Portland Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe started his first-ever FIFA World Cup qualifier and played the full 90 minutes as the U.S. Men's National Team throttled Honduras 6-0 at Avaya Stadium Friday night in San Jose, Calif.
Clint Dempsey tallied a hat-trick while Sebastian Lletget, Michael Bradley and Christian Pulisic also scored for the USMNT in the rout. Nagbe was active throughout holding possession on the left side for the U.S. and providing penetrating runs in attack.
Nagbe finished with a 94 percent successful pass completion rate on the night. The win gave the USMNT an important three points in the CONCACAF qualifying hexagonal standings and they now sit in fourth place on goal differential. The top three finishers receive an automatic bid to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia with the fourth place finisher taking on Asia's fifth place finisher in a playoff for a final spot.
The U.S. next play Panama in Panama City on Mar. 28 (7:00pm PT, beIN SPORTS).
Meanwhile, in Mexico City at the historic Azteca Stadium, Timbers midfielder David Guzmán came on for the final 30 minutes in Costa Rica's 2-0 World Cup qualifier loss to Mexico.
Despite the loss, the Ticos still sit in second place in the hex on six points. Costa Rica will next play Honduras on Mar. 28 at 2pm PT.
