One game into the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for a berth in World Cup 2014 in Brazil, Jurgen Klinsmann and his U.S. MNT find them- selves at the bottom of the six-team stand- ings.
The U.S., which dropped a 2-1 decision on the road in Honduras to open the Hex- agonal, was the only team to lose.
Jamaica went to Mexico City and came home with an improbable 0-0 draw with Mexico. Costa Rica, the USA’s next oppo- nent, came back from a 2-0 deficit to draw 2-2 with Panama.
The U.S., playing without starters Steve Cherundolo and Landon Donovan, played well enough to earn a tie, but not good enough to secure a win. Honduras got the game winner with about eight minutes left in regulation on a defensive breakdown.
With three of their first four games on the road, the U.S. can’t afford to leave any points on the table. That makes the second game, a home meeting with Costa Rica on March 22, that much more important. The game will be played at altitude in Commerce City, Colorado. After that home matches, comes road trips to Mexico City and to Jamacia. The loss to Honduras marked the first time the U.S. has lost to open the final round of qualifying.
Three teams out of the six in the Hexagonal get straight into the World Cup. The #4 finisher will play a two-game series with the Oceania winner for the final ticket to Brazil.
Against Costa Rica, Cherundolo is not expected to be back from surgery on his injured knee that kept him out of the opening game. It has been reported that Donovan will return from his sabatical from the game, but nothing official from the USA’s all-time leading scorer.