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The United States’ path toward the 2018 World Cup became considerably more difficult when coach Jurgen Klinsmann made some puzzling line-up choices and the American defense self-destructed Friday night in a 2-0 loss to Guatemala in Guatemala City.
Edgar Castillo’s poor backpass set up corner kicks that led to Rafael Morales’ goal in the seventh minute. A goal kick by Paulo Motta went most of the length of the field in the 15th and Carlos Ruiz ran onto the ball, came in alone on goalkeeper Tim Howard and doubled the lead.
Seeking their eighth straight World Cup berth, the Americans had been unbeaten in 21 games against Guatemala since January 1988 and had never lost to Los Chapines in World Cup qualifying but now face a high-pressured rematch Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio.
Trinidad and Tobago (2-1) leads Group C with seven points after rallying for a 3-2 win at St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday. Guatemala (2-0-1) is one point back. The US (1-1-1) has four points and St. Vincent (0-3) is last.
In September, the Americans play at St Vincent and host Trinidad to complete the regional semifinals. The top two teams advance to the six-nation regional finals.
Klinsmann already was criticized following his team’s semi-final elimination in last year’s Concacaf Gold Cup and a loss to Mexico in the Confederations Cup playoff.
He started Omar Gonzalez and Michael Orozco in central defense after John Brooks returned to Germany on Friday because of a bruised left knee and defender Matt Besler sustained a concussion in training Thursday. Fabian Johnson, a midfielder and defender who has a groin injury, didn't dress; midfielder Jermaine Jones is suspended; and Jozy Altidore, the top American forward, was limited to entering in the 66th minute as he recovers from yet another hamstring injury.
Howard started for the US at the last two World Cups but has lost his starting job at Everton and was appearing in his first match since 24 January.
Geoff Cameron started at right back rather in the more central role he usually plays for Stoke; DeAndre Yedlin started in midfield rather than right back, his position with Sunderland; and Mix Diskerud was in a defensive midfield role, which he doesn’t play for New York City.
Cameron switched to the center and Yedlin moved to right back when Gyasi Zardes entered in the 59th.
Edgar Castillo, the American left back, made a wide backpass that Howard couldn’t get to and rolled over the end line, leading to the first goal. Guatemala’s first corner kick was headed out by the U.S. defense, but on the second, Morales jumped over Mix Diskerud, who appeared to slip, to meet Jean Marquez’s corner. There was no defender on the line, and the ball went to the left of a diving Howard, just inside the post.
Ruiz then scored his 60th international goal when Motta’s goal kick went the length of the field, possibly glancing off Michael Bradley’s head. Ruiz burst past three Americans, ran onto the ball and slotted it under Howard from just inside the penalty area.
Alejandro Bedoya had the best US scoring chance in the first half when he was played through by Clint Dempsey at around the 23rd minute, but Motta blocked his shot.
Motta used his right leg to stop Dempsey’s eight-yard shot following a pass from Yedlin in the 52nd minute, then slid to stop Bedoya’s effort with his chest and had a kick save on Altidore in the 82nd, who was sent in alone by Dempsey. Guatemala hit the crossbar in the 70th.
