U.S. get historic win in Guatemala

In a match uglier than Ramon Maradiaga, the U.S. held on to beat Guatemala 1-0 in a CONCACAF World Cup qualifier that saw both teams go down to 10 men. It was the U.S.'s first away win over Guatemala in World Cup qualifying.

U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra scored the only goal in the 69th minute, slipping through his markers and heading home a DaMarcus Beasley corner kick.

Former U.S. "captain for life" and match commentator John Harkes said it best, "Carlos Ruiz -- dirty player."

And the rest of the Guatemalan dirty trick crew was out as well, as dives, flops and cheap shots was the "strategy" that the Central American nation's national team saw fit to employ in the match. These tactics sent U.S. midfielder Eddie Lewis to the locker room with a gash on his forward, after a flying elbow by Gustavo Cabrera. But no advantage was gained, as U.S. right back Steve Cherundola was sent off for a second yellow card minutes earlier.

Tim Howard was a sure and steady between the sticks, despite several sloppy giveaways by his defense and despite a cheap shot after the whistle by class-act Carlos Ruiz (Good luck with this douchebag, Toronto) late in the second half.

It was a line-up that had its problems, but American fans can be proud of the effort their boys showed in the toughest of conditions. The U.S. face Cuba on Sept. 6 in their next qualifier.

TYH's Patriot of the Pitch©: Tim Howard

MATCH REPORT

TEAM	1st half	2nd half	Final
USA	0	1	1
GUA	0	0	0

Scoring:
USA – Bocanegra (Beasley) 69.

Lineups:
USA: 1-Tim Howard; 15-Heath Pearce, 5-Oguchi Onyewu, 3-Carlos Bocanegra, 6-Steve Cherundolo; 10-Landon Donovan, 12-Michael Bradley, 4-Pablo Mastroeni (13-Maurice Edu, 78), 7-Eddie Lewis (17-DaMarcus Beasley, 65); 11-Brian Ching, 8-Clint Dempsey (2-Frankie Hejduk, 65)

GUA: 1-Ricardo Trigueno; 4-Yony Flores, 14-Luis Rodriguez, 7-Mario Rodriguez, 11-Guillermo Ramirez, 9-Carlos Ruiz, 5-Carlos Gallardo, 6-Gustavo Cabrera, 10-Freddy Garcia (2-Carlos Castrillo, 66), 15-Fredy Thompson (12-Jean Marquez, 64), 16-Jose Manuel Contreras (13-Marco Pablo Pappa, 74)

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Cherundola (caution) 17.
GUA – Ramirez (caution) 28.
USA – Dempsey (caution) 28.
USA – Mastroeni (caution) 34.
USA – Cherundola (caution) 60.
USA – Cherundola (ejection) 60.
GUA – Cabrera (ejection) 63.
GUA – Mauel (caution) 68.
USA – Howard (caution) 83.

STATS	USA	GUA
Shots	9	16
Shots OG	3	7
Saves	2	7
Corners	3	3
Fouls	17	23
Offside	3	3