USMNT forward Clint Dempsey. (Photo : Getty Images)
Struggling team United States (1-1-1, 4 points) will try to redeem themselves from their self-destructive performance in their previous match with Guatemala (2-1-0, 6 points) as the two teams meet each other again this time at the Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on March 29th, Tuesday as Group C competitions of the CONCACAF 2018 World Cup qualifiers reach its halfway mark.
USMNT, ranked by FIFA as no. 30 in the world, dropped an embarrassing 0-2 decision to world no. 95 Guatemala at the Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City last Friday, March 25th, snapping the Yanks' 21-match unbeaten streak over Los Chapines, as reported by The Guardian.
The report mentioned about USA head coach Jürgen Klinsmann's "puzzling lineup choices" which led to the American's self-destruction on defense.
Head coach Walter Claveri's side pierced through American goalkeeper Tim Howard's net early at the seventh minute of the match via a goal from defender Rafael Morales off a lackadaisical back pass by USA left wingback Edgar Castillo.
A few minutes later, Guatemalan goal tender Paul Motta then kicked the ball to almost the length of the pitch. La Azul y Blanco team captain Carlos Ruiz ran after it and managed to shoot it past Howard at the 15th minute to double the lead.
Klinsmann and his boys were unable to get back momentum in the game to even build up a comeback attempt as the two sides remained scoreless for the rest of the match.
Reuters noted that it was the first time the United States lost to Guatemala in a World Cup qualifier match.
Team USA is now down to third place in the Group C table, two points behind Guatemala and three points adrift of group leaders Trinidad and Tobago, and could be in danger of not qualifying in the Hex, the fifth round of competitions, if they will not string a few wins in their next matches.
"I think it was a lack of focus, concentration, and wrong decisions," said Klinsmann. "We have to take responsibility for it, every one of us - coaches, players - and move on and get it done on Tuesday."
The predicted result is a 1-0 win for the United States.
United States starting lineup (5-3-2 formation): Howard; Castillo, Cameron, Orozco, Gonzalez, Yedlin; Bradley, Diskerud, Bedoya; Dempsey, Wood
Guatemala starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Motta; Morales, Lopez, Cincotta, Hernandez, Jimenez; Contreras, Marquez, Saravia; Ruiz Tinoco
