Grit and Grind

For the US MNT, no game in Central America is ever a walk in the park. And we definitely had our hands full against Guatemala in our World Cup qualifier.

In Guatemala City's Estadio Mario Flores, the noisiest crowd to watch Guatemala play in years gathered 25,000 strong to remind the US MNT that they hadn't won in Guatemala in two decades. Our boys definitely felt the hostility from the get go.

And that's what made the victory so fitting. On a day that saw forty fouls and two ejections, it wasn't necessarily elevated play, but old-fashioned grit and heart that made the difference.

When a second yellow card led to a US ejection, it looked like the Guatemalan pressure would overwhelm us. Then, out of nowhere, Beas to the rescue. After drawing a foul for a free kick in a dangerous spot, Landon played a beautiful ball into the middle of the box, which Gooch put a head on to force the best save of the day from the Guatemalan keeper.

Taking the ensuing corner, DaMarcus didn't hesitate to provide a top-notch ball straight to Bocanegra's head. ‘Los finished far post and the American defense, led by Tim Howard, held on with stellar play for the win. The road to South Africa continues in Havana, Cuba September 6 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN Classic.

One step closer to the cup.