USA vs. Guatemala: Americans Face First Real Test of Qualifying

The United States men's national team faces their first real test of the World Cup qualifying when they travel to Estadio Nacional Mateo Flores to face Guatemala tonight at 9:00 p.m. ET.

This is the first time that Jurgen Klinsmann will bring the team on the road in a qualifier, and he'll be looking to prove that Team USA can win an important game when it needs to.

Herculez Gomez led the charge in the team's last game against Antigua and Barbuda, but the squad looked rather average as a whole. Against competition that is as inferior and unpolished as Antigua and Barbuda, the U.S. should have controlled the pitch for the full 90 minutes.

Guatemala isn't the cream of the crop in the football world, but they are at least a respectable team. If the United States comes out against the Guatemalans like they did against Antigua and Barbuda, this match is going to be much more of a nail-biter.

To put the talent discrepancy in perspective, Guatemala is ranked No. 88 in the FIFA World Rankings, while Antigua and Barbuda is ranked No. 105.

If the Americans don't get three points against Guatemala, they will put themselves in a very precarious position. They'll need to beat Jamaica at home, then get at least a draw against them on the road a few days later.

Jamaica is no football powerhouse, but it's never good for a team to know they absolutely need to play two great games in a row. If the U.S. doesn't beat Guatemala tonight, they'll have their backs against the wall against Jamaica and will be at risk to miss the final round of World Cup qualifying.

To get a win against Guatemala, they'll need a few things to happen.

They'll need strong performances from Gomez and Clint Dempsey.

Gomez was the best player on the field for Team USA against Antigua and Barbuda. He scored the team's final goal to pad the lead to two and rightfully so, as he worked harder than anyone for the full 90 minutes.

He's getting up there in years, but he's getting better with age. He's scored goals in the team's last two matches against Brazil and Antigua, and his teammates would love to see him score in three straight.

But he can't do it alone.

Dempsey is always a fan favorite for his presence in the Premier League, and he's surpassed Landon Donovan as the face of American soccer. He scored the go-ahead goal against Antigua and Barbuda on a penalty shot after Donovan was taken down in the box. He also made a pretty touch pass that sprung Donovan on his run into the box.

Klinsmann will need him to be on top of his game if the Americans want to come away with a decisive victory tonight.

This tilt is a pivotal point in the United States' quest to qualify for the 2014 World Cup. If they win, they'll all but ensure themselves a spot in the final round of qualifying. If they lose, they'll be that much closer to watching the big dance at home.