Watson and Simpson started as hot as the temperature

Watson and Simpson started as hot as the temperature, which climbed to 98 degrees. They both birdied the first hole before Watson, the 2010 Travelers champion, walloped his tee shot 330 yards at the 341-yard second, a par-4 that turns slightly right and climbs to a green with deep bunkers at its slopes.

Watson's shot found a shady spot near a tree to the right of the green. His bump-and-run chip from 57 feet hit the flagstick for a kick-in birdie. At the 10th hole, Watson did not let the pin get in his way, holing his sand wedge from 137 yards in the left rough for an eagle. From there, he skated along with a string of pars and a bogey at the par-3 16th hole to match Simpson's 66. 

The Americans’ aggressive play paid dividends in the eighth minute

"There were enough chances to score more goals, but you have to be clinical enough to put them in," Klinsmann said. "I mentioned it at halftime. I said, 'Guys, you've got to shoot more often.' "

The Americans' aggressive play paid dividends in the eighth minute when Hérculez Gomez headed a Landon Donovan corner kick toward the goal. James parried the ball away, but the rebound fell to the American captain Carlos Bocanegra, who trundled the rebound into the net. It was Bocanegra's 13th goal for the national team, tying him with Marcelo Balboa for the most by a defender.

Antigua and Barbuda were on their heels, but a half-hour into the game they were still only one goal behind — a dream situation for the tiny Caribbean nation.