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By Michael Lewis
CONCACAF.com

KANSAS CITY, Kansas - Clint Dempsey scored two goals and set up a third to rally the United States to a 3-1 win over Guatemala Tuesday night and move it into the final CONCACAF round of World Cup qualifying.

The Americans won the CONCACAF semifinal round Group A title with 13 points, three more than Guatemala, which finished third and was eliminated. Jamaica, which defeated Antigua & Barbuda at home 4-1 finished second in the group and claimed the other berth in next year's hexagonal.

Guatemalan striker Carlos Ruiz stunned and silenced the sellout crowd of 16,947 in the fifth minute. He ran onto a through ball from Jose Manuel Contreras, beat the U.S. defense around the left side of the penalty area, forcing goalkeeper Tim Howard to commit himself before he tucked the ball into the unattended net.

While celebrating his 56th international goal, a joyous Ruiz hit his hand against the advertising boards behind the goal at Livestrong Sporting Park and wound on the ground for several minutes. He eventually got up and continued play, but never really threatened again the rest of the half.

The United States however, equalized five minutes later. After Herculez Gomez won a corner, a hometown favorite Sporting Kansas City midfielder Graham Zusi curled the ball to the near post where Clint Dempsey headed it downward into the middle of the area. Central defender Carlos Bocanegra sprinted in and volleyed the ball from inside the six past goalkeeper Ricardo Jerez.

The goal was Bocanegra's 14th at the international level, breaking the record for U.S. defenders he held with Marcelo Balboa.

The Americans took only another eight minutes before goal ahead. Right back Steve Cherundolo sent a long ball out the back down the right side, where Eddie Johnson raced down the flank before sending the ball into the area. An onrushing Clint Dempsey got a step on defender Jonathan Lopez and slid to knock the ball over a sprawled Jerez.

Howard was tested in the 21st minute, when he swatted away Contreras's attempt. He had to go high in the air to knock away Ruben Morales' long-range blast a minute later, but the Guatemalans were called for a foul.

The Americans continued to dominate. Gomez and Michael Bradley traded passes on the right side at the top of the area and the central midfielder clipped a ball over a scrambling defense toward the left post, where Dempsey merely tapped in for his second goal of the match and 30th of his international career in the 36th minute.

In an attempt to energize his team at halftime, Guatemala manager Ever Hugo Almeida made two halftime substitutions. Midfielder Marco Pappa, who started the game on the benchreplaced Carlos Figueroa. Forward Minor Lopez came on for midfielder Mario Rodriguez.

Despite the fresh legs, it was the Americans who took the initiative and forced the issue. Jerez was forced to make a two-handed save on a Danny Williams' blast from distance in the 56th minute before Dempsey barely missed connected with a right-wing cross from Gomez.