Honduras puts hurt on US MLSers

Honduras took advantage of a US red card and put away a US National Team made up mostly of reserves 3-1 at Home Depot Center in LA.  Even though a US rally in the last World Cup qualifier put Honduras through, they were not in a mood to repay the Americans Saturday night.  Instead they took advantage of an extra man for 73 minutes and put three goals on the US.

Sure the main US players were missing as all the European based players remained with their club teams, but one would have hoped the MLSers would have put on a better show.  It was one of their last chances to show they deserved a place on the World Cup roster this summer.  Instead they were outclassed thoroughly.

Centerback Jimmy Conrad set things off on the wrong foot as he picked up two yellow cards in the first 17 minutes and was sent to the showersleaving the US to finish the game shorthanded.  Conrad's 2nd yellow also resulted in a penalty kick which Carlos Pavon put away.  A diving header from Palacios put Honduras up 2-0 at halftime. 

The beginning of the 2nd half was much the same as Honduras held possession and attacked the shorthanded Americans.  Roger Espinoza made it 3-0 in the 53rd and Honduras was cruising.  Wholesale substitutions from Coach Bob Bradley gave the US some life as Dax McCarthy and Brad Davis brought some energy.  Clarence Goodson headed home a Brad Davis corner to get the US on the board, but that would be all for the evening. 

Honduras were clearly the better team and Bob Bradley couldn't help but feel thankful he had help coming from the many talented Americans in Europe.