WASHINGTON — Santino Quaranta almost couldn't find the words to describe this homecoming.

Making his first appearance for the United States in more than three years, the D.C. United player broke a scoreless tie in the 75th minute before his home fans at RFK Stadium to help the Americans beat Honduras 2-0 Wednesday night.

"To be able to do it here in RFK where it all started for me is — special," Quaranta said. "I keep going back to that, but it really is."

Brian Ching followed Quaranta's goal with a header four minutes later to seal the win.

"It's hard to explain how special it is," Quaranta said. "I was trying to tell myself all day just to enjoy it, but it was difficult."

The Americans moved to the verge of advancing to the quarterfinals of the championship tournament of CONCACAF, which governs the sport in North and Central America and the Caribbean. They are 2-0 and lead Group B going into their final first-round match against Haiti Saturday in Foxborough, Mass., where a draw will be enough to clinch the group.

Honduras (1-1) will face winless Grenada, also in Foxborough.

The United States, two-time defending champions, are 23-0-1 in Gold Cup group play.

Quaranta was one of several new players on the U.S. roster for the Gold Cup. The Americans have a nearly entirely different roster from the U.S. team that made a surprise run to the Confederations Cup championship game last month; most regulars were given a rest for the Gold Cup.

The Americans last played Honduras on June 6 in a World Cup qualifying match, but the only American who was dressed for that game and Wednesday's match was Benny Feilhaber, who came on in the 64th minute.

"There were times in the game we couldn't find the right rhythm," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "But I think there was still a good understanding of pushing the tempo. When we push the game for 90 minutes, we think that's an advantage for us."