US Men Cruise Over Guatemala 4-0

After a sloppy first half, the U.S. men had a 1-0 halftime lead over Guatemala courtesy of an own goal.  The game played at LP Field in Nashville, attracted a crowd of over 44,000, a record for a soccer game in the state of Tennessee.

After Jozy Altidore’s penalty kick attempt was saved in the first half, Clint Dempsey made it 3-0 in the second half, scoring on a penalty kick  It was the second of three unanswered goals for the USA.

The second goal was a laser from outside the penalty area by Timmy Chandler. It was his first international goal while wearing a U.S uniform.

Chris Wondolowski’s tap-in off a beautiful Gyasi Zardes run helped the Americans overwhelm the Guatemalans.

The opening goal came in the 19th minute with the help of Guatemala, after a DeAndre Yedlin’s cross was headed into his own goal by Guatemala’s Carlos Castrillo.

U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann used all six substitutions relatively early in the second half and the result was a much better half of action, with Zardes stepping and making a strong impact on the left wing.

Chandler shook off a shaky first half to deliver his U.S. goal in the 58th minute off a left-footed blast from distance.

Michael Bradley helped make it 3-0 in the 71st minute when he drew a penalty kick that Dempsey converted calmly down the middle.

Zardes helped make it 4-0 in the 86th minute when he raced onto a Dempsey pass and dribbled into the penalty area before sliding a pass to a racing Wondolowski, who converted the chance to seal the victory.

The U.S. kicks off its Gold Cup on Tuesday against Honduras at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.