The United States returned home from the Confederations Cup and used one of its youngest lineups in recent memory to rout Grenada 4-0 on Saturday in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Freddy Adu scored the opening goal in the seventh minute and Stuart Holden doubled the lead in the 31st, both fed by Robbie Rogers. Rogers scored in the 60th minute and Charlie Davies, one of the few players kept on from the squad that reached the Confederations Cup final, got the final goal in the 68th. The US took the early lead in Group B, ahead of Honduras, which beat Haiti 1-0 in the early game Saturday. The Americans, seeking their third straight Gold Cup title, outshot Grenada 25-3. Seven of the US starters had a combined 11 international appearances, with goalkeeper Troy Perkins playing just his second match for the national team. Right back Steve Cherundolo, sidelined with a hip injury for most of the past six months, was the only regular starter in the lineup. He was joined by three frequent national team backups: left back Heath Pearce, and Adu and Davies. Most regulars were not included in the initial 23-man squad, allowing them to rest before the start of the European season or return to their Major League Soccer teams. The squad can be expanded later in the tournament, when some of the star players may be recalled. Adu scored only his second international goal when he slotted home from near the penalty spot after Rogers sent a cross from the left. Grenada, making its first Gold Cup appearance, fell behind by two goals when Holden headed home via the underside of the crossbar, giving him a goal in his international debut. Rogers scored his first international goal when he beat the keeper from the top of the arc, and Davies slotted the ball in off a pass from Pearce. In the early game, Carlo Costly's headed goal in the 76th minute was enough for Honduras to edge Haiti. Walter Martinez took a freekick from the left of the penalty area. He drove it into the box, and Costly rose to flick his header well beyond the reach of Haiti goalkeeper Jean Dominique Zephrin. Costly, who played at Birmingham City last season on loan from Poland's Belchatow, almost made it two just four minutes later, but his 35-yard shot toward an open net was cleared off the line by Haiti's Pierre Richard Bruny. Haiti had the run of play during the early part of the game and had two near-misses. Honduras goalkeeper Donis Escober dived to grab the ball off the foot of Fabrice Noel directly in front of the post before Noel could get off a shot in the 19th minute. Noel then went inches wide of the left post on a 25-yard shot in the 32nd minute. Honduras had two excellent scoring chances in the final eight minutes of the half. A shot by Martinez from 10 yards was saved. In the final seconds before the first-half whistle, Nery Medina's 30-yard shot was heading toward the upper left corner before Zephrin leaped to knock it away.
