Final thoughts

So a very patchy home performance from the USA as they took the lead early then promptly conceded the initiative to a hard working Honduras team, who eventually got the goal their set piece threat had been promising all night. It took a perfect whipped cross from former Seattle Sounder Mario Martinez to do so, but it was hardly an unjust break for the USA, who looked every inch the early cycle team that they are.

All over the field were key USA players doing perfectly well in their individual positions without ever quite threatening to join up into a coherent whole. Altidore got an encouraging goal in front of his home fans; Jones and Diskerud were industrious in their respective positions, though the latter gave up the free kick that proved decisive; Bradley was disappointing in the main, but did make the goal with his vision.

It’s a long road to Russia, and indeed we have a little while to go before we get to competitive games again for the USA, so a lot of the roughness is understandable as Klinsmann begins sketching grand plans. For Honduras meanwhile, the Gold Cup play-ins should look a little less daunting after tonight’s performance.

Thanks for joining us. See you next time. Good night!

90 mins +5:

USA try to force themselves into attack again, but yet again it’s a move that breaks down. And fittingly, given the events of the second half, it’s Honduras who are on the attack as the final whistle goes...

90 mins+4:

Ibarra shows decent persistence to force the ball into the Honduras half, but his touch is too strong and that will be a throw. Honduras resume their pressure.

90 mins +3:

At the other end Morales does well down the right, and almost fashions a telling ball to find Bobby Wood at the near post.

Honduras get a free kick at the other end and take it quickly, and again Rimando has to get down low to make the save as the ball is worked for a low skimming shot from Chavez, that has the keeper scrambling to his left.

90 mins +2:

We’ll have five minutes of stoppage time and Honduras, right now, look the most likely team to win. And this is a great chance!...the USA fail to clear their lines on a corner and the ball fall perfectly for Rodriguez, but his low shot is straight at Rimando. Could have won it there.

90 mins:

Corona will try to curl one in just as Martinez did...Before he can though Ibarra, the Minnesota man makes his debut, coming in for Diskerud. Now here’s the free kick. And it’s very poor and long by Corona...

88 mins:

Exquisite delivery on the free kick and no more than Honduras deserved for their second half efforts. Can the USA at least finish with a flourish?

For a second, as the USA come forward it looks like Altidore has made space for the shot from distance but ultimately they have to settle for a dangerous looking free kick 25 yards out, left of center...

84 mins:

Yet another Honduras corner and yet another USA clearance, but there are no white shirts up the field and the ball will be coming back at them. Yedlin does well to force Izaguirre off the ball though.

82 mins:

USA looking pretty uninspired at the moment as theytry to work the ball forward. They’ll have a little respite now as they pick up a free kick wide right. A few men drift forward but the USA elect to pass backwards, and as the move breaks down the US are defending again. Jones has to race back and makes a perfectly timed interception on Quioto as he races into the box — it had to be perfect since he’s already booked.

80 mins:

Heading into the final ten minutes and it’s still USA 1-0 Honduras. it was round about now they conceded against Ecuador after conceding a similar amount of territory in the second half. Work to be done for the hosts then...

Garza tries to chip a probing through ball behind the Honduras lines, but it’s just behind the Honduras goal line instead...

78 mins:

The inswinger is met by Figueroa at the near post, but his header ricochets high and wide. He’d done the hard work to get to that position but couldn’t get a header on target. Corona on for Bedoya for the USA now.

76 mins:

Alfredo Morales, who plays in the German second tier, coming on for Michael Bradley now, while Marvin Chavez will replace the lively Elis up front for Honduras.

nice dummy from Rodriguez as he keeps running to pick up the ball in the box with the US defense briefly wrngfooted. He can’t take it anywhere dangerous but the move does end in a fee kick wide left at a dangerous angle.

74 mins:

Bradley, in space, shapes for the now familiar chip over the top, only to touch the ball inside for Altidore and go for the (foiled) return. USA keep the pressure on though and for a second Diskerud looks to have got himself free in the box, only for the brief look at goal to close up quickly on him.

72 mins:

USA still seem to be stuck very deep — Bradley in particular has dropped into more comfortable territory for him and it’s leaving little pressure on the Hondurans.

Elis skips round Garza on the right of the box before the defender recovers to clear and now Altidore squares another poor ball when the break looked on and Figueroa is able to intercept fairly comfortably as a rare USA attack breaks down.

70 mins:

Rodriguez on for Garcia for Honduras, who are looking the most likely to score in this half. Another Honduras attack ends in an offside decision that looked borderline. Still USA 1-0 Honduras, but USA far from seeing out the game comfortably.

68 mins:

Izaguirre heads the corner clear and as the USA try to maintain pressure they instead see a Diskerud shot float harmlessly over the bar.

Altidore tries a rather cute ball inside from the sideline and only manages to initiate a Honduras counter that ends in Martinez smashing a shot just wide from a narrow angle.

66 mins:

How will those changes affect the game? For now Honduras still looking the most purposeful, but now Bradley wriggles into space and finds a lovely ball out wide for Wood, who makes an instant cross that won’t quite fall nicely for the secondary runners to get a clear shot of. The USA do get a corner though, as Diskerud’s effort is deflected behind...

64 mins:

Jones does well to race back and cover to hook the ball clear, as Elis looks to run through on goal. Now the USA subs are on:

Wood for Dempsey, Yedlin for Zusi, Ream for Besler. Quiet performances from all the replaced players. Interesting to see that Yedlin is again replacing a midfielder rather than a defender. Klinsmann sees him further up the field than his club role as a wide defender.

62 mins:

...Bernardez standing over the ball. He can hit a ball. It’s touched to him by Garcia and Bernardez drives one high and not that handsome.

Immediately Mario Martinez enters the game for Honduras, replacing Najar. No USA subs yet.

60 mins:

Another little slip by Rimando as he almost makes a hash of a backpass.

Better from the USA now as they push forward...actually scratch that, that’s another bad pass by Bradley and as Honduras break, Jones commits a cynical check on Elis to pick up a yellow card. Free kick to Honduras on the left side 30 yards out...

58 mins:

USA trying to play out from the back again, but never truly have the ball under control and Altidore ends up conceding the foul. USA have struggled to get forward in this opening part of the half, while Honduras have showed more intent.

56 mins:

Garza barrels forward down left. He’s a big guy for a full back - looks more like a central defender. USA maintain possession but a cute little pass through from Bradley for Dempsey on the edge of the box is met by a heavy touch and Honduras are on the swift counter.

Quioto looks to be going nowhere at the sideline but cuts inside on a slip by jones and scoops a shot from distance over the bar.

54 mins:

USA have a corner wide right, but by the time Diskerud smashes a follow up shot for a goal kick the whistle has gone for an infringement.

At the other end Delgado improvizes a quick shot that has Rimando scrambling to tip the ball wide for another corner for Honduras. Rimando has to get up bravely to grab it at the back post. Honduras certainly testing the short goalkeeper.

52 mins:

The ball is only cleared as far as Oscar garcia on the edge of the box, but his shot is poor and wide and the USA can finally push out.

USA maintain possession then Chandler’s little flick over the top looking for Dempsey is cut out. They retain possession though and Zusi earns a free kick in the center circle. Taken quickly, but in the ensuing attack down the left Bedoya is crowded out and has to make a rather desperate run back to retrieve as Najar races clear.

50 mins:

Little bit of a handball shout as Garza blocks a cross, though there wasn’t much in it. From the corner Rimando claims, but immediately the whistle goes as the referee books the substitute Quioto (who also came on at half time for Rojas). Still USA 1-0 Honduras, but they have to defend an 8th corner now...

48 mins:

No USA subs at half time by the way.

Honduras get an early corner on the left but it’s headed clear by Besler and then Jones is fouled as Honduras try to follow up.

Now USA try to get a little passing rhythm going as they work up the field, but again the accuracy is missing in the final third and their first attack of the half breaks down tamely.

Half-time thoughts

Not the most thrilling of games so far (partly due to the atmosphere of a far from full stadium perhaps), though Altidore’s goal did briefly illuminate the game as he scored in front of his home crowd.

Elsewhere for the hosts, Bradley still looks as if he has a little altitude fever when asked to play higher up the field, while behind him Diskerud looked solid in a more defensive role than he’s used to. Dempsey has so far had one of his more indolent outings and Jones has been solid enough in helping repel the aerial balls of the Hondurans.

And indeed the early Honduran attacks in this game were all about aerial balls at the heart of the US defense, though as the half went on the more versatile ability of Garcia and Najar to run at players was beginning to come into view.

With the game fairly poised right now, interesting to see whether both coaches opt for changes at half time or want to wait until the hour mark (which is traditionally when Klinsmann in particular tends to make a lot of switches).

45 mins+1:

USA relieved to see another sloppy Honduras ball over the top drift wide to start the first and only minute of stoppage time.

Much better ball over top from Crisanto almost has Elis clean through on goal but Rimando is alert to the danger to come out and claim and that will be that for the half.

44 mins:

Honduras work this corner short for once, and soon wish they hadn’t as the USA pick up a goal kick off an aimless cross well past the back post. They’ll have another look now though as Bradley is robbed by Claros, and Najar is set running. He’s boxed out though and briefly the USA have men over on the counter, only for Zusi to make a mess of a decent looking squared ball from Garza. Both sides lacking some ruthlessness in the final third, other than Altidore’s wonderfully taken goal.

42 mins:

Dempsey tries a sharp little flick off a Zui through ball but none of his team mates are reading it, and Honduras can inch forward again before Najar’s cross from the right is cut out.

Honduras have a dangerous looking free kick some 40 yards out just left of center though. It’s awkwardly cleared with Garza relieved tosee his skewed kick go for a corner in the end...

40 mins:

Another USA player hits the deck — Chandler is soon back up and trotting back though. Game dipping again — we could do with another goal before half-time.

38 mins:

Zusi sends another tempting ball across the box but there’s nobody on the end of it.

Another looping cross, this one from a blue shirt, tries to pick out Elis over the top but he’s just offside.

Jones is down writhing for a moment claiming to have been kicked by said Elis. He’s up again now though, grumbling back to his position.

36 mins:

The USA pinging passing triangles around the Honduras half for a moment, without moving the ball into a significantly dangerous area. Now a couple of shots and kindly ricochets end with the ball falling to Garza wide left and the defender winds up and sends a dipping shot just over the bar — not afraid to have a go.

34 mins:

Altidore is called offside late as a neat Zusi ball over the top looks to have set him free on goal. That was tight. Good from Zusi and nice anticipation from Altidore.

32 mins:

It’s been another solid game so far by Diskerud, who’s been screening the defense well. He has to help defend a free kick wide left now...as it is Bedoya heads a whipped inswinger clear for another corner. That in turn is curled in and off the frame of the goal by Izaguirre — though it looked more dangerous than it was.

30 mins:

Garcia forces Diskerud to concede a corner as the Honduran tries to wriggle towards the corner flag. Izaguirre curls the ball to the back post but can’t find a blue shirt. Still not clear though and Najar makes a little shimmy into the box before running into traffic. Honduras still pressing though and now they have another corner. Besler heads clear and the US get an offside decision as they step up. Still USA 1-0 Honduras but the visitors not cowed by falling behind.

28 mins:

Honduras’s turn to waste the ball as Bernardez sends a wide floating ball into the stands from his own half. On the whole, he’s better at tackling.

Bradley makes a sloppy first time flick to try and prompt a US attack, but Honduras can’t keep possession and the US will get another look. An offside stops this move though. Game drifting a little right now...

26 mins:

Dempsey with a rather lazy touch in the center circle and Honduras easily intercept and come forward again, looking for the angle for the cross (their weapon of choice for the evening so far). In this occasion they can’t find said angle and the USA work it clear from the back again.

Diskerud has to make a couple of lunging tackles to retain possession though — a much remarked upon improvement in his game, and one demanded by his national team coach.

24 mins:

Free kick for Honduras wide left now, but despite a smart looking run from Garcia to meet it, USA just about read it and force the ball clear.

22 mins:

Another great chance for the US, as Bedoya bursts forward down the left from midfield and his square ball across the six yard box is juuuuuuust touched out by Garrio with Dempsey arriving.

In the next move, a beautiful touch over the Honduras backline from Jones is chested down by Dempsey, but he can’t make a clean shot on goal. Exquisite touch by Jones in the build up though.

20 mins:

Terrible pass out from Rimando, straight to Najar, who tries an immediate shot from distance past the stranded keeper. It misses, but that’s a big let off for Rimando, who’s not had much to do so far. Still USA 1-0 Honduras.

18 mins:

Raking diagonal ball from Bradley is just too strong for Chandler bombing forward down the right flank... interesting to watch how he and Diskerud combine as the evening goes on.

16 mins:

...Dempsey greets the driven corner with a header clear at the near post. Decent little spell for the Hondurans now though, as they try to test that new USA defensive configuration — illegally, as it turns out, since Claros has just picked up a yellow card for a rough looking lunge on Greg Garza.

14 mins:

Honduras probing a little further up the field now, and Elis gets to flick a header over the bar, though the ball didn’t have enough pace for him to be able to seriously threaten Rimando’s goal. A warning for the USA though, and another one now as Elis forces Jones into conceding a corner...

12 mins:

That goal was very reminiscent of the goal Altidore scored against Nigeria in Jacksonville in that World Cup sendoff, by the way - right down to the Bradley ball over the top...

8 mins:

Zusi’s outswinger lands at Dempsey’s feet but his volley is blocked and the rebound eventually forced clear, with various white shirts looking to pounce.

In the next sequence, Bernardez is robbed horribly easily by Altidore, but as he darts into the box his attempted ball into the path of Dempsey is just behind his fellow striker and Dempsey can only improvise a weak shot past the past. Altidore should have done better there.

6 mins:

Jones’ role at center back has to be seen in context of next four years — he’ll be 36 during the Russia World Cup, and can hardly be expected to play the all-running, marauding midfielder role he demonstrated at this World Cup. Let’s see how he does.

Meanwhile Demspey runs at the heart of the Honduras defense, cuts right and tries the chip, but it’s blocked for a corner. Zusi will take...

4 mins:

Honduras starting with some intent here, looking to possess the ball and run at the US. Bradley makes an interception high up the field though, and soon he and Altidore are trying to unlock the defense, though their exchange breaks down.

2 mins:

Immediately Honduras try to work the ball down the right and Rimando gets an early touch kicking a through ball out.

USA work a little possession now, but give it up in a dangerous looking position and for a second Honduras have men over. Rojas takes too many touches though, and an early danger is averted.

Nearly off

Style-watch up date: Klinsmann in polo shirt, Medford in dress shirt unbuttoned rakishly...

Twitter stirs

Yes we may see minutes for forward Miguel Ibarra, who’s been impressing for NASL side Minnesota United (Minnesota by the way, are looking like a very credible bid for an MLS side). The NASL may be the second tier of US soccer, but Klinsmann has clearly seen enough to want a closer look at Ibarra — and it’s certainly true that there are plenty of ways for talent to slip through the cracks in the US — rather fewer examples of them making the national team after that.

Back to Boca

Speaking of Florida, it’s a welcome home for Jozy Altidore — back where it all began, in Boca Raton. If any player could do with a start over it might be Altidore, whose World Cup injury, just as he looked like he was playing back into form, and his continued marginalization at Sunderland (aka the Florida of the North East by nobody) have left him possibly looking at another move, and perhaps permanent farewell to the Premier League, in January.

The teams just came out of the tunnel by the way, so we’ll be under way shortly...

Florida:

Florida’s becoming an increasingly popular site for soccer these days — indeed the USA team played their last World Cup warm up game in the state in Jacksonville (more on that if I get a moment later — my local experience was...memorable).

They weren’t the only team doing so — several World Cup sides took in the state by way of preparing for the heat and humidity of Brazil. And it’s not just the USA playing here in big friendlies between tournaments — the large South American expat population have meant a number of record-breaking games featuring the likes of Brazil and Colombia. And of course there’s the impending arrival of Orlando City bringing MLS soccer back to the state, along with their star attraction, Kaka.

And while we’re on the subject, a certain Mr Beckham is still attempting to look effortlessly cool as he learns the realities of Miami commercial real estate and local politics up close and personal, while attempting to get his MLS side off the ground in that city.

Previously…

The USA are coming into this game on an 18 game home unbeaten streak against Concacaf opposition, and are obviously favorites tonight, though they’ll be mindful of Honduras as dangerous opposition on their day.

Indeed the USA started the final phase of World Cup qualification in Honduras last year (when Donovan was starting his much publicized sabbatical), and were promptly beaten 2-1.

It prompted the first real crisis of faith in Klinsmann in the lead up to the next game, with leaked tales of team dissatisfaction with his methods, squad cliques etc. In the event the US won a bizarre, blizzard-hampered game against Costa Rica in Colorado, and never really looked back in qualifying — though they did make somewhat heavy weather of beating Honduras in the home return, needing a Jozy Altidore goal at Rio Tinto stadium to squeeze through.

Honduras

After being the lone stumbler among the Concacaf contingent at the World Cup, Honduras got rid of coach Luis Fernando Suarez (the Fernando is key…) and appointed Hernan Medford, who thus far is still trying to sort out some of the basics. A poor performance in the Copa Centroamericana wasn’t the best of starts, and the rebuilding remained bumpy through a 2-0 defeat to Mexico last week. Honduras now also face the headache of a play-in game for next summer’s Gold Cup.

There’s talent and experience in the Honduras squad — English readers will be familiar with Hull City’s Maynor Figueroa for one, and there’s some buzz about Anderlecht’s Andy Najar. Najar got his start in MLS, and there’s a decent MLS contingent in the Honduran squad, including Houston Dynamo midfielders Boniek Garcia and Luis Garrido, San Jose Earthquakes defender Victor Bernardez, Chivas USA midfielder Marvin Chavez and Sporting Kansas City midfielder Jorge Claros.

No Jerry Bengtson though. As far as attack goes, Medford seems to be “going in a different direction”

Full squad:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Donis Escober (Olimpia), Kevin Hernandez (Real Espana)

DEFENDERS (7): Henry Figueroa (Motagua), Maynor Figueroa (Hull City), Víctor Bernárdez (San Jose Earthquakes), Wilfredo Barahona (Real Espana), Javier Portillo (Olimpia), Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic), Wilmer Crisanto (Motagua)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Juan Jose Rodríguez (Parrillas One), Boniek García (Houston Dynamo), Andy Najar (Anderlecht), Mario Martínez (Barcelona, Ecuador), Marvin Chavez (Chivas USA), Luis Garrido (Houston Dynamo), Jorge Claros (Sporting Kansas City), Edder Delgado (Real Espana)

FORWARDS (3): Roger Rojas (Al-Ettifaq), Alberth Elis (Olimpia), Romell Quioto (Olimpia)

USA

Those changes in full are:

World cup veterans Matt Besler, Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, Jermaine Jones and Graham Zusi come into the squad — ensuring the team should look a little more familiar than the one that faced Ecuador. Goalkeeper Sean Johnson is also in.

Meanwhile Donovan, John Brooks, Luis Gil, Omar Gonzalez, Brad Guzan, and Joe Gyau (the latter having picked up a nasty looking injury early on against Ecuador) returned to their respective clubs.

The Ecuador game got off to a quick start with the US going into an early lead against the visitors, only to concede late on, and it has to be said, with the run of play, to finish the game at 1-1. The USA and Klinsmann in particular will be hoping for a more coherent display tonight, though he was also adamant that much of the point of these games at this stage of the cycle is to give minutes and experience to young players.

So here’s the squad…

GOALKEEPERS (3): Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS (6): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Michael Orozco (Puebla), Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Miguel Ibarra (Minnesota United FC), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (1860 Munich)

Preamble

Good evening and welcome to the post-Landon-Donovan-era, brought to you in association with Landon Donovan and the makers of “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Landon”.

Yes, after the slightly strained send off for the greatest ever American player (bar the other ones you’ll be mailing to me in 5-4-3-…), the smoke and banners have been cleared away and we’re back to Jürgen Klinsmann and his slow-build of plans toward 2018.

What that means is that after what turned out to be a fairly decisive weekend as far as playoffs go, Klinsmann has called up a further contingent of MLS stars (minus Donovan of course) into the squad to face Honduras tonight in Florida.

Honduras have a fair complement of MLS-ers themselves for what it’s worth, and they too are in a new era — a new coach, a changing strikeforce, and a chastening Copa Centroamericana have meant that the team has yet to truly settle since their early World Cup exit.

I’ll be back with more build up and team news shortly. For now get your tweets coming in to @KidWeil and emails to graham.parker@theguardian.com and I’ll be back soon, like a prematurely retired local demi-god who still has the itch...