The USA! USA! of Blogs

The US Men's National Team lost its opening match of 2010 with a loss to Honduras 3-1 Saturday night in Carson, CA. The US went down to 10 men in 17th minute after defender Jimmy Conrad was sent off after a second yellow card. Honduras took the lead on a Carlos Pavon penalty kick. Honduras' Jerry Palacios headed a ball in to give Honduras a 2-0 lead in the 37th minute. 

In the second half, playing man down, the US took another blow when Roger Espinoza put a ball past US goalkeeper Perkins. The US finally got on the board in the 70th minute when Clarence Goodson headed a corner cross in for his second international goal.

“I didn't think we had a good start to the game. Maybe some of that was nerves, but the sharpness you want to see at the beginning of games to establish things was not good enough. Obviously, the whole situation where we lose a player on a second yellow card on a play that also gives a [penalty] forces us to chase the game.” Coach Bob Bradley said.

“Unfortunately, we couldn't get the result we wanted but hopefully the young guys and the guys who have been around a little bit can look back at this game and go forward from there.” said US defender Jonathan Bornstein.

The US MNT plays El Salvador Feb. 24th in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL and again March 3 vs The Netherlands in Amsterdam. World Cup play begins June 12 when the US plays England in Group C play in South Africa.