Jurgen Klinsmann can breathe a sigh of relief.
Clint Dempsey starred for the U.S., scoring two goals and assisting the other in a 3-1 win over Guatemala to enter the final round of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers next year.
The Americans needed just a draw to ensure they enter the final round of six teams. However things did not go according to plan in the beginning at Kansas City, when Carlos Ruis put Guatemala in the lead in the fifth minute.
Five minutes later, however, the U.S. restored parity through Carlos Bocanegra, before Tottenham striker Dempsey netted in the 18th and 36th minutes to put the Americans through.
"Michael (Bradley) did another good job of chipping the keeper," Dempsey said of his second goal. "I was in a situation where I didn't know if it was going to roll in or not.
"I decided to take it because I didn't know if it was going to hit the post or not."
Klinsmann was delighted to see his side answer back quickly from going a goal down. "We didn't need to take that first goal. That was not necessary," U.S. coach Klinsmann said. "The good thing was they responded right away and turned it around immediately. That calmed things down."
The U.S. finished top of its group with 13 points and will be now keen to mark their seventh-straight World Cup appearance with qualification in the final round.
"You need a really good venue to get a good performance," goalkeeper Tim Howard said. "Columbus has done their part and KC should be ultra-proud of themselves.
"It was fantastic. Stadium was rocking, all the flags, the people -- the community was great to us. Definitely a place we need to get come back to if this is the way it's going to be."
Klinsmann had promised attacking soccer, and they produced just that, but home comforts played a big part in it. "We showed when playing on good pitch we're able to play a good style," Dempsey said.
"It was quite an experience for all of us, even for the European players that are used to kind of big places," Klinsmann added.
Meanwhile, Mexico finished with a perfect record in their opening round of the qualifiers with a 2-0 victory over El Salvador. Oribe Peralta and Javier Hernandez struck the goals for the home side in Torreon.
Results: Honduras 8-1 Canada; Cuba 1-1 Panama; U.S. 3-1 Guatemala; Jamaica 4-1 Antigua & Barbuda; Costa Rica 7-0 Guyana; Mexico 2-0 El Salvador.
