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Published: Sunday September 6, 2009 MYT 10:30:00 AM

Dempsey, Altidore lead US over El Salvador 2-1

SANDY, Utah (AP) - The United States moved into prime position to qualify for its sixth straight World Cup, rallying from an early deficit to beat El Salvador 2-1 on Saturday with first-half goals by Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore.

Christian Castillo gave El Salvador the lead in the 32nd minute after a giveaway by Jonathan Bornstein, but Dempsey tied it with a diving header in the 41st and Altidore scored on a leaping header in the second minute of stoppage time. Landon Donovan set up both goals, the first with a free kick and the second with a long cross.

Tim Howard made a point-blank stop on William Reyes in the 87th to preserve the lead, and the U.S. improved to 4 straight wins at home in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying.

The United States has 13 points with three games left: Wednesday at Trinidad and Tobago, Oct. 10 at Honduras and Oct. 14 against Costa Rica at Washington, D.C. Sixteen or 17 points should be enough to secure the berth.

Costa Rica (12 points), Honduras (10) and Mexico (9) were to play later Saturday. The top three teams in the six-nation group qualify for next year's tournament in South Africa, and the No. 4 team advances to a playoff against South America's fifth-place finisher.

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