The U.S. national team’s disastrous first half took its first terrible turn in the seventh minute. It grew worse before 15 minutes had passed, and at halftime of a World Cup qualifier against undistinguished Guatemala on Friday, the Americans trailed by two goals.
Defender Rafael Morales scored first. Forward Carlos Ruiz, who has bedeviled the United States in qualifiers since 2000, added the second goal at delirious Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City.
The Americans arrived with a 21-game unbeaten streak against Guatemala and a 7-0-5 mark in qualifiers against Los Chapines. But with a chance to take another step toward the final round of CONCACAF’s qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad was poor in every aspect.