'Your papers, please' must never be heard in America
Clint Dempsey put the Americans ahead in the 36th minute but the Americans, using a new-look defense that featured Omar Gonzalez and Timmy Chandler, gave up the lead when Juan Carlos Garcia tied the score in the 40th at San Pedro Sula.
The 30-year-old midfielder, a veteran of three World Cups and the American career leader in goals and assists, is taking a break from soccer following the Los Angeles Galaxy's second straight Major League Soccer title.
With injuries to Steve Cherundolo and Fabian Johnson, and Danny Williams' lack of playing time, the U.S. has defensive worries heading into next week's World Cup qualifier at Honduras, the opener in the final round to get to next year's tournament in Brazil.
The primary objective for the United States against Guatemala was a win or at worst a draw, and squeaking through to the next round of World Cup qualifying.
The primary objective for the United States against Guatemala was a win or at worst a draw, and squeaking through to the next round of World Cup qualifying.
There's humbleness to Graham Zusi that belies his artistry. On the field, he is respected as a risk-taker, as an author of visionary passing and stunning strikes. But off it, he's calm. He's calculated. Never high, never low.
Spurred on by a roaring crowd decked out in red, white and blue, the United States used all of that emotion as fuel to pull off a significant World Cup qualifying victory.
Graham Zusi notched the winning goal and his 10th assist to lift Sporting Kansas City to a 2-1 win over D.C. United and into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference on Saturday night.
To Major League Soccer, the All-Star Game in recent years had become, in some regards, a sore subject. Envisioned as a spotlight for the league's top talent, the midsummer spectacle instead developed into an arbitrary symbol for how far soccer in the U.S. still has to go.
At 34 years old, Chelsea FC midfielder Frank Lampard has experienced his fair share of American tours. And over time, one thing has become clear: The "beautiful game" is growing.
D.C. United coach Ben Olsen will be in charge of at least one familiar face when he leads the MLS All-Stars against Chelsea FC later this month, as United captain Dwayne De Rosario was named Sunday to the fan-voted All-Star First XI.
It looked like D.C. United were going to escape with a scoreless tie against Sporting Kansas City in the club's season-opener at RFK Stadium on Saturday night before 16,314 fans.
C.J. Sapong is coming off a standout season with Sporting Kansas City that earned him MLS Rookie of the Year honors. To top off a memorable campaign, the Manassas native last month received his first call-up to the U.S. national team.
"Landon has been such a mainstay in this team. That position has been locked up for quite some time now," Zusi said. "Any chance that he's not here is a chance for someone else to come in."
U.S. to continue World Cup qualifying run Wednesday without Landon Donovan →
"It was a great learning experience," Zusi said. "All I could really ask for was to come to training every day and try to continue to get better. They were constantly telling me just to be patient and not get frustrated."
U.S. Soccer: Ex-Terp Graham Zusi excels on MLS, international stages →
