USA vs. Honduras: Superior Attack Will Advance Americans to Gold Cup Final

The United States Men's National Soccer Team is on an unprecedented nine-match winning streak, which the squad will put on the line on Wednesday's 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal showdown with Honduras.

Unfortunately for the Hondurans, inferior depth and a lack of firepower on the attack will allow the hosting Americans to claim victory in Cowboys Stadium and advance to the final.

Even if their opponents were truly at full strength, it seems history bodes well for the U.S. side, according to previous Gold Cup semifinals encounters between the two sides:

Any lack of goal scoring the Americans have suffered in international play in the recent past has been remedied by their dominance in the Gold Cup, where in four matches they've notched a total of 16 goals.

San Jose Earthquakes star Chris Wondolowski leads the way with five—tied for the tournament lead with Panama's Gabriel Torres. However, the player with the most substantial all-around impact has been Landon Donovan.

The 31-year-old veteran took a hiatus of approximately four months from the sport and thus had to come back to manager Jurgen Klinsmann's club in this tournament to prove his dedication, despite the fact that Klinsmann isn't exactly fielding the United States' A-team.

Donovan has been all class both on and off the pitch and has asserted himself as the leader in being the catalyst for his side's potent attack. He has three goals and six assists, including a goal and two assists in the 5-1 triumph over El Salvador to open the knockout stage.

As for the Catrachos, it's a testament to their noble effort that they've gotten this far in having to grind out every match by a single goal. The semifinals are as far as they've ever advanced, and as documented before, two prior losses came at the hands of the U.S.

Stellar defense and fine form by goalkeeper Donis Escober have allowed Honduras to maintain three clean sheets in four fixtures, with the exception of a 2-0 defeat to Trinidad and Tobago in group play.

Escober and his teammates will have their work cut out for them.

Unless 20-year-old sensation Andy Najar—the 2010 MLS Rookie of the Year for D.C. United—can get going on the wing and create chances against DaMarcus Beasley, the stellar middle of the American defense patrolled by Matt Besler and kept up in net by Nick Rimando is going to be tough to penetrate.

Najar did score the game-winning goal in the 49th minute against Costa Rica, but he'll have to build on that momentum for his club to have any chance.

Since Honduras has counted on four different players for all their goals, there isn't really a go-to option. Combine that with the better personnel the Americans have in the midfield and it will be difficult for Honduras to prevent the gap in possession from being rather lopsided.

Concerns of a letdown lingered before the El Salvador game for the Americans, but those were put to rest with a commanding win. A similar result should be expected here.

Prediction: USA 2, Honduras 0