed another early goal against Honduras.
American midfielder Clint Dempsey turned the ball over in the midfield circle to fellow English Premier League player Wilson Palacios, and the Honduran made a nice run to set up the goal.
Palacios took the ball about 25 yards and, as he started to lose his balance, slipped a pass to his left to Carlos Costly. The Honduran striker blasted a 22- yard shot around a diving Tim Howard and perfectly into the lower-left corner.
The United States, which gave up another early goal against Costa Rica to fall behind 2-0 after 13 minutes, settled in better against Honduras.
Donovan delivered a free kick from the right in the 20th that cleared traffic in the area and fell to Bocanegra, but the ball got tangled in his feet and the captain wasn't able to take a shot.
Forward Conor Casey, who was called into the team Thursday and handed a start, followed with a great scoring chance off a volley from 16 yards, but the shot sailed over the bar.
Dempsey nearly made up for his early mistake when he sprung right back Jonathan Spector - another new starter - with a back heel down the right side. Spector took the ball deep into the box and slipped a pass through the area but, just as Casey was sliding in to tap the ball into the net, Honduras goalkeeper Noel Vallardes lunged to get a slight touch on it to deflect it out of danger.
The Americans finally broke through with some help from Honduras defender Mario Beata, who played the ball with his hand just inside the box. Donovan was a few steps behind Beata, who didn't seem to intentionally play the ball, but referee Mauricio Rafael had to award a penalty.
Donovan slotted the penalty high and to the right, and the rocket sailed over the outstretched arm of Vallardes and into the back of the net in the 43rd. It was his ninth in his last 23 international matches - and seventh from the spot.
Honduras, which did little after taking the early lead, threatened early in the second half and had a ball cleared off the line by American midfielder Ricardo Clark - also a new starter.
U.S. coach Bob Bradley started making more changes early in the second half and Benny Feilhaber, who had just come into the match, set up Dempsey on the right side with a perfect cross. Dempsey tried to one-time the shot, and hit it off target in the 61st.
The United States pulled in front in the 69th when Donovan delivered a corner from the left and found Dempsey at the far post. Dempsey did well to head the ball down and into the middle of the area, and Bocanegra charged in and dove to head the ball in traffic. Bocanegra's shot, from just a few yards, sneaked past Vallardes and into the net.
Danilo Turcios had a chance to level for Honduras in the 82nd, but an open shot from the edge of the six-yard box was drilled wide. The Hondurans had another chance on a scrum in the area a minute later, but Clark rescued the U.S. again by clearing the ball out of danger with Howard off his line.
Feilhaber, who is returning to full health and could regain a starting role in midfield this summer, had the United States' final chance in the 89th on a nice twisting shot, but Vallardes made his first and only save of the match.
The United States extended its home winning streak against CONCACAF teams to 53 games (43-0-10). The U.S. travels to South Africa for the Confederations Cup in just a few days, plays the Gold Cup in June and resumes World Cup qualifying on Aug. 12 at Mexico.
In Saturday's other CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, Costa Rica strengthened its grip on first in the group with a 3-2 win over Trinidad and Tobago, and Mexico lost at El Salvador, 2-1, to slip to fourth in the group.
El Salvador moved ahead of Honduras into third. The fourth place CONCACAF team will play the fifth-place team from South America in a two-game playoff for a berth in the World Cup.
