The U.S. Men’s National Team opened the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup with a 2-1 win over Honduras at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Seattle Sounders forward Clint Dempsey scored both goals as the U.S. MNT moved to the top of Group C after the first round of matches.
Sporting KC midfielder Graham Zusi earned his 30th cap for the national team when he entered the match in the 87th minute for LA Galaxy forward Gyasi Zardes. The match was Zusi’s second for the national team in 2015 after playing 45 minutes in last Friday’s 4-0 win over Guatemala.
The United States withstood early pressure for the Hondurans and took a 1-0 lead through Dempsey in the 25th minute. After Michael Bradley’s corner kick bounced into the penalty box untouched, the ball popped out to Toronto FC teammate Jozy Altidore at the six-yard box. Honduran goalkeeper Donis Escober saved Altidore’s shot attempt, but the rebound fell directly to Dempsey who headed the ball into the empty net.
The home side doubled its lead in the 62nd minute with a pair of MLS players combining for the goal when Bradley whipped a free kick to the back post. Dempsey beat his mark and redirected a header past Escober for his 43rd goal with the national team. The Sounders striker is second on the team’s all-time scoring chart behind Landon Donovan (57)
The United States will now travel to Foxborough, Massachusetts to take on Haiti on Friday evening. The match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1. Jurgen Klinsmann’s side will conclude the Gold Cup group stage on July 13 when they host Panama at Sporting Park.
In the first game of today’s Gold Cup doubleheader, Panama and Haiti tied 1-1. Former Sporting KC defender Mechack Jerome started and played 90 minutes for Haiti.
