Everything’s Albright for the U.S. in Win Over Distracted Honduras

In the daily notes he is sending out from the U.S. Olympic camp in Hershey, Pa., U.S. Soccer’s Bryan Chenault remarked that Friday’s weather forecast “calls for cold, light drizzle and a 75% chance of goals.”

Make that 100%.

The U.S. got off to the best possible start in its drive toward the Sydney Olympics, shutting out Honduras, 3-0, Friday night in its first qualifying match in front of 11,241 at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pa.

Two goals by Philadelphia native Chris Albright and another by John Thorrington of Palos Verdes were enough to subdue the Central American team.

Albright, who plays for Major League Soccer champion Washington D.C. United, opened the scoring in the 37th minute, taking a pass from D.C. United teammate Ben Olsen and firing a shot past Honduran goalkeeper Belarmino Rivera.

Honduras fought back in the second half, but was denied by some solid goalkeeping by Adin Brown of the Colorado Rapids.

Albright added a second goal in the 77th minute, slamming home the rebound of a Thorrington shot, and Thorrington, who plays for Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, closed out the scoring eight minutes later off a pass from Olsen.

“Well, it was good to get that one under our belts, wasn’t it?” U.S. Coach Clive Charles said. “I thought the boys played well tonight. Adin was absolutely outstanding in goal.”

The Honduran players, who arrived in the United States barely 30 hours before the game, are embroiled in a financial dispute with their soccer federation, which has failed to pay them promised bonuses. Coach Enrique Maradiaga said that weighed on their minds.

“It certainly had an impact,” he said. “There is no doubt that some of the players were treated badly, and then coming here late had an effect on their play.”

Honduras plays Canada on Sunday, needing a victory to stay alive in the six-nation tournament. The Americans’ next game is against Canada on Tuesday.

Only the two teams that reach the April 30 final will qualify for the Sydney Olympics.

In the first game of the doubleheader, goals by team captain Carlos Ruiz in the 27th and 81st minutes earned Guatemala a 2-1 victory over Panama.