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The United States national team squandered a 1-0 first half lead to lose their first Qualifier of the Hexagonal round 2-1 to Honduras in Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano this afternoon.
Clint Dempsey scored the lone goal for the US, before Honduras got goals from Juan Garcia and Jerry Bengtson of the New England Revolution.
LA Galaxy's Omar Gonzalez started in place of US captain Carlos Bocanegra, and he was involved in the play where Honduras scored the match winner. Honduras midfielder Oscar Garcia had the ball on the edge of the box and US defender Geoff Cameron held back his run. Garcia took advantage passing the ball to Bengtson who lost Omar Gonzalez and slotted the ball past Tim Howard.
German born defender Timmy Chandler became cap tied today, starting on the backline with Gonzalez, Cameron, and Fabian Johnson.
Next up for the US is their first home qualifier of the Hexagonal round taking on Costa Rica on March 22 in Colorado. The US has qualified for six straight FIFA World Cups, the seventh best active streak and longer than Mexico's current streak of five.
The US got on the scoresheet first in the 36th minute, when Jermaine Jones crossed the ball to Dempsey in the box. Dempsey smashed the ball in with a right footed volley; it was his 36th of his US career. The lead only lasted a few minutes as Garcia equalized with a bicycle kick.