USA vs. Honduras: Player Ratings from 1-0 American Win

Whew.

Jurgen Klinsmann finally has his first win as head coach of the U.S. men's national team after a 1-0 decision over Honduras on a warm-yet-wet Saturday night in Miami.

With that crucial first victory out of the way, the United States can devote their attention entirely upon tactics, formations and player development in the run-up to World Cup qualifiers, which begin next year.

First, though, there's another friendly against Ecuador on Tuesday.

While we're waiting, here are player ratings from Saturday's match.

Goalkeeper

Tim Howard: 7.0

As usual, Howard was a rock for the United States. He made a good save on a one-on-one in the first half, saved a few long-distance shots, distributed the ball well (see DaMarcus Beasley's rating) and generally played a great game.

I liked his cool non-save early in the second half on a dangerous-looking Honduras shot at his far post. On TV it looked like the ball was within inches of the post, but it wasn't—and Howard knew it the whole time. That's down to superb positioning and uncanny sense.

Defenders

Steve Cherundolo: 6.0

Cherundolo put in another veteran performance for the US, just like he's been doing for ages. His only misstep came just after the U.S. goal when he and Michael Orozco-Fiscal both let a Honduras attacker run free through the US box. It almost led to a goal. Speaking of the O-F…

Michael Orozco-Fiscal (hereby referred to as The O-F): 3.0

Just after halftime, the TV sideline reporter said "The O-F" had suffered a slight injury late in the first half.

He added that Klinsmann was already planning to substitute The O-F anyway. It's easy to see why. As usual, The O-F looked out of his depth at the international level. He got burned by Costly early and gave away a free kick in a very dangerous position.

About 15 minutes later, he was too slow to close down a Honduran attacker, and allowed a shot from a very dangerous position. This is starting to sound like a broken record, and so is The O-F's tenure in the US squad.

Timmy Chandler: 6.5

Timmy! Chandler didn't do much wrong all night. He was pretty quiet, but that's not as crucial an attribute for a side defender. He coolly intercepted a Honduras break early in the second half when the visitors were searching for an equalizer.

Carlos Bocanegra: 6.5

Bocanegra turned in another captain's performance. The U.S. defense started to sway early in the second half, and for a while it looked like Honduras might break through, but the Glasgow Rangers man held it together. By the end of the match, the U.S. defense was in complete control.

Midfielders

Kyle Beckerman: 7.0

Beckerman is the answer at defensive midfielder, and deserved his start ahead of longtime incumbent Michael Bradley.

He sat in front of the back four and acted like Pac-Man, gobbling up consecutive waves of Honduran attacks. Toward the end of the match, it was hard to tell if Beckerman was still on the pitch, simply because Honduras had become so quiet.

Maurice Edu: 6.0

Edu, another player currently on the books at Rangers, didn't have a bad game at all, but he was also pretty quiet in central midfield. That's fine, though. He worked hard and played well from box-to-box. It was a solid, unspectacular night for Bocanegra's Glasgow teammate.

Danny Williams: 6.5

The debutant had a strong game before being subbed out in the second half. He looked composed on the ball, passed well and worked himself into dangerous positions. It looked like he might cap a strong debut with a goal in the 30th minute, but his curled effort went well over the bar.

Brek Shea: 7.0

The sandy-blond Shea has arrived. Before fading a bit late in the second half, the Real Salt Lake mid was the United States' most consistently dangerous attacker.

His runs down the flank gave Honduran defenders fits all night. Most of the time he was employed on the left, but he ventured to the right side to set up the game-winning goal in the 36th minute.

Forwards

Clint Dempsey: 7.5

Dempsey had an outstanding game, eviscerating worries about the American attack would cope without Landon Donovan.

Dempsey played like a true No. 10 should, roaming about behind Altidore and showing composure and distributing well in the attacking third.

His goal in the 36th minute was absolutely top-class. He grew in confidence as the game went on, and late in the second half, the Fulham man was still reaching into his bag of tricks. He even had a goal disallowed after towering header. Let's hope he can continue this level of play until 2014.

Jozy Altidore: 5.0

I don't get it.

Pundit after pundit says he's playing well in Europe. Maybe that's true (I haven't caught any of his matches thus far with AZ Alkmaar) but even if that is the case, he must have forgotten to pack his form for the flight from Holland across the Atlantic.

As usual, Altidore hustled, worked hard, ran, ran and ran some more. But his touch is made of pure lead and his football IQ is far too low for the world stage. He can't control a pass to save his life. He doesn't combine well with creative players. He really, really needs to justify his guaranteed starting place.

Substitutes

Oguchi Onyewu: 6.5

Onyewu came on for The O-F at halftime and, surprisingly, stabilized the US defense. After a rough first 15 minutes or so, Onyewu and the rest of the back line shut down Honduras entirely. Onyewu did miss an absolute sitter in front of the Honduran goal, though, which proved the only real blight on his otherwise impressive performance.

DaMarcus Beasley: 6.5

Beasley showed he still has wheels that first sprung onto the world scene during World Cup 2002 in South Korea/Japan. 

The Puebla winger impressively latched onto a Tim Howard punt way down in the Honduras box. But he panicked and shot too quickly inside the box when he actually had a lot more time. Still, Beasley changed the complexion of the game after he came on.

Michael Bradley: 6.5

I've never been a big fan of Bradley, but I have to hand it to him. Bradley played his customary style of rough, borderline-dirty football. And it was beautiful to watch. He had the Honduras forwards and midfielders so scared of him, they abandoned the attack almost entirely by the end of the match. Well done, Baldy Bradley.

Jonathan Spector: no rating

Spector replaced Timmy Chandler in the second half. There wasn't enough time to get a read on him, but the defense played very well while he was on the field.

Juan Agudelo: no rating

Agudelo finally replaced Altidore very late in the second half. He came in about 20 minutes too late and never had a chance to do anything, especially since the US was mostly trying to kill off the match by the time he entered.