Associated Press
Thursday, November 20, 2008

Freddy Adu scored his first goal as a member of the U.S. national team and Jozy Altidore assisted on Kenny Cooper's sliding shot, leading the Americans to a 2-0 win over Guatemala in a World Cup qualifier last night in Commerce City, Colo.

The Americans improved to 27-1-7 in home qualifiers since May 1985. The win also prevented Guatemala (1-3-2) from advancing out of Group 1.

With a spot in next year's region finals already ensured, the U.S. national team (5-1) went with a largely inexperienced lineup, leaving Landon Donovan and Carlos Bocanegra out.

The youth certainly didn't disappoint as Adu and Altidore stepped up, especially in the second half, when the Americans scored both goals.

Adu curled a shot into the left corner on a free kick just outside the penalty box in the 69th minute. A diving Ricardo Jerez didn't have a chance on Adu's well-placed shot.

"It's great," Adu said. "It definitely helps your confidence."

The play was set up after Altidore was grabbed by Yony Flores as he flew past the Guatemalan defender. Flores was given a yellow card for the hold. Earlier in the second half, Altidore lined the ball into the box, where a sliding Cooper knocked it by Jerez.

"I think those two guys are the future of this team, if they can continue improving on the defensive end," team captain Pablo Mastroeni said of Adu and Altidore. . . .

In Kingston, Jamaica, Luton Shelton came close to scoring twice before finally putting one through, and Jamaica went on to beat Canada, 3-0, in World Cup qualifying. . . . A pair of goals by Kenwyne Jones and Dwight Yorke in a two-minute span in the second half helped Trinidad and Tobago to a 3-0 win over visiting Cuba. . . .

In San Pedro Sula, Honduras got an own-goal from Mexico defender Ricardo Osorio just after halftime to earn a 1-0 win.