Tottenham forward Clint Dempsey scores twice as United States progress in World Cup qualification process

Clint Dempsey of the United States (GETTY IMAGES)

Clint Dempsey scored twice as the United States booked their place in the final qualifying round for the 2014 World Cup finals with a convincing 3-1 win over Guatemala in Kansas City last night.

The US finish top of North, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF) Group A on 13 points with Jamaica, who beat Antigua and Barbuda 4-1, also going through to the final six of CONCACAF qualifying while Guatemala missed out on goal difference.

Juergen Klinsmann's team suffered an early scare when Carlos Ruiz broke away and latched on to a long ball, finishing coolly to put Guatemala 1-0 up in the fifth minute.

But just five minutes later the U.S. was back on level terms.

Dempsey headed on a corner at the near post and defender Carlos Bocanegra drove home his 14th career goal for the national team.

The Tottenham striker then put the U.S. ahead in the 18th minute when he converted a low cross from the impressive Eddie Johnson.

Dempsey made it 3-1, nine minutes before the break, after a smart exchange with Michael Bradley, who was a dominant figure in the U.S. midfield.

With Guatemala needing goals to get back in the frame for qualifying, the U.S. kept things tight in the second half and could have even extended their advantage - Johnson missing a great chance to score when he mis-kicked inside the area.

The win, and progress to the final six, though was never in doubt after the first half and former Germany international Klinsmann was pleased with his team's display.

"The team stepped it up and we created the amount of chances we wanted to, I wished we could have had some goals in the second half too but I thought the performance was really, really good," he told ESPN television.

"The crowd was amazing and really helped the whole team...I think Guatemala never had (even) a little bit of a chance," he said.

The U.S. face a friendly away to Russia before next year's final round of CONCACAF qualifying in which the top three out of the six nations will qualify for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil.

Reuters