USMNT routs Guatemala 4-0 in final pre-CONCACAF Gold Cup friendly
The U.S. men's national team heads into the CONCACAF Gold Cup with another victory under its belt.
Jurgen Klinsmann's charges earned a 4-0 win over Guatemala in front of 44,835 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, Friday night, augmenting a first-half own goal with a Timmy Chandler golazo, Clint Dempsey penalty and Chris Wondolowski tally in the second half to coast by their regional foes.
The USA took a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute on an own goal, as Guatemala's Carlos Castrillo headed a DeAndre Yedlin cross into his own net. The tally came moments after Jozy Altidore had a penalty kick saved by goalkeeper Paulo Motta. Altidore had been yanked down by Wilson Lalin while streaking down the center of the Guatemala box trying to meet a Fabian Johnson cross.
Motta guessed correctly on the spot kick, though, diving low and to his right and denying Altidore a chance to score his third national team goal of the year.
USMNT has slow start, strong finish in Gold Cup tune-up vs. Guatemala
Guatemala had a golden chance to pull even at the start of the second half after both teams had made multiple changes. Seattle Sounders midfielder Marco Pappa sent a free kick toward former MLS veteran Carlos Ruiz, and it was spilled by USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan. Jose Contreras had the loose ball fall right to him in the center of the U.S. box, but facing an empty net, he pushed his chance to the right of the post.
Guatemala would rue that missed opportunity, as the USA turned up the heat soon after.
Chandler doubled the USA's advantage with his first international goal in 22 appearances. He cut in from the right flank, took a look up and laced a left-footed blast that gave Motta no chance in the 58th minute.
Later on, Michael Bradley was taken down in the Guatemala box by Castrillo for the USA's second penalty of the night, and Dempsey stepped up and scored, opting to go for the Panenka to make it 3-0 in the 72nd minute.
Wondolowski capped the scoring in the 86th minute, touching home from the doorstep after Gyasi Zardes took a pass from Dempsey, beat his defender to the end line, kept the ball in play and passed off the outside of his right foot to the San Jose Earthquakes star.
The USA begins its Gold Cup title defense on Tuesday night, playing Honduras at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
Here's how the match unfolded:
ROSTERS
USA
GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), William Yarbrough (Club Leon)
DEFENDERS: Ventura Alvarado (Club America), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Greg Garza (Atlas), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers)
MIDFIELDERS: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
GUATEMALA
GOALKEEPERS: Victor Ayala (Antigua GFC), Ricardo Jerez (Alianza Petrol), Paulo Motta (Municipal)
DEFENDERS: Carlos Castrillo (Comunicaciones), Stefano Cincotta (Chemnitzer), Moises Hernandez (FC Dallas), Wilson Lalin (Comunicaciones), Dennis Lopez (Municipal), Ruben Morales (Comunicaciones), Elias Enoc Vasquez (Real Salt Lake)
MIDFIELDERS: Jorge Aparicio (Comunicaciones), Gerardo Arias (Petapa), Jose Contreras (Comunicaciones), Carlos Figueroa (Comunicaciones), Kendel Herrarte (Comunicaciones), Brandon De Leon (Comunicaciones), Jonathan Marquez (Comunicaciones), Carlos Mejia (Comunicaciones), Marco Pappa (Seattle Sounders)
FORWARDS: Jairo Arreola (Comunicaciones), Edgar Chinchilla (Antigua GFC), Minor Lopez (Atlético CP), Carlos Ruiz (Municipal)