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Dempsey goal earns US win over Guatemala

Clint Dempsey's first-half goal gave the US a 1-0 victory over Guatemala on Thursday night in the opening round of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

In the first competitive game for the US since their first-round World Cup exit last June, Dempsey scored off Taylor Twellman's assist in the 26th minute. That kept the US undefeated in 20 group-play games of the Gold Cup. Twellman sent a cross from the left side to Dempsey just as he surged into the box for an easy goal.

It was the eighth international goal for Dempsey, who plays for Fulham in England, and the second in a week. He also scored in a Saturday exhibition against China.

Bob Bradley won his first competitive game as coach of the national team, but his players were outplayed in the second half against what should have been an overmatched opponent. He was 4-0-1 in exhibitions coming into the game; the one draw was with Guatemala.

The Americans were lively and dominant in the first half, but were often on their heels in a rough second half that saw central defender Oguchi Onyewu ejected after two yellow cards.

Star US forward Landon Donovan temporarily left the game in the 70th minute after an apparent blow to the forehead. He and Guatemala's Carlos Ruiz traded shouts as Donovan went to the sideline, but he soon returned.

Onyewu got his second yellow for a midfield scuffle with about 20 minutes remaining, leaving an already-depleted defensive corps in difficulty. Midfielder Pablo Mastroeni is serving a three-match ban following a red card in last year's World Cup.

Frankie Hejduk, recovered from a severe knee injury, played his first international game since April last year for the US team.

Goalkeeper Tim Howard saw little action in the first half, but needed to make a number of saves after the break. He made a leaping block of a high shot by Leonel Noriega in the 50th minute -- perhaps Guatemala's best chance of the game -- and a diving save on a free kick 10 minutes later.

The US, who are the defending champions, are seeking a fourth tournament victory in the Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean, and their third in the last four events.
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