Zusi nabs fourth international goal

Sporting Kansas City's Graham Zusi may not have been the savior of U.S. Soccer like he was for Mexico a couple years ago but he did help the U.S. out of a tight spot. Zusi was not called up originally for the U.S. but was added after the debacle in Guatemala last week. As teammate Matt Besler returned to Kansas City with concussion symptoms, Zusi met the U.S. squad when they returned to the United States.

Having not been in camp already, it was perhaps a little surprising when embattled U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann included Zusi in the starting eleven. Even more so when he lined up as a midfielder and not a winger, the position that he moved to with Sporting KC after playing the spot for his country.

While ‘Zeus' may not have been the outright savior, he did play well and was part of the group that thoroughly dominated Guatemala, a team that ran the U.S. off the field a few days earlier.

Oh, and he scored a goal.

Right after halftime, a ball to Gyasi Zardes awkwardly deflected up and off his backside and behind him. Both Clint Dempsey and Zusi were crashing into the box but Graham had the better angle and was first to the ball where he one timed it past the Guatemalan keeper. It was Zusi's fourth international goal.

It was not the game winner but it did settle nerves that Guatemala might stage a massive comeback and kept the momentum in favor of the U.S. squad.