USA 3, Honduras 2: The U.S. is in the 2010 World Cup.

2009-10-13T15:45:04-04:00

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras Three thoughts after the U.S.'s 3-2 victory against Honduras in Saturday's World Cup qualifier: * The U.S. is World Cup-bound for the sixth straight time. In one of the most remarkable halves in U.S. Soccer history, the Americans overcame a 1-0 deficit and scored three times to silence 45,000 Hondurans who were hoping to celebrate the country's biggest win in nearly three decades. Granted, Honduras isn't Brazil, but the U.S. could have folded after giving up a brutal goal in the 46th minute much like the one it allowed to Brazil in the Confederations Cup final (a 3-2 loss). Instead, the Yanks found the resolve to keep pushing and run off three unanswered strikes by Conor Casey (two) and Landon Donovan (one). If you were ever going to question the U.S.'s heart, this World Cup-bound team answered those questions tonight.   USA 3, Honduras 2: The U.S. is in the 2010 World Cup.

2009-10-11T00:03:46-04:00

2009-10-13T15:45:04-04:00

agscr1999

Avon 30290

84 http://www.facebook.com/friends/?id=9417379#/profile.php?id=9417379 Same name as young woman killed in Charlie Davies accident this morning who is friends with several major US players in DC area 7237086

2009-10-12T20:08:56-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/805/448/thumb/new_york_yankees_203d_20logo_20cool.gif 18 LA

BlueBlood2

Keithville 806108

83 Can`t wait for World Cup 2010....Go USA.. 7223211

2009-10-12T11:34:16-04:00

cjperil

Palo Alto 888354

82 Grant, I'm a big-time International Soccer fan and I've been to 3 World Cups. Your live reporting from Honduras was a godsend - want to give you a HUGE shout out for your efforts. I'll pick your book on Beckham for sure, and look forward to your reporting from South Africa 2010. 7215206

2009-10-12T11:16:29-04:00

thesocking

Belton 888347

81 awesome game. watched it the 810 Zone on the Plaza in Kansas City, MO which was one of the few bars in the country showing it. the satellite feed was horrible, but it was great to watch it in a side room with a couple hundred U.S. soccer fans. 7214703

2009-10-12T09:48:22-04:00

dhad

Burlington 888290

80 dalvarez14 has got it right. Strength, size and heart will only get you so far in the WC. We need midfielders (and backs) who have the quality to maintain possession when we are under pressure, keep the ball for long periods of time, (especially) when we get a lead. Our midfield has been poor at times and we can't rely on luck to win big games (Confed Cup). We need to control the game. 7212198

2009-10-12T01:01:47-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/596/536/thumb/Galaxy_logo.png 23 CA

GalaxyMan08

Pasadena 597176

78 I hope this team can go far. It might be wishful thinking, but that would be a great accomplishment if they can attempt to repeat their run from the ConFed Cup. Conner Casey has impressed me so far, and Stuart Holden is getting better. Hopefully Donovan and other veteran players can play to their potential and help the US advance to the knockout stages. I am not sure about incoming generations for the USMNT. I could be wrong, but this might be our best chance in 8 years or so. I would dearly love to be wrong. 7210424

2009-10-12T07:22:24-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/414/46/thumb/30092009594.jpg 691 BR

Raven1971

Manaus 41666

I hope this team can go far. It might be wishful thinking, but that would be a great accomplishment if they can attempt to repeat their run from the ConFed Cup.Conner Casey has impressed me so far, and Stuart Holden is getting better. Hopefully Donovan and other veteran players can play to their potential and help the US advance to the knockout stages.I am not sure about incoming generations for the USMNT. I could be wrong, but this might be our best chance in 8 years or so. I would dearly love to be wrong.

79 I'm of the mind that our best chance will actually come in 2014 - after our core group of players, including LD, will have four years of invaluable European experience combined with the geographic and climactic conditions that will undoubtedly wreak havoc with the Europeans, but with which we are already familiar given our own geography and climate in the States. For example, the national teams that play their third match of the group stage in Manaus or Cuiaba will be forced to train and play in temperatures of around 95-100 degrees with 100 percent humidity, then fly over 1,500 miles to play in 35-40 degrees with relatively little humidity in Sao Paulo or Porto Alegre (where it's winter in July). It's almost the equivalent of playing in Miami in March then playing in Columbus four days later. The Europeans won't be able to handle that very well, most assuredly, whereas our players, despite playing their club football in Europe, will at least have some experience with that type of situation. That's not to say that we can't or won't do well in South Africa - just that 2014 could be even bigger. 7210855

2009-10-12T01:01:47-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/596/536/thumb/Galaxy_logo.png 23 CA

GalaxyMan08

Pasadena 597176

2009-10-11T19:56:49-04:00

shanemoney

La Jolla 887946

77 As a long time galaxy fan, I have never been a bigger fan of carlos pavon than i am right now. I love you pavon, u r my favorite. As for Casey he is fat and slow but i love him too but he still should never play again 7207871

2009-10-11T18:02:32-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/531/098/thumb/Fire.jpg 537 IL

rhussmann

Chicago 531538

76 Yeah, I can't imagine FIFA setting aside a seed spot for the winner of CONCACAF. It might be nice though. I am hoping Wednesday, Bradley can try some new combinations in the midfield and up top even. I am even thinking they should play much like they did in the 2nd half against Honduras in which they seemed to allow Donovan to roam the field freely, basically setting up a 4-3-3. Either way, I do think the US will want to finish the year, and qualifiers off on a good note- and as I stated before- if anyone can find a copy of the feed from last night, right after the game ended- Bradley seemed to tell the Honduran coach that they would try to play for the win against Costa Rica. 7207090

2009-10-11T14:09:23-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/180/677/thumb/hannibal.jpg 1175 FL

salvaje50

Miami 180977

I do have a few questions though.so what type of team do we field on Wednesday against Costa Rica.if we finish first, do we get a better position later on in the group seeding. Or is it not going to matter.Are we going to do a favor to Honduras by try to get a revenge against Costa Rica or not.do we risk to injure one of our important players if the match does not have any specific implications for the USAhow does the FIFA powers to be look at all that?any answers...

69 I live here in Costa Rica and all my Tico friends thanked me this morning for the U.S helping them out last night. If Honduras beats El Salv, then the Ticos also have to win in oder to qualify. granted, winning in El Salv is no easy task (they are undeafeated at home in this hexagonal), but I do expect Honduras to rebound and find a way to get the win....Costa Rica has not won in the U.S in like 30 years. Do the U.S rest players who have yellow cards? if they get one against Costa Rica, do they miss the first game of the World Cup? Will we see Torres get some playing time? I would like to see Jozy get some more PT out there....he looked rusty. I see no need to start Ricardo Clark, lets give Benny a chance to make something happen. What about Guzan? Sounds like a good chance to give him a cap and give him more expereince. I think Howard is a little sick anyway. I have my own selfish reasons for wanting the Ticos to lose....I want to see them play Argentina here in the playoff! 7204848

2009-10-11T15:02:29-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/222/078/thumb/tribute_to_charlie_davies2-fannation.jpg 1138 GA

Manchester United-CR7=14-3-2

Atlanta 222378

Do the U.S rest players who have yellow cards? if they get one against Costa Rica, do they miss the first game of the World Cup?

75 I'm pretty sure the yellow cards suspensions reset after the end of the qualifying matches. As for the point about trying out new players here is a tweet from Grant Wahl: [i]B. Bradley says it's important for U.S. to win group. Fine. But anyone who thinks a WC seed is on the table for U.S. is smoking something.[/i] I still think, or hope, to see players like Torres, Guzan, Cooper, etc. who we have heard a lot about, but haven't seen much of. 7205199

<div class="photo_container image_right"> <div class="photo"><img src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/2009/soccer/10/11/us.wins.ap/inside-soccer.jpg" alt="Double Click to select a Photo" width="298" height="400" /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;">Landon Donovan and the U.S. are going to South Africa next summer. AP</div> </div> SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras -- Three thoughts after the U.S.' 3-2 victory against Honduras in Saturday's World Cup qualifier: • The U.S. is World Cup-bound for the sixth straight time. In one of the most remarkable halves in U.S. Soccer history, the Americans overcame a 1-0 deficit and scored three times to silence 45,000 Hondurans who were hoping to celebrate the country's biggest win in nearly three decades. Granted, Honduras isn't Brazil, but the U.S. could have folded after giving up a brutal goal in the 46th minute much like the one it allowed to Brazil in the Confederations Cup final (a 3-2 loss). Instead, the Yanks found the resolve to keep pushing and run off three unanswered strikes by Conor Casey (two) and Landon Donovan (one). If you were ever going to question the U.S.' heart, this World Cup-bound team answered those questions tonight. • The Hondurans are the chokers of CONCACAF. Amazingly, the Catrachos could have tied the game at 3-3 in the 87th minute, but Carlos Pavón sent his penalty kick over the bar after a Carlos Bocanegra hand-ball penalty in the box. If Honduras fails to reach the World Cup and it's now in fourth place headed for a playoff against perhaps Uruguay, this failure on its home field will be remembered here for decades. You might recall that Honduras was on the verge of qualifying for the World Cup on Matchday 9 at home in 2001, but it somehow lost to lowly Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 to miss a World Cup berth by three points. You have to feel for the Honduran fans, who could have used a night of exultation after their country has been going through a political crisis. • Man of the Match: Casey. There were a lot of raised eyebrows here in the press box when the U.S. lineup came out and Casey was listed at forward instead of Jozy Altidore. But Casey made Bob Bradley's gamble pay off, scoring the first two goals of his national-team career in the most important of circumstances. After a rough start dealing with aimless long balls from the U.S. back line, Casey recovered to play an important role holding the ball in the latter part of the first half. Then he lit it up in the second half, beating Honduran goalkeeper Noel Valladares to a high-ball for the 1-1 equalizer and finishing Donovan's brilliant through-ball for the 2-1 lead. Casey put an exclamation point on his breakout evening by earning the free kick that Donovan sent into the upper-right corner for the decisive goal. What are your thoughts on the game? Please post below. This is all from me tonight since I have to write a magazine story on deadline for tomorrow. Grant Wahl's New York Times Best Seller, The Beckham Experiment, is in bookstores everywhere. You can order it <a href="http://tinyurl.com/layry6" target="_blank">here</a>. You can also find him on <a href="http://twitter.com/GrantWahl" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. 80781 http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/194/315/thumb/wahl_grant.jpg 11 MD

Grant Wahl

Baltimore 194615