U.S. rout Honduras 6-0 in must-win World Cup qualifier

Attleboro, Mass. native Geoff Cameron got the start at right back for the USA, and went 59 minutes before he was subbed off for Graham Zusi. He’s everything you want in a winger-creative and quick, with a soft first touch and deft anticipation, capable of doing stuff like this against some of the stiffest competition in the whole world.

Mexico looked largely comfortable with their two-goal lead, but lost Hernandez with injury in the 66th minute. This was what was stuck in my head all game. “It’s what I love to do and we’ll see what’s left”. Lletget, however, was stationed at the far right post to poke home the rebound and record his first global goal. “I have to be on the field and do it”.

Honduras: Escober; Beckeles, Figueroa M, Alvarado, Figueroa H, Izaguirre (Garcia 45); Elis, Espinoza, Claros, Quioto (Andino 43); Najar (Morazán 61).

Pulisic gushed afterward that Dempsey is “easy” to play with. John Brooks and Omar Gonzalez will take the center back positions, while Jorge Villafana probably will play left fullback with DaMarcus Beasley as the alternative. If he can stay healthy throughout his career we may just be witnessing the birth of the greatest soccer player in USMNT history. “It’s obviously an honor, but I’m my own player as well, so I’m just trying to do it for me”. Javier Hernandez and Nestor Araujo scored the goals for Mexico, who lead with seven points from three games. Cameron, who is usually a starter in central defense, was forced out of necessity to play there, and Villafaña was solid in his first real opportunity with the national team. Donovan was an exciting and extremely good player for the USMNT, and a veritable icon of USA soccer, which is what Pulisic aspires to be. The win helped the United States climb off the bottom of the group into fourth place in the six-team standings with three points. A point away would be a positive result for the Hondurans and they will also try to capitalize on a vulnerable American team. It is not like he looks at the group and looks at our position in the standings and thinks, ‘Oh boy, we have got to protect ourselves, we have got to have a team that is only anxious about structure and discipline and making sure that we don’t concede’. They had to figure out their roles during the game, think about positioning, worry about where to take space. He capped the night with a stunning free kick and pounded his chest in a celebration that was equal parts “My heart is just fine” and “I’m still here, damn it”.

Does Bruce keep the same line up and mentality?

Arena, who replaced sacked coach Jurgen Klinsmann in November, is targeting six points from Friday’s game in San Jose and next week’s trip to face Panama in the CONCACAF regional qualifiers.

What about Clint Dempsey, does he start again?

“I owe a lot to Bruce”, Dempsey said. I’m not ready to call Arena a tactical genius, but he did make a couple of decisions that gave the team a lot of energy.

“He’s a beast”, United States midfielder Alejandro Bedoya said.

The next game will be telling.

The USA will dominate possession and chances and be buoyed at home in front of a loud San Jose crowd. It won’t be another 6-0 game, but 3-1 or even 1-0 and a total shut down of the Panamanian team would sell me 100%.

In a game that featured many strong performances from the American side, Pulisic was the best player on the field. “Christian is just starting and we don’t know what it’s going to look like 10 years down the road”.