Klinsmann gets first win as US manager

The United States won for the first time in four games under new coach Jurgen Klinsmann, beating Honduras 1-0 in an exhibition game on Saturday night as Clint Dempsey scored in the 36th minute and goalkeeper Tim Howard made several key saves.

Since Klinsmann replaced Bob Bradley after the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the Americans had tied Mexico and Costa Rica, and lost at Belgium.

Less than a month after acquiring a US passport, Danny Williams started in a five-man midfield and made his national team debut. The 22-year-old, the son of a US serviceman and a German mother, joined Hoffenheim from Freiburg at the end of August and made his first start for Hoffenheim against Bayern Munich last weekend.

On a rainy night in south Florida, a frog could be seen on the field.

The game was the first of a pair for the US during the international fixture period. The Americans host Ecuador on Tuesday night in Harrison, N.J.

Dempsey put the US ahead with his 23rd international goal. Brek Shea’s centering pass got past several players and touched Michael Orozco Fiscal before Dempsey gained control at the top of the penalty area. He moved the ball from his right foot to his left and shot high past goalkeeper Donis Escobar .

Dempsey appeared to score on a header in the 84th minute, but the Americans were called for offside.

With the US using most top players other than Landon Donovan (strained right quadriceps) and midfielder Stuart Holden (knee surgery), the Americans seemed to better adapt to the system employed by Klinsmann, former coach of the German national team and Bayern Munich.

In the 18th minute, Honduras’ Jerry Bengston broke in alone on Howard and let go a shot from the top of the box. Then in the 26th minute, Howard made a diving save of a straight-on, left-footed shot by Carlos Costly from well beyond the box.

Howard also stopped a shot from Boniek Garcia, who fired from the left corner in the 52nd minute.

Oguchi Onyewu, appearing for the first time under Klinsmann, squandered a scoring chance in the 66th minute when he volleyed a rebound over the crossbar. Escobar had made a save on Dempsey and the ball landed at Onyewu’s feet.

 

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.