U.S. captain Earnie Stewart - Allsport

WASHINGTON D.C., 1 September 2001 (TEAMtalk) – It was an emotional roller coaster for Earnie Stewart in the United States’ 3-2 home loss to Honduras. One moment he was the hero, scoring the match’s opening goal. Then he hit a low, missing a penalty kick right before halftime.

Stewart scored a late goal to bring the U.S. to 3-2, but it was too late as Honduras held on for the victory in front of a sellout crowd of 54,282 at RFK Stadium.

Despite finishing with two goals as the U.S. playmaker in a crucial World Cup qualifier, Stewart could not take solace in the loss. After the game he could only think of what could have been had he connected on his penalty kick in the 43rd minute. Instead the match was knotted at one all at the half.

“It’s not so much missing the PK,” said Stewart, captain of the U.S. team that ended its 16-year home unbeaten streak in World Cup qualifying and allowed three goals in a home qualifier for the first time in 41 years. “Everyone misses chances. It’s just when you look back and you look at you teammates and you know you let them down. That’s when it hurts the most.”

Stewart initially planned on striking the penalty kick to the left, but changed his mind in the final second, allowing Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares to make a diving save near the right post.

“That missed penalty kick was the play of the game,” said U.S. coach Bruce Arena. “That saved PK, I would have never expected.”

Stewart started the U.S. attack early scoring in the 7th minute, collecting a centering cross from Steve Cherundolo to score from eight yards out.

Honduras then scored three unanswered goals, starting in the 28th minute on one of many counterattacks they put together throughout the match. Star striker Carlos “La Sombra Negra” (Black Shadow) Pavon sent a through pass to Milton Nunez who one-touched the ball in for the equalizer, sending the boisterous Honduras fans into elation. Honduras players celebrated the goal by sitting down at the right corner and moved their arms in a rowing motion.

The Honduras fans, most relegated to the upper deck by the U.S. officials, made their presence known by shouting “Catrachos, Catrachos!” – the team’s moniker – for the remainder of the first half.

“Only in America can you fight to have home-field advantage,” said Arena of the mixed allegiance crowd.

Between the final minutes of the first half and the first 20 minutes of the second half, Honduras went on a relentless attack, sending Pavon through passes and setting up numerous scoring opportunities for its skilled attacking players – with the Catrachos out shooting the Americans 15-8.

“We were a little worried being down one goal, but with one goal we knew we could tie at any moment,” said Honduras coach Ramon Maradiaga, sporting a T-shirt and blue jeans during the match. “And once we tied we knew we had a chance to win.”

Pavon continued his torrid scoring pace in the 53rd minute on a questionable call, his 14th goal in 15 qualifiers – tops in the CONCACAF region. Defender Milton Reyes, on another counterattack, ran down the right side and reach the five-yard box before being pushed from behind by Jeff Agoos. Honduras was awarded the penalty kick, which Arena called a “make up call” after Stewart’s penalty kick attempt, and Pavon converted for the go-ahead goal.

The U.S. went on the attack, inserting Preki and forward Joe-Max Moore into the game in the 64th and 67th minute respectively, leaving the American defenders vulnerable to Honduran attacks.

Pavon was involved in the third Honduras goal, sending a centering pass into the five-yard box where Nunez easily beat U.S. goalkeeper Brad Friedel in the 77th minute for his second goal of the match.

“The counterattack,” said Arena, “it’s what the Hondurans are known for and we knew that. It was just poor defending on our part that cost us that game.”

David Regis had trouble marking his man throughout the match and Cherundolo had trouble passing the ball forward. 19-year-old striker Landon Donovan started his first qualifier for the U.S.

The U.S. continued to attack with Tony Sanneh sending a centering pass to Stewart, who had a bad touch – sending the ball to the inside of the top post barely grazing the goal line in the 84th minute.

Both teams had numerous chances to add on goals, with Honduras’ Amado Guevara missing on a breakaway, and Eddie Pope and Chris Henderson missing from close range during four minutes of stoppage time. The U.S. still remains in good position to qualify for their fourth consecutive World Cup berth with three qualifiers remaining, playing at Costa Rica on Wednesday.

“It’s nothing that’s going to ruin our confidence in the next three games,” said Friedel, who had seven saves. “We’re still very strong in this region and I think we have the players to qualify.”