Eddie Johnson announced his return to the U.S. team's international fold with a vital double in a 2-1 victory over a dogged Antigua and Barbuda.
Jurgen Klinsmann picked Johnson, his first national team appearance in two years, for the first time since taking over the U.S. head coach job, over Jozy Altidore, and it proved to be a masterstroke as the American forward netted twice - the winner coming in the 91st minute to hand the U.S. a crucial win.
"I'm happy for Eddie," Klinsmann said. "Getting this moment back on the team, he was excited the past couple of games and he put the two goals away. That gets us back home with three points.
"It's great to see that hunger that Eddie brought to the camp and the instinct to be in the right place at the right time."
Johnson opened the scoring for the Americans in the 20th minute, powering home a header off a Graham Zusi cross. Antigua, however, equalized five minutes later with Dexter Blackstock scoring off a low cross from Peter Byers.
However, just when all hope seemed lost, Johnson came to the fore, heading in another cross - this time from Alan Gordon - to give his side all three points.
"It's good to be back in the mix," Johnson said. "Going into this game, the coach has a ton of confidence in me to put me wide out on the wing.
"We have a world-class coach who played at the highest level. He knows the game."
Now if the Americans defeat Guatemala in the final group game, they will move into the final round of the CONCACAF Qualifiers.
Klinsmann, however, knows his side will have to put in a much better all round effort on Tuesday. "It took hard work to break their block of nine guys and find chances," the German legend added. "Do we have to play better? Absolutely.
"I think individually, we aren't happy with what we saw but they gave us a very difficult challenge."
Antigua coach Tom Curtis was happy with his side's performance. "We had our chances and could have won the game," he said. "I don't think it went wrong, I think we lapsed for 10 seconds and I'm proud of the guys for their performance against a team full of world-class players."