In their first qualifying match this summer on the road to the World Cup in 2014, the US Men's National Team jumped out to a 2-0 lead over Antigua and Barbuda in the first 45 minutes of play at Raymond James Stadium. The US took an early lead on a rain-soaked pitch, winning a corner which Landon Donovan delivered to Hercules Gomez. The Antigua goaltender made a nice save but could not hold on to the ball, and an unmarked Bocanegra was there to hammer it home.
The US kept up the pressure throughout the half but could not make it a two-goal game until just before the half. A couple near-misses by Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey nearly pushed it to 2-0. But the US would convert on a penalty kick, set up when Donovan was taken down in the box on a poor challenge. Dempsey took the PK and buried it for the 2-0 lead.
The US will undoubtedly get the three points towards qualifying but they have not been particularly sharp thus far, specifically in open play.
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