US men start World Cup qualifying with a victory

Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla.

Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey and Herculez Gomez scored as the United States opened World Cup qualifying with a somewhat shaky 3-1 victory over Antigua and Barbuda on Friday night.

Bocanegra put the Americans ahead in the eighth minute, tapping the ball into the net after goalkeeper Molvin James made a diving stop on Gomez’s header off Landon Donovan’s corner kick. With his 13th international goal, Bocanegra tied Marcelo Balboa’s record for American defenders.

Dempsey’s 26th goal came on a penalty kick in the 44th minute after Marvin McCoy upended Donovan streaking into the area.

Peter Byers scored in the 65th minute for Antigua, a nation of about 88,000 that almost could fit its entire population in 65,000-seat Raymond James Stadium. Gomez restored a two-goal lead in the 72th after his initial shot and Michael Bradley’s followup both were blocked.

It was a costly night for the Americans. Third-choice left back Jose Torres was stretchered off after injuring his left ankle in the 54th. Bocanegra shifted to the left, and Oguchi Onyewu entered only to overcommit and allow Byers to come in alone on goalkeeper Tim Howard.

The Americans play their second qualifier of the semifinal round on Tuesday at Guatemala.