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For American soccer fans, this is a dream.

The U.S. men’s national team has sneaked out an amazing 2-1 win over Honduras in its second World Cup 2002 qualifier, using a combination of its veterans and younger players to earn three precious points that have put it in an all-powerful position atop CONCACAF’s standings.

Earnie Stewart with the goal in the 33rd minute set up the Americans for the lead, but Honduras got back a goal in the 59th minute by DeLeon. Yet Clint Mathis used a bit of genius on a free kick from over 20 yards out, giving the U.S. a stunning win against over 50,000 screaming Hondurans.

The win has come at a cost. David Regis has a yellow card and Cobi Jones picked up a red card in the 90th minute for unsportsmanlike conduct, making him ineligible for the next game against Costa Rica next month in Kansas City.

But overall, how can Bruce Arena not be smiling after this game? His team was missing five projected starters and handed debuts to Steve Cherundolo at right back — just his second national cap — and Clint Mathis as a playmaking midfielder, the first time that he has done so in a World Cup qualifier with his previous effort against Mexico as a substitute.

Stewart’s goal was from 45 yards out off a deflection in the 33rd minute, a golden score for the Americans that gave them what would end up to be a precious opener, since Honduras started assuming control of the match before its opener.

Even the Americans seemed to play for a tie until Chris Armas was tackled approximately 28 yards out, which Mathis hammered in for his third international tally.

This was an incredible win for the U.S. Cherundolo was a bit of a risk at right back being so inexperience at the national level, but Arena wisely brought in a cover for the youngster by placing Tony Sanneh at right midfield, moving Stewart to the left side.

A win now puts the U.S. with a full six points from two matches, the only team in CONCACAF to do so. The supposed safe point for qualification is 15 points, and with the U.S. already on its way, this clearly gives the U.S. an opportunity in its upcoming matches to all but clinch its 2002 tickets.

Yes, that could be getting ahead of the point. But with two of its next three games at home — against Costa Rica and Jamaica — with a road game at Mexico sandwiched in, the Americans could conceivably get just three points for its next three matches and still feel comfortable. Note: Full ratings and more reviews to come shortly.