The U.S. men’s national soccer team qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa next summer with a stunning 3–2 victory over Honduras on Saturday night. They have secured one of three automatic berths for South Africa out of the CONCACAF region.
The star in Honduras for the Americans was powerful replacement striker Conor Casey who scored twice. Casey was preferred over Jozy Altidore. Clint Dempsey was injured and did not play for the U.S.
Landon Donovan added the third American goal which gave the U.S. a 3–1 lead over their hosts after 70 minutes of play.
The win by the U.S. marked Honduras’s first home loss in the tournament.
“This isn’t an easy place to play,” Donovan said. “No one else has won here in qualifying and we just did.”
Julio Leon scored twice for Honduras but Carlos Pavon missed a penalty kick, which would have tied the game at 3–3. With the loss Honduras falls to fourth place with 13 points. If Honduras finishes in fourth, they will have to face the fifth place team in South America for a World Cup finals berth.
Mexico also secured one of the automatic berths with a 4–1 home victory over El Salvador. Mexico is in second place in the six-team round robin tournament with 18 points, one behind the U.S.
Costa Rica trounced Trinidad & Tobago 4–0 and currently sits in third place in the six-team round robin tournament with 15 points.
The U.S. will host Costa Rica on Wednesday to wrap up their World Cup qualifying campaign. Mexico travels to Trinidad & Tobago, while El Salvador hosts Honduras.
